open to the weather. The stone corbels intended to carry the principals of the roof still remain where the walls are complete (see Fig. 983).
Externally, the most prominent features are the buttresses and base course (see Figs. 984 and 995). These exist round most of the south wall of the nave, part of the south transept, and the east end of the choir. The angle buttresses have the general form, with bead on angle and sloping table on top, of thirteenth century work, and the broad, sloping base has also a similar character. Several small intermediate buttresses are introduced, which are in many cases awkwardly situated as regards the windows, being kept below the window sills. The base course on the south side of the nave is set at a level several feet above that of the south transept (see Fig. 995). It is stopped suddenly before reaching the eastmost bay of the nave. The base also stops equally suddenly on the west wall of the south transept, a few feet from the south-west angle buttress. The base course and buttresses would thus seem, where they exist, to indicate a rebuilding of those portions of the walls, the portions left without a base course being possibly older. Although the forms of the base course and buttresses are of early design, there is no doubt but that they are late erections, and that the forms and design are revivals or imitations of older features. Their association with the late doorway of the nave and the late traceries of the choir and south transept sufficiently proves their comparatively recent construction.
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Fig. 993.—Iona Cathedral.
Dog-tooth Ornaments on Slab.
In the above general description of the cathedral, the probable dates of the various parts have been casually referred to. It is now proposed to explain more fully the dates we would assign to the different portions of the structure and the reasons for doing so.
Dr Skene has the following footnote[1]—
"One of the columns which supports the great tower of the Abbey Church has on the upper portion the inscription, 'Donaldus O'Brolchan fecit hoc opus,' and seems to think that that inscription fixes the name of the builder of the church. Messrs Buckler, in their description of the architecture of the cathedral,[2] give the above inscription as reading, 'Donaldus ornatum fecit hoc opus.'"
The inscription is not now legible, but even if it were, it could give little clue to the date of the edifice.
