east end of the
nave, but it is now built up.[344] The whole of the aisle walls are
arcaded in the interior up to the height of the window sills, but
the arcade has been partly cut away for monuments. The general
design of the nave recalls that of Durham Cathedral, and Dr. Joseph
Robertson remarks, "Though not of great size, the sombre masses of
the (nave) interior are impressive. The English visitor will remark
more than one point of resemblance to Durham and Lindisfarne; and
there is no violence in the conjecture that the same head may have
planned, or the same hands have hewn, part of all the three. We know
that when the foundations of Durham were laid in 1093 by the
confessor and biographer of St. Margaret, her husband Malcolm was
present; and when the new church received the relics of St.
Cuthbert in 1104, her son Alexander witnessed the rites."[345] Both
at Durham and Dunfermline there are the same circular piers with
zig-zag ornaments, and massive cushion caps and clustered piers
occur in each. The small circular bases, resting on great square
plinths, are also common to both. The triforium and clerestory are
simple in design, and the aisles are vaulted and groined. The
windows of the aisles are single round-headed lights, having plain
sconsions, with one recessed shaft on each side, and the arch
enriched with chevron mouldings.[346] Internally and externally they
are of similar design.

From the existence of the large west end pillars, it was evidently
intended from the first to have two western towers. The northern
one, along with the upper part of the adjoining gable, was destroyed
to a considerable extent at the Reformation, and in its present
state it was designed and built up by William Schaw. The bold
corbelling at the top recalls the similar treatment of the towers of
St. Machar's, Aberdeen, and other examples derived from domestic
architecture.[347] The south-west tower seems to have remained
intact, although in a ruinous condition, till 1807, when it fell,
having been struck with lightning. Three years later the present top
was put on the old walls.[348] The Lady Chapel at the east end was
built to receive Queen Margaret's shrine, and is now reduced to a
small fragment, consisting of part of the south and east walls,
which remain to the height of about 2 or 3 fe