Whilst this may look like random colourful patterning it is, in fact, a tribute to to wood, its knots and patterns. Today we are much more used to wood graining looking realistically like a section through wood, but back in the mid-1700s the effect that they were after was much more of a stylised appreciation of wood. More celebration than accurate reproduction. 

 

And at the time that the north aisle and loft were built, in 1740, the church would have been a colourful place. Removal of small layers of later varnish in the front table seats of the north loft show that all three compartments were decorated in this same yellow ochre and red combination - as someone commented, creating an effect not dissimilar to a traditional traveller’s horse-drawn caravan.

 

The west loft front was one pew short of the current frontage, and if you look under the front pew seats you can see patches of the same scrolling under the later green paint. 

 

As far as we know the laird’s loft wasn’t built at this stage.

 

 

It’s fascinating to try and imagine how the inside of the church would have looked, full of colour, and packed with people.

 

Fiona and Karen’s re-painting of the loft front gives us a helping hand in imagining this. It was quite a daunting task for them at first, knowing that this would be a very prominent feature of the church - and so they had better get it right!

 

The panel with initials, has the original scrolling still intact, and so this was used to provide a template for their work, and then worked with a free hand to keep the vibrancy and flow of the original design. Looking at the photographs I think that you’ll agree that they’ve done a pretty good job!