An Alien Gothic Revival: The Restoration of the Gargoyles on Paisley Abbey

By Ami Melville

In the early 1990s, an Edinburgh stonemason was commissioned to reconstruct the historic medieval gargoyles of Paisley Abbey, a 12th century parish church in Renfrewshire, Scotland, after the figures had undergone centuries of weathering and deterioration. Originally founded in 1163, Paisley Abbey suffered a long history of disrepair prior to this modern restoration, having been burnt down completely in 1307 and rebuilt later on in the 14th century, only to partially collapse in the 15th and 16th centuries due to more fires and turmoil. In return, the stonemason produced a refurbished series of stone figures to protect the renowned structure with a significant twist– one of the gargoyles greatly resembled 20th century renditions of an alien, more specifically the alien creature depicted in Ridley Scott’s science fiction horror film Alien (1979). This gargoyle not only attracted substantial media attention but also acts as a contemporary interpretation of a terrifying creature, reminding us of the gargoyle’s purpose in Gothic church architecture.

From its sharp, imposing stance to the menacing points of its claws, this figure is nothing short of threatening. The otherworldly elements of its body, such as the helmet shape of its head and the almost mechanical tubing around its neck, establish it as a fictitious creation of science fiction. While these features may be viewed as divergent from the medieval exterior of the church, these themes of manmade creatures protecting sacred structures aligns with the original practical and spiritual purposes of gargoyles in Gothic architecture. 

As an architectural component, gargoyles were a crucial element in the drainage systems of Gothic buildings, especially churches. Due to their high ceilings and overall vertical nature, finding an efficient way to drain rainwater gathered on their roofs was critical to the short and long term survival of the buildings. If there was nowhere for the water to be led away to, it would travel from the roof to the walls of the church, which provide its fundamental structural support; compromising the walls through water erosion would be a disastrous and irreversible act. However, Gothic architects soon discovered a way to utilize an existing element, flying buttresses, to formulate a functional drainage system by using hollowed stone in the buttresses to lead the water off the roof, utilizing gargoyles to project water away from the walls. This method proved highly successful in the case of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, as the gargoyle drainage system is still in use today.

Additionally, gargoyles served a spiritual purpose relating to protection of Gothic churches. Described as “bats under the eaves… beaming down on you with little benevolence and a good deal of mischief… gaggles of petrified miniature terribilita” with regard to the Oxford gargoyles, they were commonly used to ward off malicious spirits and protect the heavenly nature of the environment. Gargoyles sought not only to hold an intimidating and terrifying stature as imagined fictitious creatures of the Middle Ages, but also evoke a sense of the sublime in the viewer. They contribute to the awe striking height of Gothic churches, staring intently at the people entering in a scrutinizing and mischievous way. Their open mouths, while used to dispense rainwater, also symbolized their readiness to devour hostile threats. Gargoyles were therefore commonly exclusive to the exteriors of Gothic buildings, as they were regarded as inherently evil.  

This gargoyle on the exterior of Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin, Scotland, embodies these characteristics. The creature is relatively more animal-like than the new gargoyles of Paisley Abbey, but it nevertheless depicts a fictitious beast with a menacing and playful aura. The gargoyle looks as if it might pounce off the chapel, standing fierce guard of the sacred space. Additionally, it is also clear from the tunnel in the back of its head that it was utilized for water drainage similarly to the Notre Dame gargoyles. 

The new gargoyles of Paisley Abbey act as a modern rendering of medieval gargoyle characteristics and purposes, referencing the rapidly emerging genre of science fiction films as a means of adapting prior fictitious characters into contemporary imagery. They add renewed charisma and mischief to the otherwise ancient structure, as well as attract modern interest in medieval architecture, while maintaining the original principles of Gothic gargoyles.