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jil,u'lum\lit  CLralntuvD,  of 


LAURISTON        CASTLE. 


Presented  to  the 
LIBRARY  of  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 

by 

A.  Huestis 


THE    CASTELLATED    AND    DOMESTIC 
ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 

FROM 

THE  TWELFTH  TO  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY 


Edinburgh:  Printed  by   Thomas  and  Archibald  Constable 

FOR 
DAVID    DOUGLAS. 

LONDON HAMILTON,  ADAMS,  AND  CO. 

CAMBRIDGE MACMILLAN  AND  BOWES. 

GLASGOW JAMES  MACLEHOSE  AND  SONS. 


THE 


CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 

ARCHITECTURE 

OF  SGOTL.AND 

^T*"\ 
— i_vT .  1 

FJKOM  THE  TWELFTH  TO'  TH$$i&HTKENTH'  CENTURY 

\    rr   SA 


DAVID  MACGIBBO 


EDINBURGH:    DAVID  DOUGLAS 

MDCCCLXXXVII 


All  rigli fe  reserved. 


UB*A*Y 

W 


PREFACE. 

A  NUMBER  of  the  sketches  and  plans  which  form  the 
illustrations  in  the  following  pages  were  exhibited  a  few 
years  ago  in  connection  with  papers  on  "  Scottish  Castles 
and  Houses,"  read  before  the  Edinburgh  Architectural 
Association,  when  the  attention  they  received  suggested 
the  idea  of  the  present  work. 

No  book  has  hitherto  been  published  which  deals  sys- 
tematically with  the  history  of  Scottish  Castellated  and 
Domestic  Architecture.  The  late  Mr.  Billings'  valuable 
work  on  the  Baronial  and  Ecclesiastical  Antiquities  of 
Scotland  is  an  important  contribution,  and  his  beautiful 
drawings  are  a  charming  record  of  the  edifices  he 
illustrates.  Mr.  Billings  has  also  the  merit  of  being 
amongst  the  very  first  to  recognise  and  draw  attention  to 
the  importance  of  our  Scottish  Domestic  Architecture. 
But  the  absence  of  plans  is  a  serious  drawback,  and  the 
descriptions  of  the  buildings,  although  full  of  interesting 
matter,  do  not  deal  in  a  systematic  manner  with  the 
history  of  our  Architecture,  especially  with  the  domestic 
portion  of  it. 

Mr.  Fergusson  has  also  touched  slightly,  in  his  History 
of  Architecture,  on  the  subject  of  Scottish  Domestic 


PREFACE  VI    CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 

Architecture,  but  so  slightly  that  it  is  evident  he  has 
not  regarded  it  as  an  important  element  in  the  general 
history  of  the  art. 

The  following  pages,  however,  show  that  Scotland 
contains  a  most  complete  and  almost  unexplored  series 
of  domestic  structures,  exhibiting  as  well  the  gradual 
progress  of  Architecture  from  an  early  and  rude  epoch 
to  more  modern  and  refined  times,  as  the  growth  of  our 
national  life  and  manners. 

In  dealing  with  this  important  series  of  buildings  our 
chief  object  has  been  to  trace  the  development  of  the 
Architecture,  and  to  determine  the  stages  of  progress  or 
<(  Periods  "  into  which  it  naturally  divides  itself. 

In  order  to  render  the  historic  sequence  clear  and 
distinct,  and  also  to  follow  the  steps  by  which  the 
designs  of  one  period  passed  into  those  of  the  period  that 
followed,  it  is  essential  that  the  plans  of  the  buildings  be 
fully  taken  into  account.  We  have  therefore  devoted 
much  care  to  the  accurate  representation  of  these  im- 
portant elements  in  the  design. 

Our  sketches  are  not  intended  to  imitate  or  rival 
the  beautiful  and  artistic  etchings  of  some  of  our 
Scottish  edifices  which  have  from  time  to  time  been 
published,  but  simply  to  represent  the  ARCHITECTURE 
in  what  appeared  to  us  the  most  intelligible  and  effective 
manner. 

It  is  of  great  moment,  in  an  inquiry  like  the  present, 
that  the  history  and  development  of  the  Architecture, 
as  disclosed  by  the  buildings,  should  be  corroborated 
as  far  as  possible  by  written  evidence.  We  have 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND  vii    PREFACE 

accordingly  endeavoured  to  trace  and  collect  such  of 
the  written  records  of  the  erection  or  alteration  of  the 
structures  as  were  available.  But  we  do  not  pretend 
to  have  discovered  any  new  information  connected  with 
the  history  of  Scottish  Architecture,  save  such  as  can 
be  gathered  from  the  internal  evidence  of  the  edifices 
themselves. 

One  important  result  of  the  present  inquiry  is  to 
bring  into  prominence  the  fact  that  Scotland,  like  every 
other  country  in  Europe  during  the  period  from  the 
thirteenth  to  the  sixteenth  century,  possessed  a  Castel- 
lated or  Domestic  Architecture  of  its  own,  and  that  even 
in  the  seventeenth  century,  when  almost  everywhere  else 
the  Renaissance  style  reigned  supreme,  the  native  style 
still  flourished. 

It  may  be  thought  that  the  number  of  buildings  illus- 
trated is  unnecessarily  large.  But  it  is,  after  all,  only  a 
small  portion  of  the  still  surviving  examples  of  Scottish 
Domestic  Architecture,  and  there  is  really  almost  no 
repetition.  In  most  of  the  keeps  and  towers  there  is 
doubtless  a  great  similarity  in  general  design,  but  it  will 
be  found  that  each  furnishes  some  points  of  variety  which 
give  to  it  a  special  interest. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  most  of  our  ancient 
edifices  are  rapidly  passing  away,  either  from  natural  decay 
or  other  destructive  causes.  Even  since  our  sketches  were 
made,  many  have  disappeared  either  in  whole  or  in  part. 
The  neglect  with  which  they  are  generally  treated  pro- 
bably arises,  to  some  extent,  from  their  bearing  on  the 
architectural  and  national  history  of  Scotland  not  being 


PREFACE  Vlll    CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 

sufficiently  understood  and  appreciated.  We  are  not 
without  hope  that  this  work  may  serve  to  direct  the 
attention  of  proprietors  and  others  to  the  value  of  our 
ancient  domestic  remains,  and  may  thus  help  to  preserve 
some  of  them  from  the  decay  and  demolition  which 
at  present  threaten  speedily  to  overtake  the  greater 
number.  Such  a  result  would  be  most  gratifying,  not 
only  to  us,  but  to  every  one  interested  in  our  national 
history, 

We  would  take  this  opportunity  of  gratefully  thank- 
ing all  those  who  have  interested  themselves  in  the 
present  work,  some  of  whom  have  kindly  contributed 
drawings  for  our  assistance. 

To  Mr.  John  Bryce,  Architect,  Edinburgh,  our 
thanks  are  due  for  the  free  and  ready  access  he  has  given 
us  to  the  plans  of  ancient  buildings  made  by  his  uncle, 
the  late  David  Bryce,  R.S.A.,  when,  in  the  course  of  his 
professional  practice,  he  was  called  on  to  consider  how 
to  alter  or  add  to  them.  Of  these  drawings  we  have 
availed  ourselves  of  some  of  those  of  Drum  Castle  and 
Earl  Patrick's  Palace,  Kirkwall,  to  which  we  have 
referred  more  fully  in  the  text.  To  Dr.  Skene,  His- 
toriographer for  Scotland,  we  are  specially  obliged  for 
placing  at  our  disposal  the  voluminous  MS.  work  by  his 
father,  the  late  Mr.  Skene  of  Rubislaw,  on  the  Domestic 
Architecture  of  Scotland.  This  work  is  peculiarly  valu- 
able from  its  containing  numerous  plans  and  views  of 
castles  which  no  longer  exist.  From  it  we  have  obtained 
the  plans  of  Castle  Fraser,  which  were  not  otherwise 
available,  and  views  of  the  extremely  picturesque  Castle 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND  IX 


of  Cluny,  now  no  more,  together  with  some  remarkable 
information  regarding  "  lugs  "  and  places  of  concealment. 
We  are  also  indebted  to  the  Earl  of  Cawdor  for  the 
use  of  plans  of  Cawdor  Castle ;  to  the  Hon.  H.  C. 
Maxwell  Stuart  for  the  use  of  plans  of  Traquair  House, 
and  for  information  regarding  its  history ;  to  the  Hon. 
Mrs.  Henderson  of  Fordell  for  particulars  connected  with 
Fordell  Castle;  to  James  Lorimer,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  Professor 
of  Public  Law  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  for  infor- 
mation in  connection  with  Kellie  Castle  ;  to  J.  Russell 
Mackenzie,  Esq.,  Architect,  Aberdeen,  and  Messrs.  C.  & 
P.  H.  Chalmers,  Solicitors,  Aberdeen,  for  the  use  of 
plans  and  elevations  of  Fyvie  Castle ;  to  David  Douglas, 
Esq.,  for  permission  to  reproduce  a  drawing  of  Burgie 
Castle,  from  the  unpublished  series  of  views  in  Scotland 
of  John  Claude  Nattes ;  to  Messrs.  Wardrop  &  Ander- 
son, Architects,  for  the  plans  and  elevations  of  Udny 
Castle  (now  much  altered) ;  to  Mr.  H.  J.  Blanc,  Archi- 
tect, for  drawings  of  St.  Margaret's  Chapel  in  Edinburgh 
Castle  ;  to  Mr.  Robert  Murray  for  the  plans  of  Neidpath 
Castle,  and  others  not  yet  published ;  to  Lord  Napier 
and  Ettrick  for  useful  suggestions  on  Stirling  Castle  ; 
to  Mr.  R.  Bruce  Armstrong  for  notes  on  Hermitage 
Castle ;  to  Dr.  Dickson,  of  the  Register  House ;  James 
T.  Clark,  Esq.,  Librarian  of  the  Advocates'  Library ;  and 
many  architectural  friends  for  their  aid  and  encourage- 
ment in  our  labours. 

We  would  also  take  this  opportunity  of  acknow- 
ledging the  cordial  and  generous  reception  we  have  almost 
invariably  received  from  the  proprietors  and  occupants  of 


PREFACE  X    ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 

the  houses  we  have  visited  in  pursuit  of  our  subject,  and 
the  free  permission  which  has  (with  very  few  exceptions) 
been  accorded  to  us  to  make  such  measurements  and 
drawings  as  we  required. 

DAVID  MACGIBBON. 
THOMAS  ROSS. 


92  GEORGE  STREET,  EDINBURGH, 
October  1886. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  I. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Object  of  the  work — Hitherto  no  systematic  treatise  on  the 
subject — Mediaeval  Domestic  Architecture  traced  from  place 
of  birth — Influence  of  Romans  on  Architecture  in  Gaul — 
Works  of  the  Visigoths — Examples  of  Roman  influence — 
Fortresses  of  the  Norsemen — Earthen  mounds  gradually  con- 
verted into  stone  walls — Norman  keeps — Roman  influence  in 
England — Norman  keeps  in  England  and  North  of  France 
described — Examples — Chateaux  d'Arques— de  Beaugency — 
de  Loches — Colchester  Castle — Newcastle— Castle  Heding- 
ham — Rochester  Castle— Dover  Castle — Mont  du  Chevalier, 
Cannes — Shell  keeps — Chateau  de  Gisors — Norman  castle 
garth — Erection  of  halls  and  other  buildings  in  the  court- 
yard— Oakham — Town  houses — Iron-work — Walls  painted — 
Effect  of  Crusades — Modification  of  keep  plan — Chateau 
d'Etampes — Chateau  Gaillard — Chateau  de  Provins — Conis- 
borough  Castle — Round  towers  and  keeps  introduced — 
Chateau  de  Loches — Walls  of  enceinte— Walls  of  Aigues 
Mortes — Chateau  de  St.  Andre — Gateway — Tour  du  Pont — 
Thirteenth-century  donjons — Chateau  de  Roche  Guyon — 
Chateau  de  Coucy — Wooden  hoards— Tower  of  Jeanne  d' Arc 
— The  use  of  wood  in  defences  traced — Vaulting  introduced 
in  every  floor — Other  improvements — English  castles  more 
domestic  than  French,  and  the  keep  abandoned — Edwardian 
castles — Carnarvon  Castle — Pevensey  Castle — Manor-houses 
— Charney,  Stokesay,  etc. — Fourteenth  century — Advance  in 
attack  and  defence  of  castles — Isolated  defences  abandoned — 
Castle  all  united  under  one  command — Donjon  made  in  form 
of  a  large  dwelling — Towers  heightened  and  more  tiers  of 
defences  added — Buildings  in  courtyard  improved — Chateau 
de  Pierrefonds — English  castles  developed — Interior  comfort 
and  convenience — Warwick  Castle — Bodiam  Castle — Manor- 


CONTENTS  — -    Xll    CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 

PAGE 

houses — Cannons  in  general  use,  1450 — Attempts  to  adapt  old 
castles  to  use  of,  and  to  resist,  artillery  found  unavailing — This 
and  influence  of  Italian  villas  make  revolution  in  architecture 
of  castles — Introduction  of  Renaissance  in  fifteenth  century — 
Many  old  features  long  retained — Chateau  de  Chambord  an 
imitation  of  a  mediaeval  castle — Many  examples  in  the  Loire 
country — Chateau  de  Montsabert — House  of  Francis  i. — 
Details — Effects  of  gunpowder  in  England — Hurstmonceaux 
Castle — Imitation  of  castellated  features— Pele  towers  of  the 
Borders — Manor-houses — Private  dining-rooms  and  numerous 
other  rooms  introduced — Decoration  of  interiors — Bow  win- 
dows, fireplaces,  etc. — Elizabethan  style,  ....  1-60 


FIRST  PERIOD— 1200-1300. 

Scottish  style  similar  to  that  of  England  and  France — Few  early 
examples — These  earthen  mounds  and  mottes — The  Broch 
— Connection  of  the  latter  with  Scottish  Architecture — 
Influx  of  Normans  —  No  Norman  keeps  in  Scotland  —  but 
imitations  of  them  at  later  date  —  Castles  built  by  Alex- 
ander i.  and  David  i. — Prosperity  of  thirteenth  century — 
Many  castles  erected — List  of  these — Scottish  thirteenth- 
century  castles  described  —  Sites  —  Imitations  of  castles  of 
the  period  in  France  and  England — Some  exceptions,  .  .  6l 

Descriptions  of  the  following  examples  : — 

Castle  Roy,    ....  Inverness-shire,     ...          65 

Kinclaven  Castle,  .  .  .  Perthshire,    .         .          .          .          67 

Lochindorb  Castle,  .  .  Elginshire,     ....          70 

Loch-an-Eilan  Castle,  .  .  Inverness-shire,      ...          73 

Inverlochy  Castle,  .  .  Do.,        .          .          .          .         73 

Lochmaben  Castle,  .  .  Dumfriesshire,        ...          78 

Rothesay  Castle,    .  .  .  Buteshire,      ....          80 

Dunstaffnage  Castle,  .  .  Argyllshire,  .          .          .          .          85 

Bothwell  Castle,    .  .  .  Lanarkshire, ....          93 

Kildrummie  Castle,  .  .  Aberdeenshire,       .          .          .108 

Dirleton  Castle,     .  .  .  Haddingtonshire,  .          .          .114 

Yester  Castle,        .  .  .  Do.,        .         .         .         .116 

Hailes  Castle,         .  .  .  Do.,        .          .          .          .122 

Caerlaverock  Castle,  .  .  Dumfriesshire,        .          .          .        127 

Tarbert  Castle,       .  .  .  Argyllshire,  .         .         .          .136 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND  Xlll    CONTENTS 


SECOND  PERIOD— 1300-1400. 

PAGE 

Complete  change  in  style  of  castles  after  War  of  Independence 
— Country  exhausted — Bruce's  policy — A  strong  tower  all 
that  was  required  for  a  residence — The  Norman  keep  formed 
the  model — Fourteenth-century  towers  described — Found 
too  limited — -Accommodation  increased  by  adding  a  wing, 
forming  the  L  plan — Difficulty  of  fixing  date — Courtyards — 
Buildings  erected  round  walls  at  late  date — Mode  of  develop- 
ment of  plans  of  Scottish  castles,  .  .  .  .  .  .143 

Descriptions  of  the  following  examples  : — 
1st,  Simple  Towers — 

Lochleven  Castle,           .         .  Kinross-shire,         .  .  .146 

Drum  Castle,          .         .         .  Aberdeenshire,      .  .  .150 

Alloa  Tower,          .          .          .  Clackmannanshire,  .  .        155 

Hallforest,     ....  Aberdeenshire,       .  .  .157 

Threave  Castle,      .          .          .  Kirkcudbrightshire,  .  .        157 

Dundonald  Castle,          .          .  Ayrshire,       .          .  .  .167 

Torthorwald  Castle,        .          .  Drumfriesshire,      .  .  .175 

Clackmannan  Tower,      .          .  Clackmannanshire,  .  .        178 

Neidpath  Castle,   .         .         .  Peeblesshire,          .  .  .183 

2d,  Keeps  extended  into  Courtyards— 

Craigmillar  Castle,          .          .     Midlothian,   .         .         .          .189 
Castle  Campbell,   .          .          .     Clackmannanshire,          .          .        202 

Crichton  Castle,     .          .          .     Midlothian 209 

Comparison  of  Scottish  castles  of  this  period  with  those  of  France 

and  England — The  keep  plan  universal  in  Scotland,       .          .        221 


THIRD  PERIOD— 1400-1542. 

About  1400  a  few  castles  built  on  courtyard  plan — During  reigns 
of  the  five  Jameses  large  castles  all  on  this  plan — Keeps 
retained,  but  of  larger  dimensions  than  those  of  Second 
Period,  as  in  France — Courtyard  plan  described — Defensive 
features  gradually  become  more  domestic — -Old  keep  plan 
also  still  retained,  and  some  keeps  converted  into  castles 
surrounding  a  courtyard— Keep  plans  similar  to  those  of 
Second  Period — L  plan  becomes  common,  with  tower  in  re- 
entering  angle — Abundance  of  wall  chambers — The  pit  or 
prison — The  defences  described  —  Parapets  and  bartizans 


CONTENTS 


XIV    CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 


roofed-in  in  late  examples — Introduction  of  artillery — Great 
port-holes  for  guns — Interior  omament — The  chapel — Ex- 
ceptional examples — The  order  in  which  the  castles  are 
described,  .......... 


I.  SIMPLE  KEEPS  : — 

Liberton  Tower,    . 
Mearns  Tower, 
Elphinstone  Castle, 
Comlongan  Castle, 
Cardoness  Castle,  . 
Newark  Castle, 
Affleck  or  Auchenleck  Castle, 
Craignethan  Castle, 
Sauchie  Tower, 
Kinnaird  Tower,    . 
Burleigh  Castle,     . 
Duffus  Castle, 

Redcastle,      .... 
Dunolly  Castle, 
Benholme  Tower, . 
Drummond  Castle, 
Rosyth  Castle, 
Leven  Castle, 
Inverkip  Castle,     . 
Craigneil  Castle,    . 
Kilkerran  Castle,  . 
Whittingham  Tower, 
Balquhain  Castle,  . 
Darnaway  Castle,  . 
Badenheath  Castle, 
Cairnbulg  Castle,  . 
Farme  Castle, 


Midlothian,   . 
Renfrewshire, 
Haddingtonshire,  . 
Dumfriesshire, 
Kirkcudbrightshire, 
Selkirkshire, . 
Forfarshire,   . 
Lanarkshire, . 
Clackmannanshire, 
Perthshire,     . 
Kinross-shire, 
Elginshire,     . 
Forfarshire,    . 
Argyllshire,  . 
Kincardineshire,     . 
Perthshire,     . 
Fifeshire, 
Renfrewshire, 

Do., 
Ayrshire, 

Do.,       . 

Haddingtonshire,  . 
Aberdeenshire, 
Elginshire,     . 
Dumbartonshire,    . 
Aberdeenshire, 
Lanarkshire, 


II.   KEEPS  WITH  ONE  OR  Two  WINGS  :- 


Auchindoun  Castle, 

Preston  Tower, 

Castle  Huntly, 

Gight,  or  Formantine  Castle, 

Niddrie  Castle, 

Craig  Castle, 

Dundas  Castle, 

Balvaird  Castle, 

Borthwick  Castle, 


Banffshire, 
Haddingtonshire, 
Perthshire,    . 
Aberdeenshire, 
Linlithgowsh  ire, 
Aberdeenshire, 
Linlithgowshire, 
Fifeshire, 
Midlothian,   . 


222 

226 
230 
233 
237 
243 
24? 
250 
255 
265 
270 
275 
279 
280 
281 
284 
285 
289 
295 
296 
297 
298 
300 
303 
304 
307 
309 
313 


314 
317 
320 
322 
324 
326 
328 
335 
344 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND  XV    CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Avondale  Castle,    .          .          .     Lanarkshire, ....  352 

Struthers  Castle,    .          .          .     Fifeshire,       ....  353 
Stoneypath  Tower,         .          .     Haddingtonshire,  .          .          .355 

Federate  Castle,     .         .         .     Aberdeenshire,      .         .         .  357 

III.    KEEPS  ENLARGED    IN    VARIOUS    WAYS    BY    ADDITIONS — 

1st,  Keeps  enlarged  into  Castles  surrounding  a  Courtyard — 

Edzell  Castle,         .         .          .     Forfarshire,    ....  359 

Rosslyn  Castle,       .          .          .      Midlothian,    ....  366 

Balgonie  Castle,     .         .         .     Fifeshire,       ....  377 
Kilchurn  Castle,     .          .          .     Argyllshire,   .          .          .          .382 

Kilravock  Castle,    .          .          .     Nairnshire,     ....  384 

Balveny  Castle,       .          .          .     Banffshire,     ....  386 

Kilbirnie  Castle,     .         .         .     Ayrshire,        ....  390 

Ruthven  Castle,  or  Huntingtower,  Perthshire,         .          .          .  395 

Dean  Castle,  Kilmarnock,       .     Ayrshire,       .          .          .  .        .  401 

Falside  Castle,        .          .          .     Haddingtonshire,  .          .          .  409 

Haining,  or  Almond  Castle,  .      Linlithgowshire,     .          .          .  413 

Sanquhar  Castle,    .          .          .     Dumfriesshire,        .         .         .  415 

2d,  Castles  designed  as  buildings  surrounding  a  Courtyard — 
These  characteristic  of  the  Third  Period — Royal  palaces  and 
important  castles  built  on  this  model — Later  examples  contain 
enlarged  accommodation  and  ornament  similar  to  foreign 
castles  of  the  period — Fine  designs — Domestic  more  promi- 
nent than  Ecclesiastical  architecture  —  Description  of  the 
following,  viz. — 

Doune  Castle,         .          .          .      Perthshire,    .          .          .          .418 

Tantallon  Castle,  .         .          .     Haddingtonshire,  .          .          .  429 

Dirleton  Castle,     .          .                        Do.,        ....  435 

Spynie  Palace,        .          .          .     Elginshire,     ....  439 

Edinburgh  Castle,           .          .     Edinburgh,    ....  445 

Stirling  Castle,        .          .          .      Stirlingshire,           .          .          .  464 

Linlithgow  Palace,          .          .     Linlithgowshire,    .          .          .  478 

Falkland  Palace,    .          .          .     Fifeshire,       .          .          .          .  501 

House  of  the  Knights  Hospitallers,  Linlithgow,     .         .          .  508 

Dunfermline  Palace,      .          .     Fifeshire,       .         .          .          .  514 

Bishop's  Palace,  Kirkwall,      .     Orkney,          .          .         .         .  519 

Third   Period — Exceptional  modifications  of  the  Keep  Plan — Ex- 
amples described,  viz. — 

Hermitage  Castle,           .          .      Roxburghshire,       .          .         .  523 

Crookston  Castle,            .          .      Renfrewshire,         .         .         .  533 
Ravenscraig  Castle,         .          .     Fifeshire,        .         .          .          .538 

Morton  Castle,       .          .          .     Dumfriesshire,        .         .          .  545 


CONTENTS  XVI    ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 

PAGE 

Tullyallan  Castle,  .  .  .  Perthshire,  .  .  .  .550 
Rait  Castle,  ....  Nairnshire,  .  .  .  .558 
Arbroath  Abbey,  .  .  .  Forfarshire,  .  .  .  .561 

Example  illustrative  of  all  changes  of  Domestic  Architecture  from 
fifteenth  to  seventeenth  century  viz. — 

Dunnottar  Castle,  .          .     Kincardineshire,    .          .         .       562 

INDEX, -  .  577 


FROM  THE  TWELFTH  TO  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


INTRODUCTION. 

THE  object  of  this  treatise  is  to  endeavour  to  trace  the  historical 
sequence  of  the  various  phases  of  Architecture  which  have  prevailed  in 
the  old  castles  and  houses  of  Scotland,  and  to  try  to  define  and  explain 
the  different  styles  of  building  adopted  at  different  periods  from  the 
twelfth  century  till  the  revival  of  classic  architecture  in  modern  times. 
The  various  styles  of  our  ecclesiastical  architecture  have  been  well  ascer- 
tained, and  their  distinctive  features  defined,  and  every  one  knows  how 
much  additional  interest  is  given  to  the  study  of  our  old  churches  by 
a  knowledge  of  the  history  of  their  architecture.  On  visiting  an  ancient 
church,  one  not  only  admires  its  beauties,  but  naturally  and  at  once  assigns 
it  to  one  or  other  of  the  Gothic  periods,  and  marks  wherein  its  details 
resemble  or  differ  from  those  of  other  contemporary  examples.  An 
infinite  variety  of  interest  is  thus  imported  into  every  portion  of  the 
building,  into  every  ornament  and  every  moulding. 

Although  many  excellent  and  well-known  illustrations  of  our  baronial 
and  domestic  architecture  have  been  published,  there  is  no  systematic 
treatise  on  their  architectural  history.  It  is  scarcely  even  recognised 
that  the  architecture  of  our  castles  and  houses  has  a  definite  historical 
sequence.  The  interest  of  these  buildings  would  therefore  be  very 
largely  increased  if  their  various  styles  and  epochs,  with  the  character- 
istics of  each,  can  be  distinctly  defined.  One  would  then  know  what 
points  to  specially  examine,  and  what  to  look  for,  in  order  to  be  able  to 
place  each  building,  or  portion  of  a  building,  in  its  appropriate  niche,  and 
to  compare  the  various  examples  with  each  other,  and  with  the  corre- 
sponding buildings  of  other  countries.  Besides,  nothing  can  be  more 
interesting  and  instructive  than  to  follow  the  records  of  our  national 
history  contained  in  these  old  castles,  and  to  note  the  manners  and 
customs  of  our  ancestors  at  different  epochs  as  reflected  in  them. 


INTRODUCTION  2    ROMAN  BUILDINGS 

The  architectural  history  of  Scotland  does  not  date  from  a  very 
remote  period.  The  Roman  occupation  of  the  country  was  partial  and 
of  short  duration,  and  left  behind  few  or  no  buildings  which  might  serve 
as  models  for  the  native  inhabitants.  Nor  had  the  inhabitants  been  long 
enough  under  Roman  rule  to  have  acquired  the  art  of  imitating  Roman 
skill  and  workmanship. 

It  was  not  till  the  returning  tide  of  civilisation  had  reached  Scotland 
from  the  South,  in  the  tenth  and  eleventh  centuries,,  bringing  with  it 
the  revived  arts,  especially  that  of  Architecture,  that  we  find  any  traces 
of  the  building  art  in  this  country.  It  is  therefore  desirable,  before 
entering  on  the  consideration  of  Scotch  Architecture,  to  trace  shortly 
the  rise  and  progress  of  the  castellated  and  domestic  architecture  of  the 
middle  ages  in  the  places  of  its  birth,  and  thereafter  to  mark  the  steps  by 
which  it  was  gradually  introduced  from  other  countries  into  Scotland.1 
We  will  therefore  first  consider  shortly  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 
mediaeval  civil  and  military  architecture  of  France  and  England. 

When  the  Romans  retired  from  Gaul,  during  the  fourth  and  fifth 
centuries,  they  left  in  that  country  many  structures  indicative  of  their 
capacity  as  builders  and  engineers,  as  well  as  numerous  examples  of 
their  style  of  decorative  architecture.  The  remains  of  the  amphitheatres, 
aqueducts,  gateways,  and  other  works  still  existing  in  the  centre  and 
south  of  France,  .serve  to  show  the  size  and  extent  of  the  edifices 
erected  by  the  Romans  in  this  part  of  their  dominions.  Although  the 
number  of  the  Roman  buildings  still  surviving  is  comparatively  small, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  at  the  time  of  the  various  invasions  of  the 
Goths  and  Franks  the  country  was  to  a  large  extent  covered  with 
towns,  villages,  country  houses,  and  castles,  all  built  on  the  Roman 
model.  Up  to  the  tenth  century  the  old  Roman  buildings  continued  in 
many  cases  to  be  occupied,  while  others  were  built  in  imitation  of  them, 
although  in  certain  districts  modifications  were  introduced  by  the  Franks 
and  other  foreign  invaders.  As  the  Romans  gradually  withdrew  their 
troops,  they  built  several  chains  of  castles  and  forts  for  the  defence  of 
the  provinces  they  still  retained.  These  are  supposed  to  have  served  as 
models  for  the  earliest  of  the  mediaeval  towers.  Although  the  northern 
races  who  invaded  France  used  earthen  mounds,  and  ditches  with  wooden 
superstructures,  as  their  defensive  works,  still  the  Roman  standing  camp, 
with  its  ditch  and  mound,  probably  also  contributed  to  the  design  of  the 
earthworks  which  formed  the  principal  defences  of  the  earlier  fortresses 
of  the  middle  ages. 

In    the    south    of  Gaul    the   Visigoths  were    the   successors  of  the 

1  In  the  following  summary  the  authors  have  freely  availed  themselves  of  the  interesting 
works  of  Viollet-le-Duc  and  De  Caumont  on  the  Architecture  of  France,  and  of  the  equally 
interesting  and  very  careful  and  comprehensive  volumes  of  G.  T.  Clark  and  John  Henry 
Parker  on  the  Castles  and  Domestic  Architecture  of  England. 


GALLO-ROMAN  WORKS  3    INTRODUCTION 

Romans.  They  became  amalgamated  with  the  inhabitants,  and  con- 
tinued much  of  the  civilisation  they  had  acquired  from  them.  Their 
country  houses  were  built  after  the  form  of  the  Roman  villae.  These 
comprised  an  outer  court,  or  villa  rustica,  containing  detached  buildings 
for  storing  corn  and  other  purposes  connected  with  agriculture,  and 
houses  for  the  farm-servants,  artificers,  and  others  ;  while  the  inner  court 
formed  the  villa  urbana,  and  was  the  residence  of  the  proprietor  and  his 
family.  This  arrangement  was  afterwards  followed  in  the  mediaeval 
castles,  with  their  outer  and  inner  wards. 

The  influence  of  the  Roman  forms  of  plans  and  design  may  also  be 
traced  in  many  other  directions.  A  striking  example  of  this  is  the 
mediaeval  monastery,  which  was,  in  general  plan,  a  direct  imitation  of  a 
Roman  house.  The  cloister  with  its  pillars  surrounding  an  open  court, 
having  apartments  opening  off  it,  is  clearly  derived  from  the  Roman 
peristyle  of  the  town  house,  and  the  villa  urbana  of  the  country  mansion 
— the  part  of  the  house  reserved  for  private  use.  The  outer  court,  with 
its  stables,  granaries,  etc.,  corresponds  with  the  villa  rusiica  of  the  Roman 
country  house.  The  tablina  becomes  the  chapter-house.  The  kitchen 
and  refectory  are  in  both  cases  situated  on  the  outer  side  of  the  court. 
The  style  of  workmanship  used  in  the  masonry  of  buildings  erected  up 
to  the  eleventh  century  was  also  of  Roman  origin.  The  town  of  Carcas- 
sonne in  Languedoc  still  retains  its  Roman  walls  and  towers,  and  traces 
of  Roman  works  utilised  and  incorporated  in  mediaeval  structures  are  to 
be  found  in  the  walls  of  Aries  and  many  other  localities  in  the  southern 
parts  of  Gaul,  where  the  Roman  influence  was  strongest.  In  the  northern 
parts  of  Gaul  the  destruction  of  Roman  buildings  was  more  complete,  owing 
to  the  devastation  caused  by  the  incessant  invasions  of  the  Norsemen. 

Under  the  Carlovingians  a  similar  form  of  plan  for  house-building  to 
that  of  the  South,  above  referred  to,  was  adopted  throughout  other  parts 
of  the  Empire,  but  with  modifications  in  different  localities.  A  large 
outer  court  contained  all  the  buildings  connected  with  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  and  the  workshops  of  the  necessary  tradesmen  ;  and  where  a 
Prankish  chief  resided  there  arose  in  the  midst  of  the  court  a  hall,  set 
upon  a  mound,  which  formed  the  house  of  the  chief  and  his  family. 
The  whole  "  villa  "  or  castle  was  enclosed  with  a  ditch  and  palisade  for 
defence.  These  establishments  were  generally  on  the  plain,  for  the 
convenience  of  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  case  the  hall  was  set  for 
security  on  the  top  of  an  artificial  mound  or  motte,  thi'own  up  from  the 
ditch  which  was  dug  around  it.  In  that  situation  the  hall  and  other  erec- 
tions were  generally  of  wood.  Such  fortifications  were  common  to  the 
Northmen,  both  on  the  Continent  and  in  England.  Numerous  examples  of 
castles  with  defences  composed  of  earthen  mounds  and  ditches  are  illus- 
trated by  M.  de  Caumont  in  France,  and  Mr.  Clark  in  England.  These 
were  provided  with  wooden  palisades,  and  the  chief's  hall  was  also  built  in 


INTRODUCTION  4    —  NORMAN  KEEPS 

wood.  The  wooden  erections  have  now  of  course  disappeared,  but  the 
enclosing  ditches  and  mounds  and  the  central  motte  may  still  be  traced. 

The  wooden  castle  on  the  top  of  the  motte,  with  the  steps  leading 
up  to  it,  may  be  seen  depicted  in  the  Bayeux  Tapestry,  and  other 
mediaeval  designs. 

In  the  hilly  parts  of  the  country  the  castles  were  naturally  situated 
on  a  height,  or  the  edge  of  a  cliff,  and  the  shape  of  the  enceinte  was 
necessarily  regulated  by  the  configuration  of  the  ground,  its  slopes  or 
precipices  being  made  available  for  defence.  The  hall  or  keep  was  set 
either  on  the  most  elevated  point,  or  so  placed  as  to  defend  the  weakest 
places.  In  mountainous  districts,  where  stone  abounded,  it  naturally  soon 
came  to  replace  wood  as  the  building  material.  The  space  afforded  by 
special  sites  was  frequently  not  large  enough  to  contain  all  the  dependen- 
cies. In  such  cases  the  various  out-buildings  wereerected  at  the  base  of  the 
hill  or  escarpment,  and  were  included  within  an  outer  enclosing  wall,  or 
palisade  and  ditch,  thus  forming  a  second  court  or  basse-cour.  The  keep 
was  usually  so  placed  as  to  command  and  defend  these  out-buildings. 

It  was  soon  found  that  the  keep  in  the  centre  of  the  court  was  not 
conveniently  situated  for  defence,  and  that  it  was  better  placed  next  the 
outer  wall,  so  as  to  allow  the  garrison  to  make  sorties  and  take  the 
enemy  by  surprise,  and  also  to  permit  the  garrison  in  case  of  need  to 
escape.  We  find  the  keep  thus  placed  from  the  eleventh  century.  This 
was  also  the  case  in  the  fortresses  composed  of  earthworks,  the  motte 
being  usually  placed  on  one  of  the  lines  of  the  enclosing  mounds. 

The  Normans  adopted  a  similar  arrangement  of  their  defences  from 
the  eleventh  century.  Till  nearly  the  middle  of  that  century  the 
fortresses  of  Normandy  consisted  entirely  of  earthworks,  with  wooden 
palisades  and  buildings,  but  from  that  date  square  towers  or  keeps  began 
to  be  built.  The  Normans  devoted  their  attention  chiefly  to  making 
these  keeps  of  great  strength,  while  the  outworks  were  of  comparatively 
small  importance,  and  did  not  include  the  extensive  courtyards  common 
in  other  parts  of  Frankia.  One  reason  for  this  may  have  been  that  the 
Normans  worked  together,  and  placed  their  castles  so  as  to  occupy 
strategic  points,  and  protect  one  another  and  the  country  round  about  them. 
The  Frank  castles,  on  the  other  hand,  were  isolated  and  independent, 
each  being  constructed  for  the  defence  of  the  lord  and  his  retainers,  with 
their  families  and  possessions.  The  latter  castles  were  therefore  neces- 
sarily of  great  extent,  and  the  outer  works  are  of  first  importance. 

The  first  idea  of  the  Norman  keep  was  pi'obably  a  wooden  block-house 
for  the  protection  of  valuables,  booty,  etc.,  defended  with  ditches  or 
earthworks.  When  the  Normans  had  more  thoroughly  established  them- 
selves in  the  country,  they  began  to  build  their  castles  of  stone,  and  by  the 
time  of  the  Conquest  of  England  the  north  of  France  was  well  supplied 
with  castles,  some  consisting  of  the  earthworks  above  referred  to,  and 


TYPICAL  ARRANGEMENTS  5    INTRODUCTION 

others  of  quadrangular  stone-built  keeps  of  the  usual  well-known  Norman 
type. 

In  England  the  Roman  influence  was  much  less  marked  than  in 
Gaul,  nearly  all  the  Roman  buildings  having  been  destroyed  by  the 
Danes  in  their  frequent  invasions.  A  few  buildings,  however,  such  as 
Porchester  Castle  and  Pevensey,  still  remain,  and  have  been  incorporated 
by  the  Normans  in  their  castles.  The  fortresses  of  the  inhabitants  up  to 
the  eleventh  century  consisted  of  earthen  mounds  and  ditches  defended 
by  wooden  palisades,  such  as  we  have  seen  were  common  at  the  same 
period  in  the  north  of  France.  As  in  the  latter,  the  hall  or  castle  of  the 
chief  was  built  of  wood,  and  stood  on  the  top  of  the  motte  or  earthen 
mound  thrown  up  from  the  excavation  of  the  ditch  surrounding  it.  It 
was  approached  by  a  straight  wooden  stair  up  the  slope  of  the  mound, 
and  protected  by  a  drawbridge.  There  are  hardly  any  traces  of  building 
in  stone  and  lime  before  the  Norman  Conquest.  After  that  date  the 
erection  of  Norman  keeps  became  common,  but  the  old  wooden  towers 
and  other  defences  were  in  many  cases  long  retained. 

Of  Norman  keeps  there  are  abundant  examples  remaining  both  in 
Northern  France  and  England.  After  the  Conquest,  England  was  covered 
with  castles  of  this  type,  such  as  Dover,  Rochester,  Newcastle,  the  Tower 
of  London,  etc.  These  Norman  keeps  are  always  square  or  rectangular 
in  plan.  They  have  generally  flat  pilasters  on  the  exterior,  the  angle 
pilasters  being  carried  up  above  the  parapet  in  the  form  of  a  square  or 
round  turret  at  each  corner.  The  walls  terminate  in  a  crenelated  parapet 
about  2  feet  thick  and  5  feet  high,  carried  up  flush  with  the  face  of  the 
wall,  and  concealing  the  roof.  The  roof  is  of  the  simple  coupled  form, 
with  a  gable  at  each  end,  but  the  ridge  does  not  rise  above  the  parapet. 
There  are  no  projecting  corbels  with  machicolations  between,  the  only 
machicolations  used  being  long  openings  in  the  floors.  The  merlons  are 
broad  and  the  embrasures  narrow.  The  larger  keeps  have  the  entrance 
protected  by  a  forework.  This  is  a  building  the  full  width  of  the  keep, 
and  attached  to  one  end  of  it.  It  contains  a  straight  stair  leading  to 
the  true  entrance  of  the  keep,  which  is  on  the  first  or  second  floor.  The 
entrance  to  the  forework  is  protected  by  strong  oak  doors,  and  bars 
running  into  the  wall,  and  sometimes  with  a  portcullis.  A  tower  rises 
above  the  doorway,  from  which  missiles  may  be  thrown  on  an  enemy 
attempting  to  ascend  the  straight  stair.  There  are  also  sometimes 
intermediate  doors  with  towers  above  them,  and  at  the  top  of  the  stair 
a  vestibule,  well  defended,  and  sometimes  approached  by  a  moveable 
bridge.  In  the  upper  floors  of  the  forework  was  occasionally  placed  the 
chapel,  and  the  prisons  were  often  under  the  stair. 

The  interior  of  the  keep  was  very  simple  in  its  general  arrangements. 
The  door  on  the  first  or  second  floor  leads  into  the  chief  room  or  hall, 
where  all  the  garrison  lived  and  slept.  From  the  hall  a  stair  conducts 


INTRODUCTION 


—    6    — 


NORMAN  KEEPS 


down  to  the  ground  floor,  which  contained  the  stores,  and  another  stair 
leads  to  the  upper  floors  and  battlements.  The  upper  floor  is  generally 
appropriated  as  the  owner's  private  apartment  or  bedroom.  Many  of 
the  older  keeps  have  been  raised  a  story  in  Norman  times  to  obtain  addi- 
tional accommodation,  and  a  flat  leaden  roof  introduced,  which  was  useful 
for  working  military  engines.  This  was  managed  without  heightening 
the  building,  by  utilising  the  space  formerly  occupied  by  the  gabled  roof. 
The  French  keeps  are  similar  in  general  idea,  but  varied  in 
details.  In  some  of  them  there  is  a  large  open  top  story,  where  all 
the  garrison  might  assemble  for  the  defence  of  the  parapets.  The 
Norman  keeps  have  always  walls  of  great  thickness,  and  trust  to  the 
passive  resistance  they  thus  offer  to  attack.  The  idea  of  defending  the 


.. 


=^S^3-4C^ 


FIG.  1.  —  Keep  of  Chateau  d'Arques  from  the  North-East. 


keep  by  flanking  towers  has  not  yet  been  recognised.  The  ground  floor 
is  sometimes  vaulted,  and  the  upper  floors  are  invariably  of  wood.  There 
are  usually  only  small  loops  or  air-holes  on  the  ground  floor,  and  the 
windows  in  the  upper  floors  are  small  externally,  although  with  wide 
bays  internally,  generally  containing  stone  seats.  In  large  halls  there  is 
sometimes  an  upper  passage  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  with  a  row  of 
windows  in  the  outside  wall,  and  arches  in  the  inner  wall  next  the  hall, 
like  the  triforium  arcade  of  a  church.  The  interior  stairs  are  spiral,  and 


FRENCH  EXAMPLES 


INTRODUCTION 


carried  up  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  usually  at  the  angles.  There 
are  also  frequently  small  chambers  constructed  in  the  thickness  of  the 
walls,  used  as  bedrooms,  garde-robes,  etc.  These  generally  enter  from 
the  ingoings  of  windows.  The  well  is  frequently  under  one  of  the  walls, 
and  a  circular  opening  is  carried  up  to  the  first  floor,  and  sometimes  to 
all  the  floors,  for  the  supply  of  water. 

Large  keeps,  like  Rochester,  are  divided  by  a  wall,  which  has  often 
wide-arched  openings  on  the  principal  floor  so  as  to  form  one  large  hall, 
while  the  upper  and  lower  floors  are  divided  into  two  apartments  with 
doors  between.  The  passages  and  stairs  are  generally  arranged  so  as  to 
puzzle  a  stranger,  and  so  that  no  one  can  go  out  or  in  without  passing 
through  the  hall  and  being  seen.  Secret  passages  and  exits  are  provided 


Fio.  2. — Chateau  d'Arques.    Exterior,  showing  Ditch. 

for  escape,  and  there  are  frequently  subterranean  passages  and  stairs  cut 
in  the  rock  beneath  the  castles,  giving  exit  to  the  ditches  and  outworks. 

These  keeps  are  generally  provided  with  fireplaces,  and  there  is 
usually  an  oratory  or  chapel.  The  kitchen  is  frequently  not  observable, 
but  is  usually  on  the  level  of  the  hall,  or  even  in  the  upper  floors. 

The  following  examples  of  Norman  keeps  in  France  and  England 
will  explain  and  illustrate  the  above  general  descriptions : — 

The  Castle  of  Arques  (Fig.  1),  in  the  north  of  France,  comprises  one  of 


INTRODUCTION 


NORMAN  KEEPS 


the  earliest  keeps  on  record,  having  been  built  by  William  of  Arques,  uncle 
of  the  Conqueror,  in  1 039-43.  The  entrance  is  by  a  forework  (at  the  right 
hand  in  the  view),  the  stair  commencing  at  the  north-west  angle,  passing 
through  a  buttress,  and  then  up  the  west  side,  where  it  was  strongly 


FIG.  3. — Chateau  de  Beaugency. 


defended.  The  buttresses  in  this  instance  project  much  more  than  usual. 
The  interior  is  divided  by  a  central  wall,  and  M.  Viollet-le-Duc  shows 
how  this  was  made  available  in  the  defence  of  the  keep. 

The  general  view  (Fig.  2)  shows  the  immense  ditch,  about  60  feet  deep, 


FRENCH   EXAMPLES  -    9    -  INTRODUCTION 

cut  in  the  chalk  rock,  which  surrounded  the  enceinte,  and  the  crest  of 
which  was  fortified  with  a  strong  palisade.  The  dotted  lines  indicate  the 
probable  finish  of  the  top  of  the  keep,  and  the  ruins  of  the  bridge  which 
crossed  the  ditch  from  the  postern  are  also  visible.  There  are  numerous 
sub-ways  cut  in  the  chalk  rock  under  the  wall  of  the  enceinte,  some  of 
which  are  now  visible  from  the  exterior.  These  were  intended  to  coun- 
teract the  mining  operations  of  the  besiegers.  It  will  be  observed  that 
the  keep  is  so  placed  as  to  touch  the  wall  of  the  enceinte. 

Beaugency  (Fig.  3),  on  the  Loire,  is  another  French  keep  of  great 
size  and  height,  belonging  to  the  eleventh  century.  The  narrow  pro- 
jecting buttresses  are  unusual  features,  but  somewhat  resemble  those  of 
Arques.  The  mullioned  windows,  which  are  large  compared  to  the 
Norman  openings,  are  evidently  insertions  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
The  entrance  door  is  on  the  first  floor,  without  any  forework. 

The  keep  of  the  ancient  royal  castle  of  Loches  (Indre  et  Loire)  is 
large  and  imposing. 

The  pilasters  on  the  faces  (Fig.  5)  are  of  a  form  unusual  in  castles, 
but  more  frequent  in  Ecclesiastical  Architecture.  The  forework  is  also 
of  peculiar  form,  being  here  developed  so  as  to  form  a  building  of  the 
L-plan  (Fig.  4),  so  often  adopted  in  later  castles. 


FIG.  4. — Loches  Keep.    Plan  of  Basement. 

There  has  been  an  external  flight  of  steps  up  to  the  door  of  the  fore- 
work,  which  was  on  the  first-floor  level.  The  forework  itself  forms  a 
vestibule,  with  a  staircase  to  the  second  or  principal  floor  running  round 
the  walls  on  three  sides,  the  steps  being  partly  overhung.  There  was 
also  a  door  to  the  first  floor  from  the  vestibule.  The  basement  floor  of 


INTRODUCTION 


—    10    — 


NORMAN    KEEPS 


aailpii 

,jp4-i  ,nl  •  ;.  i  ,-i.J-il-'    -i  ,    'Vr~       I     ,  .  .=• 

Hr5?,J,,j'.l-  H  :    •'  !    ,    i1  -     r  I   \-  '.    :    1  4    ':    I 


ANGLO-ROMAN  WORKS 


—     11    — 


INTRODUCTION 


the  vestibule  was  probably  a  prison,  and  the  chapel  was  situated  above 
the  staircase. 

The  walls  surrounding  this  castle  are  of  great  extent,  and  are  a  fine 
illustration  of  the  style  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and  will  be  referred  to 
further  on. 

A  greater  number  of  Roman  buildings  seem  to  have  survived  the 
ravages  of  the  Norsemen  in  England  than  in  Northern  Gaul.  At 
Por,chester  and  Pevensey  the  old  Roman  walls  and  towers,  with  the  dis- 
tinctive small  dressed  blocks  .of  stone  bound  together  with  bands  of  thin 
tiles,  still  remain.  These  old  walls,  built  in  Roman  times,  have  since 


_ 


'^  ''"''  -==^-    -  ^—*    s 


Fio.  6.  —  Colchester  Castle.     Exterior. 


witnessed  the  innumerable  descents  of  the  Saxons,  and  the  landing  of  the 
Normans  under  the  Conqueror.  They  have  played  an  important  part  in 
the  wars  between  the  Norman  kings  and  their  subjects ;  they  have  seen 
the  sea  retire  for  miles  from  their  walls  ;  and  they  still  subsist,  in  all  their 


INTRODUCTION 


—    12    


NORMAN   KEEPS 


solid  strength,  to  attest  the  vigour  and  power  of  their  originators.  But 
in  England,  as  in  Northern  Gaul,  after  the  tenth  century,  the  Roman 
manner  of  building  was  but  little  followed.  Some  examples,  however, 
remain  where  Roman  workmanship  and  materials  have  been  closely 
imitated. 

Colchester  Castle,  in  Essex,  for  example  (Fig.  6),  has  so  great  a  resem- 
blance to  Roman  work,  that  it  was  for  long  supposed  to  be  a  Roman  build- 
ing, and  to  have  been  erected  as  a  shrine  for  some  Pagan  deity.  There 
seems  now,  however,  to  be  no  question  as  to  its  being  a  Norman  castle, 
built  largely,  like  the  priory  adjoining,  with  bricks  formed  in  imitation  of 
the  Roman  pattern.  The  Norman  entrance  doorway,  shown  on  the 
sketch,  is  a  later  addition ;  the  original  keep  probably  dates  from  the 
end  of  the  eleventh  century.  The  entrance  door  was  then,  no  doubt, 
on  the  first  floor,  immediately  over  the  inserted  Norman  doorway.  The 
extent  of  the  building  and  its  lowness  are  very  unusual  Norman  features, 
but  these  may  have  been  suggested  by  some  previous  Roman  work  on 
the  site.  The  exterior  walls  were  cased  with  ashlar,  which  has  been 
to  a  great  extent  stripped  off,  and  thus  the  interior  construction  of 
the  masonry  becomes  visible,  showing  courses  of  bricks  or  tiles  binding 
the  rubblework  together. 


FIG.  7.  —  Colchester  Castle.    Interior. 


The  sketch  of  the  interior  of  the  keep  (Fig.  7)  gives  a  fine  example 
of  the  "herring-bone"  method  of  building  with  brick,  derived  from 
Roman  times,  and  not  uncommon  in  Norman  brick-work,  as  at  Guildford 
Castle  and  elsewhere. 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES 


—    13 


INTRODUCTION 


The  sketch  of  the  keep  of  Newcastle  (Fig.  8),  although  the  building 
has  been  to  some  extent  altered  and  restored,  gives  a  good  idea  of  the 


FIG.  S. — Newcastle  Keep. 


appearance  of  a  complete  Norman  keep  with  its  forebuilcling,  armed  with 
its  several  towers  guarding  the  stair  leading  up  to  the  main  entrance  on 
the  upper  floor. 


Fio.  9.— Castle  Hedingham. 


Castle  Hedingham,  in  Essex,  is  a  fine  and  very  perfect  late  Norman 
keep.  The  plan  (Fig.  9)  shows  that  it  is  almost  square,  and  divided  into 
two  compartments  by  a  central  wall.  The  keep  has  the  usual  broad 


INTRODUCTION 


NORMAN  KEEPS 


pilasters  at  the  angles  (Fig.  10),  with  a  square  sinking  on  the  corners,  and 
narrower  pilasters  in  the  centre  of  each  face,  all  springing  from  a  broad 
splayed  plinth.  The  forebuilding  is  much  destroyed,  but  its  outline  can 
still  be  traced,  containing  the  stair  to  the  main  entrance  on  the  first  floor. 
This  doorway  has  recessed  shafts  with  good  Norman  caps  and  bases,  and 
chevron  mouldings  round  the  arch.  From  this  point  a  newel  stair  leads 
up  to  the  second  floor,  which  contains  the  great  hall,  and  down  to  the 


FIG.  10.—  Castle  Hedingham  from  the  West. 


basement,  which,  together  with  the  first  floor,  contained  the  stores.  The 
windows  are  all  small  externally,  with  chevron  mouldings  round  the 
arches,  but  have  wide  square  recesses  internally,  with  full  centred  vaults. 
In  the  hall  they  are  provided  with  stone  seats  in  the  recesses,  and  the 
wall  arches  are  adorned  with  bold  chevron  ornaments.  The  hall  is 
38  feet  long  by  33  feet  wide.  We  have  here  a  fine  example  of  the 
removal  of  the  central  wall  so  as  to  form  one  great  hall  on  the  principal 
floor.  At  Rochester  this  is  effected  by  means  of  several  arches,  but  at 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES 


—    15    


INTRODUCTION 


Hedingham  the  whole  of  the  wall  on  the  principal  floor  is  omitted,  and 
the  centra]  wall  above  is  supported  on  one  grand  arch  which  spans 
the  whole  width  of  the  keep,  or  33  feet.  This  arch  is  enriched  with 


FIG.  11.— Rochester  Castle  from  the  South-West. 


Norman  mouldings,  and  springs  from  bold  caps  and  corbels  in  the  side 
walls. 

The  hall  is  two  stories  in  height,  and  has  the  usual  gallery  running 


INTRODUCTION 


—  16  — 


NORMAN   KEEPS 


round  the  upper  floor,  with  arches  in  the  inner  wall  to  permit  the  hall  to 
have  the  benefit  of  light  from  the  windows.  This  is  probably  the  finest 
hall  of  any  Norman  keep  in  England,  and  we  regret  that  we  are  unable 
to  give  a  view  of  it,  all  sketching  being  most  strictly  prohibited. 

The  Castle  of  Rochester  (Fig.  1 1)  is  one  of  the  noblest  of  the  Norman 
keeps  in  England.  Mr.  Clark  fixes  the  date  of  its  erection  in  1126. 

It  has  the  usual  pilasters  at  the  angles  and  on  the  face  of  the  walls, 
the  former  carried  up  as  turrets  above  the  roof.  The  windows  are  small, 
and  enriched  with  Norman  ornament.  The  forework  is  much  destroyed, 
but  shows  how  the  entrance  was  planned  and  defended.  The  stair 
(Fig.  12)  commences  on  the  west  face,  and  has  a  landing  at  the  north- 
west angle,  where  there  are  the  remains  of  the  arch  forming  the  first 
door,  over  which  there  was  a  tower. 


FIG.  12.— Rochester  Castle.    Plan  of  Keep. 

The  stair  then  continues  along  the  north  front  till  it  reaches  the 
level  of  the  first  floor.  There  the  entrance  to  the  vestibule  was  defended 
by  a  moveable  bridge,  with  a  pit  beneath.  The  staircase  was  roofed  in, 
and  the  passage  over  the  drawbridge* was  defended  by  the  outer  wall, 
which  was  carried  over  the  pit  on  an  arch.  The  vestibule  forms  an  outer 
post  of  defence  before  the  entrance  to  the  keep  itself  is  reached.  The 
plan  shows  the  building  divided  by  a  wall  near  the  centre.  The  well  is 
under  the  centre  of  this  wall,  and  from  it  a  circular  tube  in  the  masonry 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES 

imAf 


—  17  — 


INTRODUCTION 


" 
> 


FIG.  13.— Rochester  Castle.     Interior  of  Keep. 

is  carried  up  to  the  various  floors  for  the  supply  of  water.     The  ground 
floor,  and  probably  the  first  floor,  were  used  as  stores. 


INTRODUCTION7 


—   18  — 


NORMAN  WORKS 


From  the  main  entrance  a  newel  stair  in  the  north-east  angle  leads 
to  the  upper  floors. 

The  view  of  the  interior  (Fig.  13)  is  taken  at  the  level  of  the  second,  or 
principal  floor,  where  the  central  wall  is  pierced  with  four  arches,  so  that 
the  whole  might  form  one  large  hall.  It  appears,  however,  to  have  been 
divided  by  a  lower  arcade  inserted  between  the  pillars.  Over  the  lower 
windows  of  this  floor  is  a  second  tier  of  windows,  between  which  and 
the  arches  in  the  inner  wall  a  gallery  runs  round  the  building.  The 
windows  of  the  upper  and  lower  floors  are  also  seen.  There  are  fire- 
places on  the  principal  floor,  the  chimneys  from  which  are  carried  through 
the  wall,  and  find  vent  in  the  angles  of  the  outer  buttresses.  None  of 
the  floors  are  vaulted ;  the  holes  in  the  walls  show  where  the  wooden 
beams  rested.  The  vestibule  is  carried  up  as  a  tower,  and  contains  the 
chapel  on  the  upper  floor,  and  two  tiers  of  prisons  beneath  the  vestibule. 
The  south-east  angle  was  undermined  in  the  siege  by  King  John, 
and  rebuilt  in  a  round  form.  Near  this  point  there  was  a  door  giving 
access  to  the  battlements  of  the  enceinte  by  a  drawbridge  from  the 
keep. 

Dover  Castle  (Fig.  1 4)  contains  a  very  large  and  perfect  keep  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  n. 


PIG.  14.— Dover  Castle  from  the  North-West. 


The  view  shows  the  usual  external  characteristics  of  the  Norman 
keep.  On  the  left  of  the  keep  are  seen  the  three  towers  of  the  forework, 
which  here  is  very  perfect,  and  leads  up  to  the  main  floor  of  the  building, 
which  is  on  the  second  story.  Surrounding  the  keep  are  the  walls  and 
towers  of  the  inner  or  Norman  ward,  and  the  whole  enceinte  is  enclosed 


IN  ENGLAND 


INTRODUCTION 


with  the  lofty  walls  and  round  towers  of  the  thirteenth  century.     These 


Pio.  15. — Mout  du  Chevalier,  Cannes.     Keep  Tower  from  the  North-West. 

are  now  shorn  of  their  battlements,  for  which  modern  works  are  substi- 
tuted.    To  the  right  is  a  picturesque  group  of  buildings  of  later  date 


INTRODUCTION 


—    20    — 


KEEPS  ON  THE  RIVIERA 


(fourteenth  century),  called  the  "  Constable's  Gateway/'  with  its  draw- 
bridge, which  formed  the  principal  entrance  to  the  castle. 

The  enceinte  is  surrounded  on  this,  the  most  exposed  side,  with  a 
wide  and  deep  ditch.  The  round  tower  rising  in  the  centre  of  the  ditch 
was  an  outwork,  dominating  the  higher  ground  to  the  north-west,  and 
communicating  with  the  north-west  angle  of  the  enceinte  by  means  of  a 
covered  way,  and  also  with  a  spur  work  erected  by  Hubert  de  Burgh  in 
1216  for  the  protection  of  this  weak  point  in  the  defences,  and  now  con- 
verted into  a  modern  ravelin. 

From  the  above  covered  way,  and  in  various  other  places,  tunnels  are 
cut  through  the  chalk  rock  to  assist  in  the  defences,  as  at  Arques. 

From  an  early  period  square  towers,  somewhat  similar  to  the  Norman 
keeps,  were  in  use  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean.  Many  of  them 
still  exist  in  the  towns  along  the  Riviera,  as  at  Cannes,  Antibes,  and 
many  other  places.  These  are  built  with  solid  masonry,  carefully  dressed 
on  the  joints,  but  left  rough  on  the  face,  after  the  Roman  manner  of 
construction.  The  tower  of  the  Mont  du  Chevalier,  at  Cannes,  is  a  good 
example.  It  is  built  on  a  detached  and  rocky  promontory  jutting  out 
into  the  bay,  and  was  surrounded  with  a  strong  wall  enclosing  a  court- 
yard, which  contained  a  chapel  and  other  buildings. 


MONT  Oil  CHEVALIER 

CANNES 


UAt>tMir<i  I-T.AN  FIRST  FLOOR  OLAN  ?fCTfI5W 

FIG.  16. — Mont  du  Chevalier,  Cannes. 


The  plans  and  view  (Figs.  15,  16)  explain  its  design.  The  basement 
was  vaulted,  and  had  no  windows,  the  only  access  to  it  being  from  a 
trap-door  in  the  floor  above.  The  entrance  to  the  tower  was  on  the 
first  floor,  and  was  reached  by  a  wooden  stair,  the  projecting  step  for 
receiving  the  top  of  which  still  remains.  From  this  level  a  stone  stair, 


NORMAN  SHELL  KEEPS  21    INTRODUCTION 

corbelled  out  from  the  interior  of  the  wall,  and  running  round  the  sides 
of  the  apartments,  led  to  the  upper  floors.  The  roof  was  probably  flat, 
and  had  a  parapet  with  crenelations,  which  was  only  destroyed  some 
years  ago  when  the  tower  was  struck  by  lightning. 

The  openings  for  light  are  small  and  narrow  longitudinal  slits  in  the 
masonry,  without  splay  or  ornament,  and  they  have  no  internal  bay,  but 
are  mere  oblong  holes  passing  through  the  walls. 

This  tower  was  built  in  the  twelfth  century. 

The  design  of  these  southern  towers  was  probably  derived  from  that 
of  similar  Roman  buildings,  just  as  the  northern  keeps  of  the  Normans 
may  be  another  descendant  from  the  same  original.  It  will  be  afterwards 
pointed  out  how  the  same  simple  form  continued  for  several  centuries  to 
be  the  ordinary  plan  of  castles  and  houses  in  Scotland.  It  would  thus 
appear  that  in  all  places,  and  at  all  times,  the  simple  square  tower  seems 
to  have  been  adopted  as  the  most  natural  form  in  which  to  build  a  tower 
of  defence. 

Besides  these  Rectangular  Keeps  the  Normans  erected  another  kind 
of  stronghold,  called  the  Shell  Keep.  For  several  centuries  before  the 
Norman  Conquest  (as  already  mentioned)  the  castles  of  Northern  Gaul 
and  England  consisted  of  earthworks  with  ditches  and  palisades,  the 
buildings  within  these  strongholds,  like  all  the  domestic  buildings  of  the 
Saxons  and  Norsemen,  generally  being  of  wood. 

A  large  number  of  these  fortresses  existed  and  were  occupied  at  the 
time  of  the  Conquest. 

They  were  generally  well  situated  for  defence,  and,  like  the  early 
establishments  of  the  Roman  Gauls  above  described,  they  comprised  an 
extensive  enceinte,  within  which  was  a  lofty  mound  or  motte,  with  its 
ditch,  having  the  chiefs  house  built  with  wood  on  the  top.  It  now 
(eleventh  century)  became  the  fashion  with  the  Normans  to  substi- 
tute stone  for  wood  in  their  castles,  and,  finding  that  a  solid  square 
keep  could  not  safely  be  erected  on  the  mottes  of  forced  earth,  they 
built  a  wall  round  the  top  of  the  mound  and  placed  their  dwellings 
as  lean-to's  against  the  interior  of  this  wall,  leaving  a  courtyard  in  the 
centre.  These  Shell  Keeps  are  polygonal  or  curved  in  form  to  suit  the 
ground. 

As  a  rule,  the  Shell  Keeps  are  always  on  an  old  mound,  natural  or 
artificial,  while  the  Rectangular  Keeps  are  on  new  sites  without  mounds, 
and  the  two  forms  of  keep  rarely  occur  together. 

The  Shell  Keep,  like  the  Rectangular  Keep,  is  generally  situated  on 
the  enceinte,  and  has  its  own  ditch  and  drawbridge,  and  a  steep  flight 
of  steps  leading  up  the  mound  to  the  door. 

Of  the  Shell  Keep,  the  Castle  of  Gisors,  near  Vernon,  in  the  north  of 
France,  may  be  taken  as  an  illustration.  It  has  the  lofty  artificial  mound 
or  motte,  situated  in  the  centre  of  a  large  enceinte  surrounded  with  lofty 


INTRODUCTION 


—  22  — 


NORMAN  SHELL  KEEPS 


walls,  the  fine  gateways  of  which  still  exist.  On  the  top  of  the  motte 
is  the  shell  (Fig.  17)  or  wall  of  polygonal  form,  with  flat  pilasters  on 
the  angles.  The  entrance  door  is  seen  on  the  left,  a  plain  archway,  to 
which  a  straight  flight  of  steps  led  up  from  the  level  ground  below, 
where  there  was,  no  doubt,  a  drawbridge  over  a  ditch  which  surrounded 
the  motte,  but  is  now  filled  up.  There  is  a  small  keep  or  tower  opposite 
the  entrance,  and  the  remains  of  a  Norman  chapel  with  circular  apse 
against  the  wall  of  the  shell. 


FIG.  IT.—  Gisors  Castle.    Motte  and  Keep. 

The  other  buildings  would  be  erected  round  the  wall  on  the  various 
sides.  This  keep  was  probably  built  in  the  latter  half  of  the  twelfth 
century. 

The  great  tower  of  Windsor  Castle  (now  rebuilt)  gives  an  idea  of  the 
effect  of  a  great  shell  keep  raised  on  a  lofty  mound.  Berkeley  Castle, 
Gloucestershire,  Durham  Castle,  and  numerous  other  shell  keeps,  are 
fully  described  by  Mr.  Clark  in  his  work  on  the  Castles  of  England. 

Norman  keeps  had  always  one  or  more  castle  garths  or  courtyards 
attached  to  them,  enclosed  with  a  curtain  wall  connecting  with  the 
keep,  but  not  generally  giving  access  to  it  from  the  wall  battlements. 
Sometimes,  as  at  Rochester,  the  keep  is  placed  near  the  wall  of  the 
enceinte,  but  not  touching  it,  so  that  it  may  either  be  joined  to  it  by 


NORMAN  HALLS  AND  HOUSES  23    INTRODUCTION 

means  of  a  moveable  bridge,  or  separated  as  required.  There  were 
square  flanking  towers  at  the  corners  of  the  enceinte,  and  at  intervals 
along  the  curtains.  These  had  usually  wooden  floors  and  stairs.  The 
ditches  are  large  and  deep,  and  the  counterscarp  is  protected  by  a 
palisade,  as  at  Arques.  The  gateways  are  not  important,  and  there  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  any  outer  barbican  protecting  them. 

The  enclosing  walls,  like  the  keeps,  had  no  machicolated  parapets, 
but  it  is  probable  that  they  were  armed  in  some  cases  with  projecting 
wooden  hoards  or  breteches,  such  as  we  shall  see  were  so  prominently 
used  in  the  succeeding  styles. 

These  keeps  must  certainly  not  have  been  very  comfortable  or  luxu- 
rious places  of  residence,  and  as  the  Norman  nobles  became  more  settled 
in  their  possessions,  they  gradually  began  to  build  themselves  more 
comfortable  dwellings  in  the  inner  courtyard,  reserving  the  keep  as  a 
place  of  last  retreat  in  case  of  siege.  The  principal  building  in  the 
inner  court  was  the  hall,  with  its  appendages.  The  hall  was  a  large 
building  of  stone  or  wood.  It  was  either  on  the  ground  floor,  or 
placed  above  a  half-sunk  story.  In  some  of  the  larger  examples  the 
roof  was  supported  either  with  one  row  of  stone  or  wooden  pillars  down 
the  centre,*  or  with  two  rows  of  pillars,  dividing  the  building  into  a 
central  nave  and  side  aisles  like  a  church.  Of  this  class  we  have  still  a 
fine  example  at  Oakham,  in  Rutlandshire.  (See  Parker.)  There  was 
also  erected  in  the  court  a  solar  or  lord's  room,  generally  over  a  cellar. 
The  kitchen  seems  to  have  been  originally  a  temporary  wooden  erection 
left  open  above.  The  buttery,  pantry,  etc.,  were  also  in  use,  but  their 
position  is  not  quite  distinct ;  they  were,  however,  probably  near  the 
entrance  to  the  hall.  It  should  be  kept  in  mind  that  these  were  all 
detached  erections,  and  that  the  offices,  lodgings  for  soldiers,  guests,  etc. 
were  usually  temporary  wooden  structures,  put  up  as  they  were  required, 
and  as  speedily  removed.  In  the  outer  court  were  situated  a  chapel  for 
the  garrison,  barracks  for  the  men,  stables  and  sheds  for  horses  and 
cattle,  etc.  The  halls  were  sometimes  defended  with  thick  walls, 
crenelated  pai'apets,  and  buttresses  with  projecting  bartizans. 

In  towns  the  houses  were  almost  universally  of  wood,  and  thatched, 
and  only  one  story  high.  In  London  this  was  the  case  previous  to  the 
great  fire  in  Stephen's  reign,  when  regulations  were  made  as  to 
building  party  walls  of  stone.  Some  houses,  however,  still  exist 
built  with  stone,  and  two  stories  in  height,  such  as  the  Jew's  house 
at  Lincoln,  a  house  at  Southampton,  etc.  In  these  cases  the  living- 
rooms  were  on  the  first  floor,  the  ground  floor  being  probably  used  for 
stores.  Fireplaces  are  usual,  and  the  flues  seem  to  have  been  (as  at 
Lincoln)  in  the  side  walls,  not  the  gables.  The  iron-work  of  this  period 
is  of  the  florid  description  usual  throughout  the  middle  ages.  One 
striking  peculiarity  is  that  the  external  ashlar  work  of  good  buildings 


INTRODUCTION 


MODIFICATIONS  OF 


appears  to  have  been  painted — the  alternate  stones  of  different  colours, 
like  a  chess-board — and  in  order  to  carry  this  idea  out  the  masonry  was 
frequently  plastered.  This  may  perhaps  have  been  a  tradition  from  the 
Saxon  times,  when  the  wooden  buildings  then  in  use  were  undoubtedly 
painted  externally. 

In  all  the  civil  buildings  of  the  period  (twelfth  century)  there  are 
abundance  of  characteristic  Norman  mouldings  and  enrichments,  corre- 
sponding in  style  with  the  ecclesiastical  edifices  of  the  same  date.  The 
Norman  style  of  castles  continued  till  the  close  of  the  twelfth  century. 
In  that  century  considerable  advancement  had  been  made  in  the  military 
art.  During  the  Crusades  the  soldiers  of  the  West  had  been  taught 
many  valuable  lessons  in  the  East,  and  in  particular  the  use  of  improved 
military  engines  for  the  attack  and  defence  of  places.  From  about  1150 
there  were  introduced  powerful  machines  for  throwing  great  stones, 
strong  cats,  or  sheds  on  wheels,  for  defending  the  miners  during  their 
operations  at  the  base  of  the  walls,  moveable  towers  for  attacking  the 
parapets  of  the  curtains,  etc. 

It  was  then  found  that  the  angles  of  the  square  keeps  were  weak, 
and  presented  a  tempting  point  for  the  attack  of  the  miners  wThile  there 
were  no  flanking  works  to  defend  them.  This  led  to  the  adoption  of  various 
modifications  of  the  form  of  plan  with  the  view  of  overcoming  these  de- 
fects. Of  these  modifications  of  plan  we  have  a  fine  example  at  fitampes, 
between  Paris  and  Orleans.  This  keep  is  built  on  plan  (Fig.  1 8)  in  the  form 
of  a  quatrefoil.  The  keeps  of  York  and  Warwick  were  also  of  that  form. 


Sprint/in^   fffatktt 


FIG.  18. — Chateau  d'Etampes.     Plan. 


Ktampes   belongs   to   the   latter  half  of  the  twelfth  century.     The 
details  of  the  caps  and  bases  of  the  columns  of  the  upper  story  are  of  that 


THE  KEEP  PLAN 


—  25  — 


INTRODUCTION 


date.  Here  the  entrance  (Fig.  19)  (now  destroyed,  but  restored  in  the 
drawing)  was  on  a  landing  half-way  between  the  basement  and  the  first- 
floor  level,  and  was  approached  by 
a  drawbridge  from  the  wall  of  the 
enceinte.  The  aperture  over  the 
door  opens  into  a  small  room  in  the 
thickness  of  the  wall,  from  which  the 
drawbridge  was  worked.  A  stair  in 
the  thickness  of  the  wall  leads  to 
the  upper  floor,  and  also  descends  to 
the  basement,  where  the  well  is  still 
to  be  seen.  The  upper  floors  were 
vaulted  in  a  peculiar  manner ;  the 
imposts  of  the  arches  still  exist. 

M.  Viollet-le-Duc  gives  a  very 
interesting  restoration  of  this  build- 
ing, showing  how  the  upper  floors 
were  utilised  in  connection  with  the 
defence  of  the  keep. 

The  sketch  indicates  (to  the  left) 
the  probable  appearance  of  the  keep 
in  time  of  peace,  and  also  (to  the 
right)  the  "  hoards  "  or  overhanging 
wooden  defences  with  which  it  was 
armed  in  time  of  siege. 

The  Chateau  Gaillard,  on  the 
Seine,  built  by  Richard  i.  at  the  end 
of  the  twelfth  century,  is  a  splendid 

example  of  the  castles  of  this  transition  period.  It  is  situated  on  a  lofty 
and  detached  promontory  of  chalk  rock  overlooking  the  course  of  the 
Seine,  and  defending  the  passage  from  the  royal  domain  into  Normandy. 

The  disposition  of  the  various  parts  of  the  buildings  and  defences 
may  still  be  distinctly  traced,  although  the  buildings  are  now  much 
ruined.  The  plan  of  the  Castle  is  given  in  M.  Viollet-le-Duc's  Dictionary. 

The  keep  (Fig.  20)  is  of  a  rounded  form,  but  it  has  the  wall  strength- 
ened with  a  sharp  angle  or  keel  jutted  out  opposite  the  weakest  side.  It 
is  placed  on  the  enceinte  at  the  highest  and  most  precipitous  part  of 
the  cliff.  The  defensive  works  are  peculiar,  and  consist  of  a  parapet 
with  large  machicolations,  an  invention  which  M.  Viollet-le-Duc  attributes 
to  King  Richard.  The  parapet  is  set  on  the  top  of  buttresses,  which  rise 
out  of  the  sloping  wall  of  the  building,  and  the  arches  thrown  across 
between  these  buttresses  left  a  long  opening  or  machicolis  between  them 
and  the  wall,  from  which  missiles  could  be  thrown  on  besiegers. 

The  enceinte  of  the  inner  bailey  is  of  a  remarkable  form,  consisting 


FIG.  19.— Chateau  d'Etampes. 


INTRODUCTION 


MODIFICATIONS  OF 


THE  KEEP  PLAN 


INTRODUCTION 


of  a  series  of  curved  projections  or  rounds,  so  designed  that  every  part  of 
the  base  could  be  seen  and  defended  from  several  parts  of  the  parapet. 
The  whole  was  further  strengthened  by  a  deep  ditch  cut  in  the  rock. 

The  outer  ward  had  also  a  lofty  wall  and  deep  ditch,  and  was  fortified 
with  round  towers. 

A  triangular  outwork  to  the  east,  also  furnished  with  lofty  round 
towers,  guarded  the  approach  from  that  quarter  where  the  promontory 
joins  the  mainland. 

In  1204  this  castle  stood  a  memorable  siege  by  Philip  Augustus,  by 
whom  it  was  taken  from  King  John. 


Fid.  21. — Chateau  de  Provins.    Plan. 

The  Castle  of  Provins  (south-east  of  Paris)  is  another  instance  of  the 
various  forms  which  were  tried  in  the  twelfth  century.  It  is  an  octagon 
on  plan  (Fig.  21),  four  of  the  sides  being  smaller  than  the  others,  and 
having  semicircular  projections  upon  them.  These  in  the  upper  stories 
become  detached  circular  turrets,  connected  in  their  upper  part  by  a 
flying  buttress  with  the  main  keep  (Fig.  22). 

The  entrance  to  the  keep  was  by  a  drawbridge  from  the  wall  of  the 
enceinte.  M.  Viollet-le-Duc  supposes  that  there  were  drawbridges  from 
the  projecting  ledge  at  the  doors  on  the  four  sides  to  the  enceinte.  A 


INTRODUCTION 


—   28 


MODIFICATIONS  OF 


covered  way  for  defence  runs  round  the  keep  above  the  first-floor  level, 
and  above  this  were  hoards  projected  out  to  a  great  distance.  These,, 
together  with  the  angle  turrets,  enabled  the  garrison  to  attack  the 
assailants  on  all  sides  and  guard  the  keep  in  every  direction. 


FIG.  2-2.— Chateau  de  Provins. 


The  existing  upper  story  of  the  keep  is  modern,  and  the  space  within 
the  enclosing  wall  or  chemise  was  filled  up  by  the  English,  when  they 
took  the  place  in  the  fifteenth  century,  in  order  to  form  a  platform  for 
their  guns. 

Of  the  transition  period  at  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century,  England 
possesses  one  very  fine  example  in  Conisborough  Castle,  Yorkshire  (Fig.  23). 

This  castle  has  been  well  illustrated  and  described  by  Mr.  Clark.     It 


THE  KEEP  PLAN 


INTRODUCTION 


stands  on  the  top  of  a  steep  rocky  promontory,  which  was  originally  a 
Saxon  stronghold,  with  its  great  ditch  and  palisaded  crest,  and  lofty 
motte  crowned  with  a  wooden  castle.  The  present  castle  appears  to 
have  been  built  by  Hamelin  Plantagenet,  who  held  the  Earldom  of 
Warren  from  1163  to  1201.  The  keep  is  circular,  but  has  six  buttresses, 
half  hexagons  in  form,  projecting  from  it,  and  giving  it  at  a  distance  very 
much  the  appearance  of  the  older  square  keep  of  the  Normans. 


Fio.  23.— Conisborough  Castle. 

The  keep  is  66  feet  in  diameter,  and  measures  80  feet  over  the  but- 
tresses. The  walls  are  15  feet  thick,  and  90  to  100  feet  high.  The 
entrance  door  is  20  feet  above  the  ground,  and  the  stairs  to  the  upper 
floors  wind  round  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls.  The  basement  floor  is 
vaulted,  and  has  a  deep  well  in  the  centre,  and  an  aperture  in  the  vault 
above  to  enable  the  water  to  be  drawn  up.  Neither  the  basement  nor 


INTRODUCTION 


30  


13TH  CENT.  ROUND  TOWERS 


first  floor  have  any  loopholes  for  light ;  these  must  therefore  have  both 
been  used  as  stores. 

The  hall  is  on  the  second  floor,,  and  the  private  room  on  the  third 
floor.  Above  this  there  was  also  a  room  entering  from  the  parapet  walk 
for  the  garrison. 


FIG.  24.— Conisborough  Castle.    Chapel. 

The  hall  and  private  room  have  both  fine  chimneys,  and  the  former 
has  a  window  with  full-centred  recess  and  stone  seats,  such  as  are  usual 
in  Norman  keeps,  and  which  we  shall  find  common  in  Scotch  keeps  to  a 
very  late  period.  Off  the  private  room  there  is  a  beautiful  little  oratory 
built  in  the  thickness  of  one  of  the  buttresses.  The  style  of  ornamenta- 
tion fixes  distinctly  the  date  of  the  building  towards  the  end  of  the 
twelfth  century. 

The  buttresses  are  carried  up  as  turrets  above  the  parapet,  and  one 
of  them  is  fitted  up  with  an  oven,  so  that  the  baking  may  have  been 


AND  WALLS  OF  ENCEINTE  31    INTRODUCTION 

done  thei'e,  and  the  room  in  the  roof  may  have  been  used  as  the  kitchen. 
Another  turret  seems  to  have  been  designed  for  a  dovecot,  a  mode 
of  providing  for  the  wants  of  the  besieged  which  was  also  adopted  in 
Scotch  castles. 

There  is  a  large  inner  ward  connected  with  the  keep,  in  which  the 
hall  and  other  domestic  apartments  were  situated.  The  keep  was  evi- 
dently not  intended  for  a  residence,  but  only  as  a  place  of  last  refuge  in 
case  of  siege. 

The  above  peculiar  forms  were  ultimately  superseded  by  Round 
keeps  and  towers,  which  were,  for  the  same  reason  as  the  above 
varieties,  introduced  in  place  of  square  keeps  by  Philip  Augustus ; 
square  towers  being  vulnerable  at  the  angles,  while  no  part  of  the 
circle  was  more  exposed  to  the  operations  of  the  sapper  than  another. 
The  round  form  was  also  more  convenient  for  vaulting,  which  it  was 
now  found  desirable  to  substitute  for  wooden  floors,  to  render  the 
building  secure  against  fire.  Along  with  the  introduction  of  the 
round  form  of  tower,  the  number  of  towers  used  for  the  defence  of 
the  enceinte  was  also  greatly  increased,  and  these  towers  were  themselves 
frequently  of  great  size  and  strength.  By  degrees  the  keep  came  to 
hold  a  secondary  place  in  the  defences,  and  chief  reliance  was  placed 
on  the  towers  and  other  subsidiary  works,  or  rather  the  whole  castle 
became  a  great  keep,  of  which  all  the  parts  were  artfully  combined 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  independent,  while  yet  protecting  one 
another.  The  law  now  came  to  be  applied,  that  "  that  which  defends 
should  itself  be  defended."  Each  tower  and  separate  part  of  the  castle 
was  self-contained,  and  possessed  complete  means  of  resistance,  being 
provided  with  its  own  garrison  and  commander,  with  the  necessary 
munitions  and  victuals,  and  free  exit  for  assuming  the  offensive  or  for 
escape,  while  at  the  same  time  every  tower  was  defended  by  its  neigh- 
bours, and  the  curtains  were  flanked  by  the  towers.  The  various  towers 
were  garrisoned  in  time  of  danger  by  the  vassals,  each  tower  being 
generally  named  after  the  vassal  whose  duty  it  was  to  defend  it.  The 
proprietor,  shut  up  in  his  keep  with  his  chosen  band  of  followers,  was 
thus  independent  of  his  vassals,  in  whom  he  could  not  always  place  full 
reliance.  This  system  was  in  complete  operation  about  the  year  1200, 
and  prevailed  during  the  thirteenth  century. 

In  the  view  of  Loches,  given  above  (Fig.  5),  the  walls  of  the  enceinte, 
with  their  strengthening  towers,  are  well  illustrated.  We  have  also 
here  the  keel  or  sharp  angle  on  the  face  of  the  round  towers,  which 
was  a  favourite  feature  in  France,  but  was  never  adopted  in  England. 
There  is,  however,  an  example  at  Bothwell  Castle,  in  Scotland.  The 
accompanying  sketch  of  the  gate  and  walls  of  Aigues  Mortes  (Fig.  25) 
shows  the  enceinte  of  a  thirteenth-century  town  in  wonderful  preserva- 
tion. This  town  was  the  port  of  France  in  the  Mediterranean  at  the 


INTRODUCTION 


WALLS  OF  ENCEINTE 


FRENCH  EXAMPLES,  13TH  CENT.   33  


INTRODUCTION 


time  of  St.  Louis,  and  it  was  from  here  that  he  sailed  on  his  last  crusade. 
The  walls  were  begun  by  him,  and  finished  by  Philippe  le  Hardi,  and 
they  still  remain  almost  as  entire  as  the  day  they  were  completed  in  the 
thirteenth  century. 

In  further  illustration  of  the  walls  of  enceinte  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  we  give  a  general  view  of  the  Castle  of  St.  Andre  (Fig.  26),  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Rhone,  immediately  opposite  Avignon. 


FIG.  26.— Chateau  de  St.  Andre,  Villeneuve  lez  Avignon. 

This  castle  was  built  by  Philip  the  Fair,  at  the  end  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  for  the  defence  of  his  territory  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river. 
The  general  effect  of  these  walls  is  similar  to  that  of  some  of  our  English 
castles,  such  as  Pevensey,  and,  as  will  be  hereafter  seen,  has  a  striking 
resemblance  to  some  of  the  early  Scotch  castles,  notably  that  of  Dun- 
staffnage.  The  round  tower  at  the  angle  is  only  slightly  pi-ojected 
beyond  the  face  of  the  wall,  being  on  a  rocky  platform  like  Dunstaffnage. 
It  has  not  the  bold  relief  which  distinguishes  the  round  towers  of  the 
period,  as  at  Pevensey,  when  not  limited  by  the  nature  of  the  site. 

The  gateway  (Figs.  27,  28)  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  this  class  of 
building  of  the  fourteenth  century,  and  we  shall  find  as  we  proceed  that 
similar  gateways  were  not  unknown  in  Scotland. 

The  Tour  du  Pont  (Fig.  29),  at  Villeneuve,  also  erected  by  Philip  the 
Fair  in  1307,  to  guard  the  passage  into  his  dominions  from  Provence  by 


INTRODUCTION 


WALLS  OF  ENCEINTE 


the  Bridge  of  St.  Benezet  at  Avignon,  is  given  as  a  striking  example  of 
a  simple  fort  of  the  fourteenth  century,  and  as  presenting  a  remarkable 


f .. , .j 


BP  -  l/f  /    I 

3 
i 

i         -'         ! 

i 

.      ' 

'  '  I: 


' 


resemblance  to  many  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  century  keeps  of 
Scotland,  such  as  Clackmannan. 

During  this  century  the  internal  domestic  arrangements  continued 


AND  GATEWAYS,  13jH  CENT. 


35    — 


INTRODUCTION 


FIG.  28. — Chateau  de  St.  Andre,  Villeneuve  lez  Avignon.    Gateway. 

very  much  as  in  the  later  Norman  castles,  except  that  the  lords  began  to 
isolate  themselves  and  families  from  the  garrison.    Each  castle  contained. 


INTRODUCTION 


—    36 


13TH  CENT.   DONJONS 


besides  the  donjon  (or  place  of  retreat  in  danger),  the  hall,  where  the 
master  and  his  retainers  all  lived  and  had  their  meals  together,  with  the 
kitchen,  buttery,  and  pantry  at  one  end,  and  the  lord's  chamber  or 
"  solar  "  at  the  other,  generally  on  an  upper  floor  above  a  cellar. 


FIG.  29.— Tour  du  Pont,  Villeneuve. 

The  donjons  were  planned  with  great  diversity  of  arrangements  for 
secrecy  ;  they  were  not  occupied  in  time  of  peace,  and  no  strangers  were 
admitted  to  them.  Roche  Guyon,  between  Paris  and  Rouen,  is  a  good 
example  of  the  care  taken  in  the  defence  of  the  donjon.  The  habitable 
castle  is  built  at  the  base  of  a  lofty  chalk  cliff  close  to  the  Seine,  and  the 
donjon  on  the  summit  is  approached  by  subterranean  passages  cut 
through  the  rock,  which  have  stairs  and  pitfalls  in  them.  From  these 
the  passage  ascends  to  the  rampart  of  the  outer  wall ;  it  crosses  thence  to 
the  rampart  of  the  inner  defending  wall  or  chemise  of  the  donjon  by  a 
moveable  wooden  bridge,  and  from  the  chemise  to  the  door  of  the  donjon 
by  another  moveable  bridge.  The  north  side  of  this  donjon  being  over- 


FRENCH  EXAMPLES  37    INTRODUCTION 

looked  by  higher  ground,  the  walls,  both  of  the  donjon  and  the  enceinte, 


f    ,v 


WfpP 

^rjafttfiw? 


are  thickened  enormously,  and  run  out  to  a  sharp  point  or  "  bee  "  opposite 
the  dangerous  place  (like  the  angle  of  the  keep  of  Chateau  Gaillard). 


INTRODUCTION 


—    38    — 


13TH  CENT.   FORTIFICATIONS 


Of  this  period  is  the  great  Chateau  de  Coucy  (Fig.  30),  the  circular 
keep  of  which  M.  Viollet-le-Duc  justly  calls  the  grandest  military  structure 
in  Europe.  The  aspect  of  this  immense  keep  and  the  massive  towers  and 
walls,  when  seen  from  a  distance,  is  most  impressive.  This  castle  was 
built  by  the  Duke  Enguerrand  in.,  1223-30.  The  plan  (from  M.  Viollet- 
le-Duc's  Dtetionntatre)  shows  the  great  extent  of  the  buildings,  and  the 
numerous  halls  and  domestic  buildings  erected  round  the  courtyard,  as  well 
as  the  great  towers  boldly  projected  at  the  angles  for  the  defence  of  the 


FIG.  31.—  Chateau  de  Coucy.    Plan. 

curtains,  everything  being  on  the  most  gigantic  scale  (Fig.  31).  Here 
the  great  round  donjon  does  not  profess  to  be  a  residence,  it  is  simply 
a  redoubt  or  last  refuge  in  case  of  siege.  This  immense  tower  is 
about  95  feet  in  diameter,  and  215  feet  high,  and  the  walls  are  25  feet 
in  thickness.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  separate  ditch,  with  its  chemise  or 
enclosing  wall,  from  which  a  moveable  bridge  leads  to  the  entrance  door. 
The  interior  contains  one  vast  apartment  or  hall  on  each  floor,  and  all 
were  vaulted  with  groined  arches,  which  had  a  circular  aperture  in  the 
centre  of  the  vault,  through  which  materials  of  war  might  be  hoisted  to 


WOODEN  HOARDS  39    INTRODUCTION 

the  roof,  where  the  defences  were  situated.  There  are  only  three 
stories  in  the  height  of  the  building,  so  that  each  floor  is  very  lofty,  the 
great  hall  being  about  40  feet  to  the  crown  of  the  vault.  The  principal 
hall,  which  is  on  the  second  or  highest  floor,  is  of  great  size,  with  a 
raised  gallery  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  all  round,  and  could  contain 
an  assembled  garrison  of  several  hundred  men.  The  openings  in  the 
walls  are  small  till  the  parapet  is  reached.  There  we  find  a  series  of 
large  stone  corbels  for  carrying  the  hoards,  and  doors  in  the  parapet  for 
access  to  them.  Above  these  the  wall  is  crowned  with  a. carved  and 
foliated  cornice. 

We  have  here  a  good  opportunity  of  examining  the  hoards  or  wooden 
defences  already  several  times  referred  to.  These  were  universally 
adopted  in  the  castles  of  the  thirteenth  century.  They  consist  of 
Wooden  boardings  projected  from  the  face  of  the  parapet  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  defenders,  and  in  order  to  enable  them  the  better  to  see 
and  command  the  base  of  the  curtains  and  towers.  The  boarding  is 
carried  by  wooden  beams  run  out  from  holes  in  the  walls  made  to 
receive  them,  and  these  are  supported  and  strutted  by  stays  resting 
on  wooden  putlogs  or  stone  corbels.  The  Tower  of  Jeanne  d'Arc,  at 
Rouen  (Fig.  32),  has  been  restored  in  imitation  of  old  examples,  and 
is  armed  with  hoards  as  of  old. 

It  is  curious  to  trace  the  history  of  the  use  of  wood  in  the  con- 
struction and  defences  of  mediaeval  castles.  At  first  we  find  the  whole 
of  the  erections  in  the  castle,  with  its  dependencies  and  enclosing  pali- 
sade, constructed  entirely  of  wood.  The  first  change  was  the  introduc- 
tion of  stone  for  the  construction  of  the  keep  or  chief  stronghold,  which 
was  thus  rendered  secure  against  fire.  Then  it  was  found  desirable  to 
prevent  the  enclosing  fortifications  from  being  easily  destroyed  with  fire, 
and  a  stone  wall  is  substituted  for  the  wooden  palisade.  Wooden 
defences  are  still  adhered  to,  but  they  are  now  raised  to  the  top  of  the 
walls  in  the  form  of  hoards.  At  Aigues  Mortes  the  apertures  for  the 
putlogs  used  for  supporting  the  hoards  are  perfectly  preserved.  (See 
sketch.)  By  and  by  the  engines  of  attack  became  powerful  enough  to 
throw  missiles  which  destroyed  these  hoards,  and  fire-balls  which  set  them 
on  fire.  It  then  became  necessary  to  make  the  hoards  of  stone  likewise  ; 
but  this  change  is  introduced  very  gradually.  First  stone  corbels  are 
used  instead  of  wooden  putlogs  to  support  the  wooden  stays,  then  larger 
corbels  are  substituted  for  the  wooden  struts  (as  at  Coucy),  and  finally 
the  hoarding  or  parapet  itself  is  built  with  stone.  This  last  change  did 
not  take  place  till  about  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

The  general  adoption  of  vaulting  in  keeps  arose  from  the  same  desire 
to  avoid  conflagration.  Norman  keeps  were  often  floored  entirely  with 
wood.  Sometimes  the  basement  only  was  vaulted,  the  other  floors  being 
of  wood.  But  now,  with  the  introduction  of  the  circular  form  of  tower, 


INTRODUCTION 


—    40    


1STH  CENT.  CASTLES 


vaulting  was  simplified,  and  was  adopted  for  every  floor,  so  that  keeps 
and  towers  thus  treated  were  rendered  practically  fireproof. 


Fro.  32.— Tour  ile  Jeanne  d'Arc,  Rouen. 

Other  improvements  were  rapidly  introduced  during  the  great 
building  epoch  of  the  thirteenth  century,  till  at  the  close  of  the  century 
we  reach  the  point  at  which  the  castle  and  the  palace  are  combined  in 
one.  We  have  seen  above  that  the  great  enclosing  walls  of  the  enceinte 
contained  originally,  besides  the  keep,  only  offices  hastily  constructed  in 
wood,  and  thrown  into  the  centre  of  the  court  so  as  to  allow  the  military 
engines  to  be  used  close  to  the  curtains.  These  offices  were  subsequently 
built  in  stone  against  the  walls,  and  gradually  improved  upon  and  joined 
to  one  another  with  covered  corridors,  till  at  last  they  were  drawn  to- 
gether so  as  to  form  a  compact  dwelling. 

Up  to  this  point  the  castles  are  more  works  of  military  engineering 
than  of  architecture,  but  from  the  thirteenth  century  they  become 
fine  specimens  of  domestic  architecture.  Such  castles  as  Coucy  are 
magnificent  residences  as  well  as  strong  castles,  provided  with  all  the 
apartments  necessary  for  the  life  of  a  nobleman  living  on  his  domains, 
and  surrounded  by  his  court  and  garrison. 

At  this  period  feudalism  had  reached  its  height  in  France.     From 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES 


41     — 


INTRODUCTION 


this  time  the  power  and  riches  of  the  great  independent  nobles  were 
gradually  lost  and  destroyed,  and  that  of  the  Crown  increased.  St. 
Louis  induced  the  nobles  to  engage  in  Crusades  in  order  to  occupy 
them  and  their  warlike  dependants.  These  expeditions  resulted  in  great 
losses  to  the  nobility,  and  a  crippling  of  their  power  and  resources. 
Hence  few  castles  were  built  in  France  between  1240  and  1340. 

Similar  changes  to  those  in  France  took  place  at  this  time  in  England 
in  the  construction  of  castles.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  in.  few  new 
castles  were  built,  the  country  having  been  well  supplied  during  the 
Norman  times.  The  Norman  castles  were,  however,  added  to  and 
improved.  The  enceinte  was  enlarged,  and  the  outworks  strengthened. 
The  palisades  gave  place  to  stone  walls,  and  mural  towers  and  gateways 
of  great  strength  were  added.  These  were  sometimes  concentric  round 
the  keep,  and  sometimes  the  keep  was  attached  to  the  walls,  either 
outer  or  central.  During  the  thirteenth  century  manor-houses  increased, 
and  the  castles  became  more  domestic.  The  keep  was  abandoned  and 


ui.  33.— Carnarvon  Castle  from  the  North-West. 


often  allowed  to  become  ruinous.  The  hall  and  chambers,  chapel,  etc. 
(as  at  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century),  were  built  in  the  inner  bailey,  and 
buildings  of  wood  and  plaster  for  the  immediate  requirements  of  large 


INTRODUCTION 


—  42  — 


13TH  CENT.  CASTLES' 


establishments,  were  reared  within  the  enceinte ;  but  these  buildings, 
formerly  detached,  were  now  connected  with  covered  corridors.  The  end 
of  the  thirteenth  century  and  part  of  the  fourteenth  is,  however,  marked 
by  the  erection  of  the  great  castles  of  the  Edwardian  period.  These 
consist  of  lofty  fortified  walls  enclosing  one  or  more  courtyards  ;  there  are 
generally  two,  called  the  outer  and  inner  wards.  These  walls  are  flanked 
and  strengthened  by  towers,  generally  round,  and  rising  high  above  the 
curtains.  These  round  towers  were  introduced  about  the  middle  of  the 
Early  English  period.  The  keeps  erected  at  this  time  are  also  frequently 
round,  and  strengthened  with  buttresses,  like  Conisborough.  The  door 
is  usually  on  the  first  floor,  and  is  entered  by  an  external  stair  of  stone 
or  wood,  or  by  a  drawbridge,  and  is  frequently  defended  by  a  portcullis. 
The  battlements  are  provided  at  first  with  wooden  hoards,  and  after- 
wards with  stone  corbels  and  parapets. 

Carnarvon  Castle  (Fig.  33),  in  North  Wales,  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the 
Edwardian  castles.  It  is  of  great  extent,  and  in  plan  is  shaped  some- 
what like  an  hour-glass,  to  suit  the  form  of  the  site.  The  enceinte  is  of 
great  height  and  strength,  and  contains  three  tiers  of  defences,  viz.,  two 
galleries  with  loop-holes  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  and  the  parapet 
walk  above.  The  towers  are  here  octagonal  in  form.  The  sketch  shows 
the  Eagle  Tower,  which  is  the  largest,  and  seems  to  have  been  intended 
as  a  kind  of  redoubt.  This  castle  was  begun  by  Edward  i.  in  1283,  and 
finished  by  Edward  n.  in  1322.  The  similar  great  castles  of  Conway, 
Beaumaris,  Harlech,  and  Caerphilly  were  built  about  the  same  time  to 
keep  Wales  in  subjection. 


FIG.  34.—  Pevensey  Castle,  Sussex. 

Pevensey  has  already  been  referred  to  as  exhibiting  Roman  work  in 
its  outer  walls.  But  within  the  Roman  walls  a  portion  of  the  site  was  in 
Saxon  times  cut  off  by  a  deep  ditch,  and  a  motte  erected  within  this 
defence. 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES  43    INTRODUCTION 

Still  later  in  the  thirteenth  century  a  mediaeval  wall  of  enceinte 
(Fig.  34)  was  erected  within  the  moat,  and  strongly  fortified  with  salient 
round  towers,  similar  to  those  in  use  at  this  time  in  France,  and  not 
unlike  some  we  shall  meet  with  in  Scotland. 

The  English  round  towers  of  this  period  are,  however,  greatly 
inferior,  both  in  size  and  richness,  to  those  of  France.  But  much  was 
done  in  England  at  this  time  to  improve  the  comfort  of  the  castles. 
These  are  generally  of  a  smaller  type  than  the  French  ones,  and  rather 
resemble  fortified  residences.  The  power  of  the  sovereign,  being 
sooner  established  in  England  than  in  France,  may  account  for  the 
comparative  inferiority  of  the  English  castles ;  the  royal  fortresses,  how- 
ever, such  as  the  Edwardian  castles  above  referred  to,  were  of  great 
extent,  but  the  nobles  did  not  attempt  to  rival  them. 

Fireplaces  become  general  in  all  the  apartments,  though  these,  being 
often  only  made  of  lath  and  plaster,  are  in  many  instances  not  now  dis- 
coverable. The  rooms  are  decorated  with  fresco  painting.  Glass  is 
gradually  introduced  in  the  windows,  although  glass  was  not  manufac- 
tured in  England  till  the  fifteenth  century.  There  is  a  steady  growth  in 
wealth  and  luxury,  and  the  lords  and  ladies  forsake  the  gloomy  donjons 
for  the  pleasanter  apartments  built  round  the  walls.  The  manor-houses 
of  this  century  also  show  an  improvement  on  those  of  the  twelfth  century. 
They  have  now  a  larger  number  of  chambers,  as  for  instance  at  Charney, 
where  the  -buildings  form  three  sides  of  a  quadrangle,  and  are  two 
stories  in  height,  the  upper  floor  being  habitable  apartments,  and  the 
lower  floor  cellars,  etc.  The  entrance  to  the  upper  floor  was  by  an 
outside  stair,  usually  of  wood,  with  penthouse  roof.  Stokesay,  Shrop- 
shire, is  an  excellent  example  of  the  fortified  manor  of  this  period 
(about  1300),  also  Somerton  Castle,  Lincolnshire,  which  belonged  to 
Anthony  de  Bee  (licensed  1281),  and  presents  a  good  example  of  the 
round  towers  of  the  period.  (See  Parker.)  The  mouldings  used  give 
some  indication  of  the  date  of  the  buildings,  but  plain  splays  are  often 
employed.  In  the  early  English  castles  the  buttresses  are  bold,  and  the 
nook-shafts,  ribs  of  the  groins,  etc.,  indicate  the  same  date  as  similar 
features  of  ecclesiastical  architecture. 

During  the  course  of  the  fourteenth  century,  military  and  domestic 
architecture  made  still  further  progress. 

As  the  science  of  attack  and  defence  advanced,  it  was  found  that  the 
old  system  of  multiplying  and  complicating  the  difficulties  of  access, 
notwithstanding  the  great  skill  displayed  in  arranging  the  details  of  the 
defence,  was  a  mistake  in  principle.  The  works  proved  too  crowded  ; 
there  was  not  sufficient  space  for  the  defenders  at  the  critical  points  ; 
the  obstacles  accumulated  in  a  small  space  were  found  to  do  more  harm 
than  good,  by  preventing  a  sufficient  number  of  men  being  brought  into 
action  at  once ;  and  these  obstacles,  when  taken,  gave  shelter  and 


INTRODUCTION  44    14TH  CENT.  CASTLES 

protection  to  the  besiegers.  For  instance,  when  the  enceinte  was  taken, 
and  the  defenders  had  to  retire  for  safety  to  the  keep,  they  were  unable 
with  sufficient  rapidity  to  climb  the  narrow  ladder  leading  to  the  lofty 
door,'  and  were  exposed  to  be  cut  off. 

It  was  thus  found  necessary  to  abandon  the  system  of  isolated 
defences.  The  garrison  was  no  longer  divided  up  into  independent 
detachments,  each  occupying  its  own  post ;  the  whole  were  united  under 
one  central  command.  Now,  therefore,  every  facility  was  given  for 
moving  men  from  one  part  of  the  works  to  another,  and  the  outer 
fortifications  strengthened  by  every  means  the  architect's  ingenuity 
could  devise.  A  smaller  garrison  of  picked  men  was  then  found  more 
suitable  than  the  large  garrisons  of  earlier  times,  composed  of  untrained 
vassals.  The  donjon  was  still  retained,  but  it  was  now  constructed 
more  in  the  form  of  a  dwelling  than  of  a  redoubt,  and  relied  for  security 
not  so  much  on  its  own  strength  of  construction,  as  on  the  numerous 
defences  which  surrounded  it.  The  outer  works  adjoining  the  ditches 
were  strengthened  and  provided  with  crenelated  walls  and  rampai-t 
walks.  The  curtains  are  heightened  and  furnished  with  two  stages  of 
defences ;  first,  the  projecting  parapet  with  machicolations  and  loops, 
crowned  by  a  second  parapet  with  embrasures  and  loop-holes. 

In  the  case  of  the  towers,  these  stories  of  defence  are  increased  to 
three,  and  even  five  stages  in  height. 

The  extra  height  of  the  curtains  guarded  against  escalade,  and  a 
broad  talus  or  ramp  at  the  base  not  only  strengthened  the  wall,  but 
saved  it  from  the  attack  of  the  miner  by  keeping  the  assailants  well 
out,  and  exposing  them  to  the  missiles  from  above.  There  were  no 
openings  in  the  lower  part  of  the  main  walls,  and  the  various  towers 
and  parapets  were  so  planned  as  to  cover  and  protect  one  another. 
The  gateways  were  of  course  defended  in  a  special  manner,  having 
miniature  castles  erected  beyond  the  ditch  to  cover  the  approach. 

Behind  these  extensive  works  a  skilful  commander  with  a  small  garrison 
could  defy  the  attack  of  a  large  army.  The  defence  now  had  the  better 
of  the  attack.  But  this  pre-eminence  did  not  last  long,  and  the  tables  were 
soon  to  be  turned  by  the  introduction  of  gunpowder  in  the  attack  of  strong 
places.  This  took  place  about  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

While  the  above  changes  were  going  on  in  the  defences  of  the  castles, 
considerable  modifications  were  also  gradually  introduced  into  the  habita- 
tions within  the  walls.  During  the  fourteenth  century  chivalry  advanced 
and  manners  softened.  The  apartments  were  no  longer  limited  to  the 
hall,  with  solar  and  kitchen,  and  a  few  other  rooms.  Great  suites  of  halls, 
reception  rooms,  private  rooms,  bedrooms,  etc.,  were  now  introduced. 

The  Castle  of  Pierrefonds,  built  by  the  Due  d'Orleans  about  1400, 
is  a  very  fine  example  of  the  castle  of  the  period,  presenting  a  com- 
plete representation  of  the  most  powerful  fortification,  combined  with 


FRENCH  EXAMPLES 


INTRODUCTION 


INTRODUCTION 


46    — 


14TH  CENT.  CASTLES 


the  amenities  of  a  noble  mansion.  The  plan  of  this  castle  (Fig.  37,  from 
M.  Viollet-le-Duc's  Dictionnaire),  together  with  the  sketches  (Figs.  35,  36), 
will  explain  the  arrangements  and  defences  of  this  splendid  building,  which 
has  within  recent  years  been  admirably  restored  by  M.  Viollet-le-Duc. 


FIG.  36.— Chateau  de  Pierrefonds.    West  Side. 

The  entrance  gateway,  provided  with  drawbridge,  etc.,  is  covered  by 
an  enormous  round  tower  forming  part  of  the  donjon  or  keep.  This  is 
110  longer  a  simple  tower  or  redoubt,  as  at  Coucy,  but  contains  an  exten- 
sive suite  of  apartments  forming  the  residence  of  the  lord  and  his  family. 
The  entrance  is  by  a  handsome  perron,  or  open  staircase,  and  the  rooms 
are  all  decorated  with  painting  and  carved  work.  Along  the  west  and 
north  sides  of  the  courtyard  there  is  a  series  of  splendid  reception  rooms, 
hall  of  justice,  etc.,  and  on  the  east  side  the  chapel  and  a  small  courtyard 


FRENCH  EXAMPLES 


—  47   — 


INTRODUCTION 


through  which  provisions,  etc.,  were  hoisted  into  the  castle  by  a  postern, 
without  the  necessity  of  admitting  strangers  into  the  inner  ward.  This 
courtyard  also  served  to  isolate  the  keep  from  the  rest  of  the  castle. 

The  towers  are  all  of  great  height  and  strength.  They  are  solid 
below,  and  provided  with  several  tiers  of  defences  at  the  summit. 

The  view  of  the  south  front  (Fig.  35)  gives  a  general  idea  of  the  aspect 
of  the  castle,  while  the  sketch  of  part  of  the  west  side  shows  the  various 
stages  of  defences  with  which  the  towers  and  curtains  are  armed. 


FIG.  37. — Chateau  de  Pierrefouds.     Ground-Plan. 

During  the  fourteenth  century  the  Castellated  and  Domestic  Archi- 
tecture of  England  took  a  somewhat  different  course  from  that  of  France. 
Instead  of  devoting  their  attention  to  the  perfecting  of  the  defences,  the 
English  architects  were  chiefly  intent  on  still  further  improving  the  con- 
venience and  comfort  of  the  interior  accommodation.  The  halls  were 
increased  in  size  and  in  number — there  being  frequently  a  great  hall  and 
a  little  hall,  each  having  its  separate  kitchen  and  offices.  The  private 
rooms  were  also  increased  in  number  and  importance.  The  lord  had  no 
longer  only  one  solar,  which  acted  as  private  room  for  himself  and  family. 
There  were  a  lord's  room  and  a  lady's  room,  family  bedroom  and  guests' 
apartments.  Bath-rooms  were  also  in  use.  These  apartments  were 
placed  in  wings  attached  to  the  hall.  Parlours  and  private  dining-rooms 
were  also  now  introduced,  and  large  rooms  for  wardrobes.  The  chapel 
was  also  an  important  chamber,  and  had  peculiar  arrangements.  The 
chancel  was  lofty,  and  was  provided  with  a  large  east  window.  But  con- 
nected with  it  there  was  sometimes  a  nave  or  room  of  two  stories  in  the 
height  of  the  chancel — the  upper  part,  or  "oriel,"  being  used  by  the  lord 
and  his  family,  and  the  lower  part  by  the  domestics.  The  hall  was  the 


INTRODUCTION 


—    48    — 


14TH  CENT.  CASTLES 


prominent  feature  in  every  dwelling,  and  it  was  then  arranged  exactly  as 
it  has  continued  to  be  till  the  present  day  in  the  halls  of  the  various 
Colleges  and  Inns  of  Court.  It  had  a  raised  dais  at  one  end,  with  lofty 
oriel  window,  and  communicated  with  the  lord's  apartments  and  the 
chapel.  At  the  other  end  was  the  screen,  made  of  wood,  which  formed 
the  passage  from  the  entrance,  and  over  which  was  situated  the  minsti-els' 
gallery.  The  screen  was  frequently  richly  carved  and  ornamented.  At 
the  opposite  side  of  the  screen  from  the  hall  were  generally  three  doors 
— the  central  one  leading  to  the  kitchen,  while  the  side  doors  led,  one 
to  the  pantry,  the  other  to  the  buttery.  In  the  screens  was  placed  a 
lavatory  for  washing  hands,  and  sometimes  also  a  stone  sideboard,  both 
of  which  were  often  highly  enriched. 

The  dais  and  private  rooms  were   sometimes   adorned  with  tapestry 
hangings,  which  were  introduced  in  the  fourteenth  century. 


FIG.  38.— Warwick  Castle. 


The  hall  was  generally  heated  by  a  large  hearth  in  the  centre^  the 
smoke  escaping  by  the  louvre  in  the  roof.  The  hall  was  either  on  the 
ground  floor  or  first  floor  (with  cellars  under),  but  always  had  an  open 
timber  roof.  It  had  either  a  porch  at  the  entrance  or  an  outside  stair,  as 
required,  the  latter  having  a  penthouse  roof. 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES  49    INTRODUCTION 

The  detached  kitchens,  bakehouses,  brewhouses,  etc.,  beautifully  con- 
structed in  stone,  which  still  exist  at  Glastonbury,  Stanton  Harcourt,  and 
elsewhere,  are  a  remnant  of  the  old  fashion  of  building  all  the  offices 
apart  from  the  main  building. 

The  Castle  of  Warwick  (Fig.  38),  rebuilt  by  Thomas  Beauchamp,  Earl 
of  Warwick,  in  1360-69,  illustrates  the  dispositions  of  the  various  halls 
and  other  apartments  at  that  time.  (See  plans  in  Parker.)  We  have  here 
the  great  hall  and  the  little  hall,  a  separate  dining-room  and  drawing- 
room,  private  rooms,  numerous  bedrooms,  etc.  The  enceinte  is  fortified 
with  two  great  towers  at  the  angles,  called  Caesar's  Tower  and  Guy's 
Tower,  with  a  large  gatehouse  between,  provided  with  a  barbican  or 
outer  fortification.  The  sketch  of  Caesar's  Tower  (Fig.  38)  shows  that  the 
English  Castellated  Architecture  of  the  period  was  but  little  inferior 
to  that  of  France,  and  forms  a  good  companion  picture  to  the  view  of 
the  Western  Towers  of  Pierrefonds. 

Bodiam  Castle,  Sussex  (Fig.  39),  is  also  a  good  example  of  an  English 
castle  of  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,  the  licence  to  build  it  having 
been  granted  in  1385.  The  building  consists  of  a  quadrangle  152  feet 
by  138  feet  over  the  walls,  which  rise  directly  from  the  water  of  the  moat 
which  surrounds  it.  This  has  been  formed  artificially,  by  excavation  on 
one  side  and  damming  up  on  the  other,  and  is  still  in  good  preserva- 
tion. The  sketch  shows  the  north  and  east  fronts,  with  the  principal 
entrance  to  the  castle  in  the  centre  of  the  former,  approached  by  a  cause- 
way with  drawbridge  and  barbican,  the  remains  of  which  are  visible. 
The  curtain  walls  are  40-6  high,  and  the  towers  are  56  feet  high,  and 
are  provided  with  stone  parapets  and  machicolations. 

The  entrance  gateway  is  finely  vaulted,  and  has  the  usual  portcullis 
and  gates.  The  hall  and  kitchen  occupy  the  south  side  of  the  quadrangle  ; 
the  passage  through  the  "screens,"  which  has  three  service  doors,  leads 
to  a  postern  opening  on  the  moat.  Everything  here  betokens  a  castle 
built  for  strength.  There  are  few  and  small  openings  to  the  exterior, 
all  the  principal  windows  being  to  the  courtyard ;  but,  although  strong, 
it  is  manifestly  very  inferior  as  a  fortress  to  such  buildings  as  Pierre- 
fonds. The  chapel  and  private  I'ooms  occupied  the  east  side,  and  bar- 
racks and  offices  the  west  side. 

Manor-houses  were  frequently  erected  in  the  form  of  a  quadrangle, 
having  the  hall  and  principal  apartments  on  one  side,  stables  and  offices 
on  other  two  sides,  and  the  gatehouse  on  the  fourth  side.  They  are 
invariably  surrounded  with  a  moat,  and  protected  by  a  drawbridge  and 
portcullis.  The  wings  sometimes  form  towers  of  three  or  four  stories 
in  height.  The  outbuildings  are  still  frequently  of  wood.  Every  house 
of  any  importance  is  fortified,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  draw  the  line 
between  the  house  and  the  castle  or  fortress,  the  latter  having  always 
habitable  parts,  and  the  former  being  strongly  fortified. 


INTRODUCTION 


50    15TH  CENT.  MODIFICATIONS 

:.-^; '.  .•••;  .   &i38i»  •  ••••'•• 


CAUSED  BY  GUNPOWDER  51    INTRODUCTION 

Many  manors  had  towers  attached  to  them,  both  for  security  and  as 
adding  dignity,  in  the  same  way  as  the  towns  marked  their  rank  and 
freedom  by  their  belfries. 

Another  class  of  manors  were  built  in  the  form  of  a  tower,  generally 
of  three  stories  in  height,  and  with  windows  on  all  sides.  These  had 
turrets  at  the  angles,  which  contained  bedrooms,  offices,  closets,  and 
staircases.  They  also  had  a  wall  or  palisade  enclosing  a  court,  surrounded 
by  a  moat,  with  gatehouse,  etc.  - 

In  disturbed  districts  these  tower  houses  had  the  ground  floor  vaulted. 
The  hall  and  rooms  above  were  entered  by  an  outside  stair  to  the  first 
floor,  as  in  the  older  keeps.  The  guard-room  and  prison  were  generally 
on  the  ground  floor. 

Although  gunpowder  had  been  used  to  a  considerable  extent  during 
the  fourteenth  century,  it  was  not  till  the  fifteenth  century  that  it  was 
made  available  in  the  form  of  siege  artillery.  About  the  year  1400 
cannons  were  employed  chiefly  in  the  field  against  troops.  By  1430  the 
Royal  armies  had  begun  to  use  cannon  against  fortresses,  and,  by  the 
middle  of  the  century,  it  was  recognised  as  a  principle  in  the  construc- 
tion of  castles  that  they  should  be  built  so  as  to  resist  artillery.  But 
the  feudal  nobles  were  hard  to  convince  that  their  magnificent  castles, 
which  had  been  reared  at  so  much  expense  and  with  so  much  care,  were 
not  impregnable ;  and  they  still  clung  to  the  old  and  cherished  forms  of 
lofty  towers  and  curtains,  crowned  with  parapets  and  machicolations. 

For  some  time  efforts  were  made  to  defend  castles  against  artillery 
by  the  erection  of  outworks,  like  barbicans,  in  front  of  the  gates.  These 
were  armed  with  guns,  the  loopholes  being  pierced  at  the  base  of  the 
walls.  Outworks  were  also  constructed  in  advance  of  the  walls,  so  as  to 
keep  the  guns  of  the  besiegers  at  a  distance,  and  so  save  the  walls ; 
but  it  was  soon  found,  as  the  science  of  artillery  improved,  that  these 
outworks  were  of  no  use,  and  that  the  walls  could  be  battered  by  guns 
from  a  much  greater  distance. 

Attempts  were  also  made  to  arm  the  towers  and  walls  with  cannons. 
Flat  platforms  were  substituted  for  the  old  conical  roofs  of  the  towers, 
and  cannons  were  placed  upon  them ;  but  the  towers  were  too  weak  and 
too  small  in  diameter  for  guns  of  any  useful  size,  and  the  plunging  fire 
from  such  a  height  did  little  harm. 

At  length,  towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  large  siege-guns 
came  into  use,  and  then  the  nobles  had,  however  unwillingly,  to  accept 
the  position,  and  admit  themselves  convinced  that  their  castles  could  no 
longer  resist  this  new  means  of  attack.  It  now  became  clear  that  hence- 
forward fortresses  must  be  large,  with  extended  works,  too  great  for  single 
individuals  to  carry  out,  and  that  such  constructions  must  therefore  be 
national,  and  undertaken  by  Royalty  only. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  the  nobility,  finding  their  castles  useless  for 


INTRODUCTION  52    15TH  CENT.  CASTLES 

defence,  gradually  did  away  with  the  ponderous  and  gloomy  walls  which 
surrounded  them,  and  opened  them  up  for  their  own  pleasure  and 
comfort. 

At  this  time  also  many  of  the  French  nobles  who  had  been  engaged 
in  the  wars  in  Italy  had  there  seen  and  appreciated  the  delightful  open 
villas  of  that  country,  and  on  their  return  home  to  France  they  hastened 
to  make  their  own  castles  as  like  them  as  possible.  They  threw  down 
the  curtain  walls,  and  erected  convenient  domestic  buildings  instead, 
with  large  windows,  commanding  the  finest  views  over  the  country, 
without  reference  to  defensive  requirements. 

But  the  old  habits  and  traditions  were  not  easily  overcome,  and  it 
was  not  till  the  days  of  Louis  xiv.  that  the  symmetrical  Italian  fagade 
completely  displaced  the  old  mediaeval  style.  For  long  the  plan  and 
distribution  of  the  apartments  remained  perfectly  French,  although  the 
details  began  gradually  to  show  signs  of  an  Italian  feeling.  The  castles 
still  preserved  their  complicated  entrances,  with  moat,  drawbridges, 
flanking  towers,  projecting  bartizans,  machicolations,  etc. 

But  these  were  not  built  for  the  purpose  of  resisting  a  siege,  but 
rather  in  imitation  of  the  features  of  the  feudal  fortress,  and  as  symbols 
of  the  power  and  importance  which  had  once  belonged  to  these  forti- 
fications. 

Hence  it  resulted  that  these  features,  no  longer  employed  for  their 
old  uses,  but  merely  for  ornament,  came  to  be  fancifully  disposed,  and 
infinitely  multiplied.  The  covered  passages,  for  instance,  formerly  required 
for  the  service  of  the  machicolations,  were  still  continued,  but  only  used 
as  passages  of  communication  to  the  various  rooms.  The  great  corbels, 
which  formerly  carried  the  overhanging  parapet,  now  only  supported  an 
ornamental  cornice,  and  were  therefore  soon  broken  up  into  small  and 
fanciful  mouldings.  The  parapets  themselves  became  mere  decorative 
features,  the  eaves  of  the  roof  being  raised  to  the  top  of  them,  and  so 
with  all  the  other  features  of  the  mediaeval  castle.  These  Renaissance 
castles  are  characteristic  of  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
They  were  generally  planned  with  a  chief  or  inner  courtyard,  which  con- 
tained the  hall,  with  the  domestic  apartments  of  the  owner,  kitchen, 
offices,  etc.,  and  an  outer  court  for  the  dependencies,  and  frequently  an 
enclosed  garden. 

The  mansions  of  this  period  are  still  single  tenements,  i.e.  the  rooms 
extend  the  full  width  of  the  building,  with  windows  on  each  side,  and 
the  apartments  enter  through  one  another.  It  was  not  till  the  seven- 
teenth century  that  double  blocks  were  introduced,  with  rooms  lighted 
from  one  side  only,  and  with  corridors  giving  access  to  the  separate 
apartments.  Symmetry  and  regularity  of  design  were  arrived  at  early 
in  the  sixteenth  century. 

The  stage  had  then  been  reached  of  merely  playing  at  building  feudal 


CHANGED  INTO  MANSIONS  53    INTRODUCTION 

castles.  Francis  i.  set  the  example.  He  demolished  the  great  donjon 
of  the  Louvre  erected  by  Philip  Augustus,  and  built  a  Renaissance 
courtyard  instead.  He  also  built  the  celebrated  Chateau  de  Chambord, 
which  is  a  perfect  parody  of  a  French  castle.  It  has  all  the  parts 
complete, — a  great  donjon  situated  next  the  wall,  towers  at  the  angles, 
turnpike  stairs,  secret  passages,  moat,  etc.  But  these  features  resemble 
those  of  the  feudal  fortress  only  in  name,  without  any  of  the  character- 
istics which  rendered  the  latter  real  and  noble. 

Efforts  were  now  made  to  alter  the  old  feudal  towers,  so  as  to  bring 
them  into  harmony  with  the  more  peaceful  ideas  of  the  times,  by  enlarg- 
ing the  windows,  in  order  to  render  the  apartments  more  cheerful  and 
habitable.  But  the  great  towers  of  the  old  castles  were  so  solidly  built 
that  enlarged  openings  could  with  difficulty  be  cut  through  the  masonry. 
This  led  to  an  opening  in  the  old  walls  being  slapped  from  top  to  bottom, 
as  the  easiest  mode  of  getting  enlarged  window  spaces.  A  series  of 
windows  was  then  introduced,  filling  up  the  gap  with  new  work  from  top 
to  bottom,  and  this  feature  afterwards  became  a  motive  for  the  decoration 
of  other  similar  new  buildings.  The  old  machicolations  were  also  imitated 
in  the  new  cornices,  and  throughout  the  ornament  there  is  a  curious 
mixture  of  the  old  castellated  details  with  the  new  Italian  decorations. 

Very  many  fine  specimens  of  the  castles  of  this  period  (fifteenth  and 
sixteenth  centuries)  exist  in  almost  every  part  of  France,  and  are  easily 
distinguished  by  their  numerous  turrets  and  pointed  roofs,  and  by  the 
late  Gothic  details  with  which  they  are  ornamented.  The  banks  of  the 
Loire  are  especially  rich  in  fine  examples  of  fifteenth-century  work,  such 
as  the  Castles  of  Blois,  Amboise,  etc. 

We  give  two  views  of  Montsabert  (Figs.  40  and  41),  one  of  the  castles 
from  the  Loire  country,  which  shows  nearly  all  the  leading  features 
above  referred  to.  It  seems  to  occupy  the  site  of  an  older  castle,  the 
enceinte  walls,  ditch,  etc.,  of  which  have  now  almost  completely  dis- 
appeared. Some  of  the  towers  are  probably  ancient,  but  they  have  now 
assumed  a  more  modern  guise,  being  pierced  with  large  windows,  and 
having  lost  their  frowning  parapets.  The  machicolations,  which  are 
ornamented,  and  may  have  been  at  one  time  for  use,  now  merely  carry  a 
false  parapet,  on  which  rests  the  roof,  with  dormer  windows  running  up 
into  it,  thus  showing  that  the  space  within  formerly  used  for  the  service 
of  the  defence  is  now  thrown  into  bedrooms.  The  front  courtyard  has 
no  enclosing  wall,  and  the  door,  no  longer  jealously  guarded  with  port- 
cullis and  drawbridge,  is  accessible  to  every  visitor. 

The  details  are  generally  late  Gothic  of  the  fifteenth  century,  but 
these  have  been  superseded  in  the  dormers  and  doorway  with  later 
Renaissance  work.  We  have  selected  Montsabert  for  illustration  because 
we  have  special  reasons  for  referring  to  it  hereafter  in  connection  with 
Scotch  Architecture.  We  likewise  give,  for  a  similar  reason,  a  view  of  the 


INTRODUCTION 


15TH  CENT.  MANSIONS 


r'M8   I  '    ,      i!in         M  II'       ill!  iHMfll 


» 

;      ,  •• 

itt  ,(  ts 

' :'        ' 


FRENCH  EXAMPLES 


INTRODUCTION 


-3 

, 
-'•-  J 

v^'c. 


INTRODUCTION  56    1 5TH  CENT.  MANSIONS 

so-called  "  House  of  Francis  i."  in  the  "  Cours  la  Reine,"  Paris  (Fig.  42). 


This  building  may  be  taken  as  an  excellent  example  of  the  later  phase 
of  mediaeval  domestic  architecture  in  France.     The  house  was  originally 


ENGLISH  EXAMPLES  5?    INTRODUCTION 

erected  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fontainebleau  in  1527,  and  was  taken 
down  and  re-erected  on  its  present  site  in  1 626,  in  terms  of  the  inscription 
which  it  bears.  We  here  see  a  design  in  which  perfect  symmetry  prevails, 
and  although  the  general  forms  of  the  windows,  niches,  canopies,  parapets, 
etc.,  are  Gothic,  the  details  are  completely  Renaissance  in  design.  In 
the  larger  drawing  of  the  window-shafts,  we  see  some  remains  of  the 
late  Gothic  feature  of  "  interpenetration  "  of  mouldings  and  caps,  mixed 
up  with  the  Renaissance  features  of  baluster-shaped  shafts  and  caps  with 
wreaths  and  other  classic  details. 

The  heads  of  kings  and  queens  (which  in  this  case  bear  the  names 
and  dates  of  the  originals)  are  very  characteristic  ornaments  of  the  period. 

There  is  scarcely  a  single  building  of  this  time,  especially  amongst 
the  numerous  examples  in  the  country  of  the  Loire,  which  is  not  adorned 
with  the  heads  of  the  Roman  Caesars  or  of  the  Kings  of  France,  a  feature 
which  we  shall  afterwards  see  King  James  v.  of  Scotland  imported  into 
his  country  along  with  his  Queen,  Madelaine,  daughter  of  Francis  i. 

In  England,  as  we  have  observed,  the  process  of  conversion  of  castles 
into  dwelling-houses  had  begun  much  sooner  than  in  France,  and  in  the 
fifteenth  century  we  may  say  that  the  process  was  completed.  Manners 
and  the  mode  of  living  had  so  entirely  changed,  that  a  large  hall  was  no 
longer  necessary.  The  nation  had  made  great  progress,  and  commerce 
and  wealth  had  greatly  increased.  The  towns  had  risen  in  importance, 
and  many  of  the  wealthy  merchants  vied  with  the  nobles  in  their  state. 
Guilds  had  also  grown  up  among  the  tradesmen,  and  many  of  the  trades 
which  used  to  be  carried  on  within  the  walls  of  the  castle  were  now 
practised  by  the  burghers  in  the  towns.  The  feudal  lord  thus  no  longer 
required  or  maintained  the  same  number  of  retainers  and  tradesmen 
within  his  castle,  and  as  his  state  and  retinue  declined,  the  hall  declined 
with  them. 

The  introduction  of  gunpowder  further  materially  hastened  the  pro- 
cess of  conversion  of  the  castle  into  the  mansion.  But  in  England,  as  in 
France,  the  old  forms  and  features  were  long  retained  as  ornaments  after 
their  original  use  was  forgotten  and  abandoned. 

Towers  and  battlements,  moats,  drawbridges,  and  other  early  features, 
still  continued  to  be  erected,  although  the  residential  character  of  the 
houses  was  developed.  Of  these  castles  we  have  a  fine  example  in 
Hurstmonceaux,  Sussex  (Fig.  43),  which  combines  the  castellated  features 
of  moat  and  loopholes,  crenelated  towers  and  frowning  gateway,  with 
the  large  windows  and  oriels  and  extended  accommodation  of  the  later 
mansions. 

But  these  castellated  features  are  merely  for  show,  not  for  use.  The 
only  really  defensive  features  of  this  mansion  are  the  moat  (now  drained) 
and  the  shot-holes  at  the  entrance  gateway.  The  interior  is  un- 
fortunately so  much  destroyed  that  the  plan  cannot  now  be  distinctly 


INTRODUCTION  58    l6TH  CENT.   MANSIONS 

made  out.     The  castle  was  begun  in   1420,  but  does  not  seem  to  have 


been  completed  till    1480.      It    comprised    three    courtyards,   and    the 

domestic  arrangements  seem  to  have  been  of  a  very  advanced  description. 

On  the  Borders  of  Scotland  and  Wales,  where  the  country  was  dis- 


EXTENSION  OF  ACCOMMODATION         59    -  INTRODUCTION 

turbed,  the  old  fortified  plan  of  castles  was  still  adhered  to.  The  pele 
towers  also  retained  their  old  form,  which  was  an  imitation  of  the  Nor- 
man keep.  This  form  of  tower  had  been  preserved  .from  the  twelfth 
century,  through  all  the  changes  which  had  taken  place,  as  the  simplest 
and  most  suitable  for  the  fortified  house  or  small  pele.  These  towers 
were,  in  fact,  the  manor-houses  of  the  Border  districts.  The  Norman 
ornaments,  such  as  the  billet,  cable,  etc.,  used  in  these  peles,  still  further 
connect  them  with  the  Norman  keeps.  It  should,  however,  be  remem- 
bered that  in  all  late  Gothic  work  there  is  a  tendency  to  revert  to 
Norman  ornament.  The  billet  and  zigzag,  for  instance,  are  often  em- 
ployed as  ornaments  in  the  barge-boards  of  the  Elizabethan  period.  The 
pele  towers,  like  the  Norman  keeps,  had  usually  their  entrance  on  the 
first  floor,  or  by  a  narrow  newel  stair  from  the  ground  floor.  The  latter 
was  always  vaulted  (as  a  precaution  against  fire),  and  formed  a  store- 
place,  or  a  stable,  or  a  place  of  safety  for  cattle.  The  first  floor  con- 
tained the  hall  or  common  room,  and  the  principal  or  private  room  was 
on  the  top  floor.  It  was  not  till  the  seventeenth  century  that  the  Border 
pele  towers  were  abandoned,  when  they  were  found  to  be  defenceless 
against  artillery. 

Some  houses  built  in  the  tower  style  are  much  more  ornamental  than 
usual,  as  Tattershall,  in  Lincolnshire,  for  instance  (see  Parker),  where  we 
have  a  tower-built  house  crowned  with  machicolis,  parapets,  and  turrets, 
and  surrounded  with  a  moat ;  while  its  large  windows  and  other  details 
show  that  it  was  not  designed  for  serious  warfare,  although,  no  doubt, 
capable  of  resisting  a  sudden  attack. 

In  the  more  peaceful  parts  of  the  country,  however,  the  manors  are 
usually  of  the  ordinary  dwelling-house  form,  viz.,  built  round  a  quad- 
rangle, of  which  the  hall  and  its  pertinents  formed  one  side,  with  the 
offices  and  chambers  disposed  round  two  of  the  other  sides,  and  the 
gatehouse  in  the  side  opposite  the  hall.  Sometimes  there  is  a  kitchen 
court  behind  entering  through  the  screens.  At  other  times  the  kitchen 
and  offices  are  on  the  ground  floor,  and  the  principal  rooms  above.  The 
outer  court  was  often  the  farmyard,  with  the  necessary  farm-buildings 
around.  From  this  the  entrance  to  the  inner  court  was  through  a  gate- 
way, but  the  drawbridge  and  portcullis  were  dispensed  with. 

Dining  in  hall  was  greatly  disused  in  the  fifteenth  century  (notwith- 
standing ordinances  against  the  abandonment  of  this  ancient  custom), 
and  we  find  instances  where  the  old  dais  is  cut  off  from  the  hall  by  a 
partition,  and  thus  converted  into  a  private  dining-room.  Private  dining- 
rooms  and  drawing-rooms  now  became  usual,  and  all  the  apartments  were 
multiplied,  both  at  the  master's  and  servants'  end  of  the  hall ;  for  the 
practice  of  the  servants  sleeping  in  the  hall  was  abandoned  (except 
when  the  house  was  very  crowded),  and  the  servants  were  provided  with 
distinct  apartments. 


INTRODUCTION  60    CHANGES  IN  l6TH  AND  1?TH  CENT. 

Besides  the  private  dining-rooms  and  drawing-rooms,  there  were  a 
study  for  the  lord  and  a  boudoir  for  the  lady,  a  private  chapel,  and 
numerous  bedrooms.  These  were  frequently  arranged  in  a  tower  adjoin- 
ing the  hall.  The  dormitory  was  often  in  the  roof,  and  sometimes  over 
the  hall. 

The  apartments  thus  gradually  increased  in  number  and  importance, 
till,  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  they  became  as  numerous  and  varied  as 
they  are  now. 

The  decoration  of  the  interior  also  progressed  rapidly.  The  arras  was 
replaced,  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIH.,  with  wainscot  panelling,  frequently 
carved  with  the  linen  pattern.  This  covered  th«  lower  part  of  the  walls, 
while  above  it  was  pargeted  with  plaster,  ornamented  with  the  heads 
of  the  Caesars  and  similar  figures,  while  Italian  details  and  ornaments 
gradually  crept  in.  Inscriptions,  texts  of  Scripture,  mottoes,  etc.,  were 
of  frequent  use  in  the  fifteenth  century.  At  this  date  glass  for  windows 
was  still  rare  in  houses.  Henry  vm.  had  his  casements  carried  about 
with  him,  from  one  manor  to  another,  and  the  windows  of  the  different 
houses  were  made  of  the  same  size,  so  as  to  suit  the  glass  casements. 

Ceilings  had  usually  moulded  wooden  beams  and  ribs,  in  square 
panels,  in  the  fifteenth  century,  but  plaster  was  gradually  introduced  in 
Henry  vni.'s  time,  and  its  use  was  greatly  extended  under  Elizabeth. 

Staircases  were  enlarged,  and  adorned  with  curiously  carved  ban- 
nisters and  pedestals. 

The  passages  were  still  generally  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  with 
doors  entering  from  the  window  recesses;  but  there  were  sometimes 
galleries  formed  outside,  like  cloisters,  to  give  access  to  the  different 
apartments.  These  galleries  form  a  fine  and  characteristic  feature  of  the 
Elizabethan  period. 

The  bow  window  was  introduced  about  the  end  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  and  soon  became  a  very  favourite  and  characteristic  feature  of 
English  Architecture. 

Fireplaces  were  usual  in  all  the  apartments,  but  in  the  hall  the 
reredos  or  brazier  in  the  centre  was  still  common,  and  in  many  halls 
continued  in  use  till  the  present  century. 

Gradually  the  castellated  features  gave  way,  as  they  had  done  in 
France,  to  the  encroachments  of  the  Italian  details,  until,  in  the  splendid 
mansions  of  Elizabeth's  time,  the  Renaissance  style  completely  prevailed 
in  all  the  ornamental  features  of  the  design.  But  many  of  the  charac- 
teristic portions  of  the  old  plans  still  held  their  own.  There  are  many 
specimens  still  in  existence  of  noble  halls  with  open  timber  roofs,  and 
fine  galleries  with  the  distinctive  bow  windows  of  English  Architecture. 

These  and  similar  features  of  the  old  style  lingered  through  the  reigns 
of  the  Stewarts,  and  it  was  not  till  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century 
that  they  were  entirely  swamped  by  the  cold  symmetry  of  the  Classic 
style. 


THE    CASTELLATED    AND    DOMESTIC 
ARCHITECTURE   OF    SCOTLAND. 

FIRST  PERIOD— 1200-1300. 

THE  history  of  our  Scottish  Castellated  and  Domestic  Architecture  is, 
in  its  main  features,  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  France  and  England, 
although  to  a  considerable  extent  modified  by  the  more  unsettled  and 
less  prosperous  condition  of  the  country.  This,  however,  had  the  effect  of 
introducing  and  developing  some  varieties  of  style,  which  give  a  distinctly 
native  and  picturesque  character  to  the  later  periods  of  our  Domestic 
Architecture. 

Examples  of  the  Early  Castellated  Architecture  of  Scotland  are,  unfor- 
tunately, by  no  means  so  complete  or  so  abundant  as  those  of  France  and 
England. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  earliest  fortifications  in  Scotland  were 
constructed  with  earthen  mounds  and  wooden  palisades,  like  those  of 
France  and  England.  Of  these  primitive  fortresses  numerous  remains 
are  to  be  found  in  every  part  of  the  country.  They  are  usually  situated 
on  the  tops  of  the  rounded  knolls  or  hills  which  abound  almost  every- 
where over  the  land,  those  sites  being  selected  which  are  composed  of 
comparatively  soft  materials,  easily  dug  into  for  the  purpose  of  forming 
the  ditches  and  ramparts.  Of  these  ditches  and  mounds  there  are  usually 
several  rings,  extending  round  the  sides  of  the  hill.  We  shall  meet  with 
several  instances,  as  we  proceed,  in  which  these  early  works  have  been 
made  available  in  connection  with  later  castles. 

Artificial  "  mottes  "  also  exist  in  various  places,  but  these  are  supposed 
to  have  been  for  the  administration  of  justice  rather  than  for  defence. 

Another  class  of  fortification,  very  common  in  the  north,  and  peculiar 
to  Scotland,  is  the  Broch  or  Burgh.  This  consists  of  a  round  wall  enclos- 
ing an  open  court.  The  wall  is  always  of  great  thickness,  and  is  built 
with  dry  rubble  stones,  without  mortar  or  cement  of  any  kind.  A  straight 
staircase  and  several  small  apartments  are  formed  in  the  thickness  of  the 
wall.  The  entrance  door  is  low  and  narrow,  and  was  evidently  so  built  for 
defence.  From  the  door  a  narrow  passage  leads  through  the  wall, 
frequently  with  a  guard-room  on  one  side.  The  origin  and  date  of  the 


FIRST  PERIOD  62    INTRODUCTORY 

brochs  is  unknown,  but  they  are  supposed  to  be  the  work  of  the  native 
Celts.  They  have  probably  some  affinity  with  the  early  dry-stone 
churches  and  cells  of  Ireland.  These  brochs  may  perhaps  be  the  northern 
form  of  the  wooden  burghs,  which  the  Norsemen  in  France  and  England 
built  on  the  top  of  their  "  mottes ; "  but  in  Scotland,  where  stone 
abounded,  they  were  constructed  in  stone  instead  of  timber.  If  so,  and 
if  the  brochs  represent  the  usual  form  of  the  early  castles  of  Scotland,  it 
might  be  supposed  that  they  would  have  a  material  influence  on  the 
subsequent  forms  of  construction.  We  have,  however,  not  been  able  to 
trace  any  connection  between  them  and  the  arrangements  of  the  earliest 
castles  built  with  stone  and  lime.  But  in  the  towers  of  a  later  date,  as  we 
shall  see,  the  tendency  to  hollow  out  the  walls  with  innumerable  small 
apartments  is  carried  to  an  extreme  length,  which  may  possibly  be  a  tra- 
dition from  these  ancient  brochs.  It  is  probable  that  the  building  of 
castles  with  stone  and  lime  was  introduced  into  Scotland,  as  into  Eng- 
land, by  the  Normans.  During  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries  the 
pressure  of  the  Normans  in  England  drove  the  Saxon  nobility  northwards, 
and  these  were  followed  by  numerous  Normans,  who  were  welcomed  at 
the  Scottish  Court,  and  obtained  large  domains  in  the  country.  It  was 
no  doubt  the  policy  of  these  adventurers  to  establish  themselves  in  the 
same  position  as  the  native  chiefs  who  had  to  make  way  for  them.  They 
would  thus  naturally  take  possession  of  such  strongholds  as  they  found, 
which  probably  consisted  of  an  enclosing  wall  on  some  naturally  strong  site, 
or  of  an  area  surrounded  with  a  ditch  and  palisaded  mound,  with  a  natural 
or  artificial  height  within  on  which  the  dwelling  of  the  chief,  usually 
built  in  wood,  would  be  placed.  This  course  was  often  adopted  by  the 
Normans  in  England,  and  it  may  be  remarked  that  their  position  in 
England  under  the  Confessor  is  very  similar  to  their  position  in  Scotland 
in  the  twelfth  century.  Many  Normans,  encouraged  by  the  Confessor, 
had  settled  in  England,  but  it  was  not  till  after  the  Conquest  that  the 
Normans  took  root  in  the  country  and  began  to  build  castles  in  their  own 
style.  So  likewise  in  Scotland  the  Norman  nobles  do  not  appear  to  have 
built  castles  in  their  own  style  for  at  least  a  century  after  their  first  arrival. 

But  whatever  the  early  castles  of  the  Norman  Period  in  Scotland  were, 
they  have  all  disappeared.  They  have  probably  for  the  most  part  been 
remodelled  into  the  castles  of  a  later  period,  or  have  been  demolished  in 
the  frequent  sieges  of  those  stormy  times.  But  although  no  original 
Norman  castles  are  to  be  found  in  Scotland,  the  rectangular  keeps  of  the 
Normans  have  formed  the  model  after  which  most  of  our  Scotch  castles 
have  been  constructed.  During  the  three  or  four  centuries  succeeding 
the  War  of  Independence,,  there  is  a  constant  succession  of  castles  built 
upon  the  Norman  model,  which  present  us  with  a  faithful  likeness  of 
their  originals. 

This  was  also  the  case  in  the  north  of  England  :    wherever  and  when- 


INTRODUCTORY  63    FIRST  PERIOD 

ever  a  strong  tower  was  required,  the  plan  of  the  old  Norman  keep  was 
adopted. 

There  is  ample  historical  evidence  of  the  construction  of  castles  in 
Scotland  in  the  twelfth  century.  Alexander  i.  and  David  i.  are  well 
known  as  great  church-builders,  and  it  is  on  record  that  they  also  erected 
many  royal  castles.  The  great  feudatories  also  followed  their  example, 
and  erected  castles  on  their  domains.  It  is  most  likely,  however,  that 
these  consisted  chiefly  of  earthworks,  defended  with  wooden  palisades  or 
rough  walls  of  uncemented  stone-work. 

It  is,  no  doubt,  remarkable  that  while  many  fine  specimens  of  ecclesi- 
astical architecture  of  the  twelfth  century  remain,  there  is  not  one 
example  of  the  civil  or  military  architecture  of  the  period  to  be  found  in 
the  country.  On  the  other  hand,  it  must  be  kept  in  mind  that  the  Norman 
walls  were  of  such  solid  construction  that,  had  any  been  built  in  Scotland 
at  that  period,  they  would  probably  have  still  survived. 

The  thirteenth  century  was  an  exceptionally  prosperous  one  in  Scot- 
land. Alexanders  n.  and  nl.,  whose  reigns  were  long  and  comparatively 
peaceful,  being  little  engaged  in  war  with  England,  had  leisure  to  estab- 
lish a  settled  government  in  their  kingdom.  They  also  encouraged 
Englishmen  and  Normans  to  settle  in  Scotland ;  and  the  trade  of  the 
country,  both  with  England  and  the  Continent,  seems  to  have  been  con- 
siderable. Hill  Burton  is  of  opinion  that  the  country  was  comparatively 
wealthy  at  this  period,  and  more  prosperous  than  it  ever  was  till  after  the 
union  with  England. 

It  is,  therefore,  quite  natural  that  some  signs  of  this  unwonted  pros- 
perity should  be  traceable  in  the  castles  of  the  nobles  of  the  period,  and 
we  shall  see  that  this  was  the  case. 

While  friendly  with  the  south,  Alexanders  n.  and  HI.  were  greatly 
engaged  in  contests  in  the  north  and  in  the  western  islands,  which  they 
were  desirous  to  rescue  from  the  Norsemen.  Alexander  n.  died  at 
Kerrara  in  1249,  while  engaged  in  one  of  these  expeditions. 

In  order  to  secure  the  dominions  thus  reclaimed,  castles  were  built. 
Thus  we  find  that  William  the  Lion  built  the  two  castles  of  Edindour  and 
Dunskaith,  near  Cromarty,  in  1 1 79,  for  repressing  insurrection  in  Ross. 
Urquhart  Castle,  on  Loch  Ness,  was  also  originally  a  royal  castle.  Dun- 
staffnage  and  Inverlochy,  which  still  exist,  belong  to  the  thirteenth 
century, — having  the  great  walls  of  enceinte  strengthened  with  round 
towers,  which  distinguish  that  period. 

Professor  Cosmo  limes,  in  his  Scotland  in  tlie  Middle  Ages,  mentions 
the  following  fortresses  as  existing  in  the  thirteenth  century,  viz.,  Duffus 
and  Bocharm  in  Moray ;  Ruthven  and  Lochindorb  in  Badenoch ;  Strath- 
bolgie,  Fyvie,  Inverurie,  Kildrummie,  and  others  in  Aberdeenshire ; 
Kincardine,  Brechin,  Redcastle,  Forfar,  Glammis,  Leuchars,  Craill,  St. 
Andrews,  on  the  east  coast ;  Dumbarton,  Bothwell,  Douglas,  Rothesay, 


FIRST  PERIOD  64    -  INTRODUCTORY 

Turnberry,  in  the  west ;  Edinburgh,  Stirling,  Linlithgow,  Dunbar,  Yester, 
Roxburgh,  Jedburgh,  Lamberton,  Morton,  Dalswinton,  Lochmaben,  Con- 
gleton,  in  the  centre  and  south,  besides  many  others. 

Most  of  these  have  either  disappeared  or  have  been  entirely  re- 
modelled, but  a  sufficient  number  remain  to  enable  us  to  follow  their 
design,  which  we  shall  find  resembles  in  idea,  though  inferior  in  degree 
to,  that  of  the  contemporary  buildings  in  France  and  England. 

The  general  idea  of  these  thirteenth-century  Scotch  castles  is  that  of 
a  large  fortified  enclosure.  The  plan  is  usually  quadrilateral,  but  more  or 
less  irregular,  so  as  to  suit  the  site.  There  are  however  some  striking 
exceptions  to  this  rule,  as  for  instance  the  Castle  of  Rothesay,  the  plan  of 
which  is  oval,  and  Caerlaverock  Castle,  which  is  triangular.  The  curtain 
walls  are  about  7  to  9  feet  in  thickness  by  20  to  30  feet  high.  The  angles 
are  frequently  provided  with  round  or  square  towers,  and  no  doubt  these 
and  the  curtains  had  parapets  with  embrasures  for  defence,  and  rampart 
walks  all  round  the  walls.  But  these  have  now  in  almost  every  instance 
disappeared.  The  entrance  gateway  was  always  wide,  and  seems  to  have 
been  generally  provided  with  a  portcullis.  There  is  sometimes  also  a 
postern  door. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  what  the  arrangement  of  the  buildings  within 
the  enclosing  walls  may  have  been,  as  they  have  almost  entirely  perished. 
The  angle  towers  seem  to  have  been  used  as  the  dwellings  of  the  garrison, 
as  they  are  frequently  provided  with  garde-robes  in  the  thickness  of  the 
wall,  but  there  were  probably  other  buildings  within  the  enclosure  with 
roofs  leaning  against  the  curtains.  At  Rothesay  a  large  chapel  still 
survives,  while  at  Lochindorb  a  ruinous  building  is  also  called  the  chapel, 
and  it  is  very  probable  that  other  castles  contained  a  similar  edifice. 

The  sites  selected  for  this  class  of  castle  vary  greatly.  They  are, 
however,  generally  built  on  rather  low-lying  ground,  and  trust  more  to 
water  than  to  lofty  sites  for  their  security.  Thus  we  find  Lochmaben 
and  Lochindorb  situated,  the  latter  on  a  natural  island,  and  the  former 
011  a  peninsula  cut  off  by  ditches,  so  as  to  convert  it  into  an  island. 
Kinclaven  and  Inverlochy  are  both  placed  near  rivers,  and  were  no 
doubt  defended  with  moats  filled  with  water.  Rothesay  is  on  low  ground 
surrounded  by  a  wide  and  deep  fosse  filled  with  water.  Castle  Roy  and 
Dunstaifnage,  again,  are  on  rocky  sites,  but  raised  only  a  few  feet  above 
the  general  level  of  the  ground.  Tarbert  is  situated  on  the  top  of  a  low 
rocky  hill  overlooking  the  sea. 

The  large  area  contained  within  the  walls  was  no  doubt  intended  to 
receive  and  harbour  the  population  of  a  district,  with  their  flocks  and 
possessions,  in  time  of  danger.  They  are,  for  the  most  part,  rude  imitations 
of  the  thirteenth-century  castles  of  France  or  the  Edwardian  castles  of 
England  ;  but  some  of  the  finer  examples,  such  as  Bothwell,  Kildrummie, 
and  Dirleton,  present  a  wonderfully  close  resemblance  both  in  design  and 


INTRODUCTORY  65    FIRST  PERIOD 

workmanship  to  the  more  splendid  military  buildings  of  the  south. 
These  have  all  the  characteristics  of  the  French  castles  of  the  thirteenth 
century.  They  are  enclosed  with  high  curtains,  defended  at  intervals 
with  round  and  square  towers,  each  forming  a  separate  post,  and  each  so 
placed  as  to  flank  and  defend  the  adjoining  walls  and  towers,  while  one  of 
the  towers  is  of  larger  size  than  the  others,  and  forms  the  donjon  or  place 
of  strength  for  the  shelter  of  the  lord  and  his  retainers  in  case  of  siege. 

It  is  not  easy  to  determine  the  date  of  most  of  these  early  Scottish 
castles ;  but  we  have  distinct  information  with  regard  to  the  building  of 
others.  Thus  Tarbert  was  added  to  by  King  Robert  Bruce,  and  must 
therefore  have  existed  before  his  time,  while  Lochindorb,  Bothwell,  and 
Kildrummie  were  probably  enlarged  during  the  English  occupation. 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  however,  but  that  several  of  the  castles  of  this 
first  period  are  of  older  date  than  the  War  of  Independence,  as  they  are 
referred  to  as  existing  in  Wallace's  time. 

CASTLE  ROY,  INVERNESS-SHIRE. 

One  of  the  simplest  of  these  thirteenth-century  fortresses  is  Castle  Roy 
(or  Redcastle)  (Fig.  44),  situated  in  the  Abernethy  district  of  Inver- 
ness-shire. It  is  said  to  have  been  a  stronghold  of  the  Comyns,  but 
nothing  authentic  is  known  of  its  history.  Situated  about  one  mile 
north-east  from  Broomhill  Sta- 
tion of  the  Highland  Railway, 
it  stands  on  a  rising  ground, 
somewhat  elevated  above  the 
general  valley  of  the  Spey.  It 
consists  of  the  usual  high  en- 
closing wall,  which  in  this  case 
crowns  a  rocky  site,  raised  from 
10  to  15  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  surrounding  fields.  The 
nature  of  the  site  has  probably 
rendered  a  ditch  unnecessary, 

FIG.  44.— Castle  Roy.    Plan. 

as    there    is   no    appearance   ot 

there  ever  having  been  one.  The  walls  are  7  feet  thick,  built  with 
strong  rubble-work,  and  are  still  from  20  to  25  feet  high.  The  enclosed 
space  measures  80  feet  from  north  to  south,  by  53  feet  from  east  to  west 
within  the  walls.  The  entrance  is  by  a  doorway,  8  feet  wide,  in  the  north 
wall,  the  inner  pointed  arch  of  which  still  remains  (Fig.  45).  There  is  a 
square  tower  at  the  north-west  angle,  and  the  remains  of  a  large  window- 
near  it,  which  has  also  a  pointed  arch  in  the  reveal  (Fig.  45) ;  but 
it  seems  doubtful  whether  these  are  not  later  additions.  The  north-east 
angle  of  the  enclosure  (Fig.  46)  is  complete,  without  any  appearance  of  a 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    66    — 


CASTLE  ROY 


tower  having  ever  existed  there.  At  the  south-east  angle  the  wall  is 
broken  away,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  adding  a  tower  similar  to  that  at 
the  north-west  angle,  but  appai-ently  no  tower  has  ever  been  built  there. 


FIG.  45. — Castle  Roy.    Interior  looking  North-East. 

The  recess  in  the  wall  at  the  south-west  angle,  which  is  on  the  ground- 
level,  seems  to  have  been  used  as  latrines.  There  is  a  projecting  garde- 
robe  over  this  in  the  upper  part  of  the  wall,  but  no  appearance  of  any 
tower  at  this  angle  either. 


jflk,  ...-  /fj£-'--'*X^£*£3q 

Vf/Z/'-  r^?.s,   -  x  >"    -.-^  -          -    ^     - 


FIG.  46.— Castle  Roy  from  the  South-East. 


The  building  seems  to  have  been  simply  a  large  enclosing  wall  of 
great  height,  and  no  doubt  well  defended  from  the  parapet,  for  the 
purpose  of  sheltering  the  vassals  and  their  property.  There  were  pro- 


KINCLAVEN  CASTLE 


67    FIRST  PERIOD 


bably  wooden  or  other  buildings  within  the  enclosure  with  roofs  sup- 
ported against  the  curtains,  but  no  trace  of  these  now  exists. 


KINCLAVEN  CASTLE,  PERTHSHIRE. 

Kinclaven  Castle  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tay,  opposite 
its  junction  with  the  river  Isla,  and  about  8  miles  north  from  Perth. 
The  Tay  is  here  a  stream  of  about  130  yards  wide,  swift  and  clear,  with 
banks  of  moderate  height,  abundantly  wooded.  The  castle  (Fig.  47) 
consists  of  a  square  enclosure,  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~| 
measuring  on  the  average  130  ^^  y  |, 

feet  over  the  walls,  which  are 
7  feet  6  inches  in  thickness, 
and  in  height  vary  from  15  to 
25  feet.  There  were  evidently 
towers  at  each  of  the  angles, 
and,  as  far  as  can  be  made 
out,  these  were  square  on  plan. 
They  were  entered  from  the 
courtyard  by  narrow  doors 
about  2  or  3  feet  wide.  Parts 
of  their  rybats  still  remain, 
showing  that  the  doors  opened 

.    .        .  ••  rr.1  .  FIG.  47.— Kinclaven  Castle.    Plan. 

into   the   towers.       Ihe   prin- 
cipal entrance  was  near  the  south  end  of  the  west  side,  being  the  side 
furthest  from  the  river.     The  gateway  is  9  feet  8  inches  wide,  and,  as 
far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  scanty  remains,  it  was  provided  with  a 
portcullis. 

There  is  a  postern  in  the  centre  of  the  south  front,  2  feet  2  inches 
wide,  which,  entering  from  the  outside,  turns  along  in  the  thickness  of 
the  wall  for  16  feet  2  inches,  and,  descending  three  steps,  opens  into  the 
court.  The  roof  of  this  passage,  which  is  some  8  or  9  feet  high,  is  formed 
with  flat  stones.  The  postern  was  evidently  defended  by  a  square  tower, 
of  which  only  one  side  partly  remains.  Opposite  the  door  there  is  a 
small  window  looking  from  the  entrance  passage  into  the  courtyard. 

In  the  centre  of  the  west  side,  and  about  13  feet  distant  from 
the  portcullis  entrance,  the  wall  is  thickened  on  the  inside  for  a  length 
of  about  24-  feet,  the  additional  thickness  being  some  6  feet.  This  was 
probably  for  the  support  of  a  stair  leading  to  the  walk  on  the  top  of 
the  walls,  as  also  to  the  place  for  working  the  portcullis  ;  but  it  is  so 
very  much  overgrown  with  vegetation  and  covered  with  ruins  that  one 
cannot  be  certain.  The  southern  half  of  the  west  front  has  a  projecting 
base  outside,  which  stops  short  with  a  properly  wrought  return  about 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    68 


KINCLAVEN  CASTLE 


the  centre  for  a  wall  at  right  angles,  while  beyond  this  there  will  be  seen 
on  the  plan  the  projecting  remains  of  a  wall,  probably  of  a  tower  for 
defending  the  front  entrance ;  but  here  the  recent  accumulation  of  ruin 
is  so  great  that  not  much  can  be  made  out.  On  the  east  side,  at  about 
10  feet  above  the  ground,  and  where  indicated  on  the  plan,  there  are 
three  gaps  in  the  wall.  These  have  been  stripped  of  their  dressings ; 
and  large  portions  of  the  walls  outside  have  also  been  skinned  for  the 
sake  of  the  dressed  stones.  There  are  neither  loops  nor  shot-holes  in 
the  walls ;  these  were  probably  confined  to  the  flanking  towers.  Of  the 
interior  buildings  not  a  vestige  remains,  unless  it  be  that  the  slight 
depression  of  5  or  6  inches  in  the  ground  all  along  the  south  wall  within 
the  space,  shown  by  a  line  on  the  plan,  indicates  where  they  stood, 
which  it  probably  does.  Such  buildings  in  a  castle  of  this  kind  were 
of  a  very  simple  construction,  having  a  mere  lean-to  roof  against  the 
curtain. 

The  castle  is  protected  on  the  east  side  (Fig.  47 A)  by  the  Tay  and  the 
steep  bank,  as  also  on  the  north  side,  although  to  a  less   extent,  the 

Tay  being  farther  off  and  the 
bank  being  more  prolonged  and 
thus  not  so  steep.  On  the  west 
side  the  ground  is  generally 
level  for  about  50  or  60  feet 
from  the  wall,  beyond  which 
the  land  gradually  rises,  while 
on  the  south  (Fig.  47s)  it  slopes 
downwards  gently  from  the 
walls  for  some  50  or  6'0  feet, 
and  rises  beyond.  There  was 
probably  in  this  latter  hollow 
a  ditch  which  continued  round 
the  west  side  and  along  the 
north,  opening  out  into  .the 


r — f   r   r  T  -r    f    r — = — r 


Fiu.  47A.— Kinclaven  Castle.    Plan  of  Site. 

steep  bank  sloping  to  the  Tay.  Here  and  there,  especially  on  the 
north  side,  indications  of  the  ditch  are  visible,  and  Blind  Harry  refers 
to  a  drawbridge,  as  we  shall  see.  From  the  south-west  corner  a  diagonal 
mound  or  wall  (earth  and  stones  are  so  mixed  that  one  cannot  be 
positive  which  it  was)  runs  outwards  for  about  60  feet,  and  at  the 
south-east  corner  a  similar  construction  runs  outwards  for  about  the  same 
distance,  but  at  right  angles  with  the  south  curtain.  Fig.  47s  gives  an 
idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  castle  and  its  surroundings. 

This  castle  was  a  royal  residence  in  the  time  of  Alexander  in.,  and  is 
mentioned  in  the  year  1264  (see  Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland,  vol.  i.),  when 
payments  are  made  for  the  carriage  of  wine  to  Kinclaven  and  for  the 
repairing  of  a  boat. 


KINCLAVEN  CASTLE 


—  69 


FIRST  PERIOD 


Thirty-three   years    later,    or   in    1297,   according   to   tradition    and 
Henry    the    Minstrel,    Wallace    took     Kinclaven,   "  a    castell    wondyr 


Fio.  47s.— Kinclaven  Castle. 

wycht."      In  June  1296  Edward  i.,  in   his  progress 

northwards,  visited  Kinclaven,  and  stayed  there  one 

night.     Henry  describes  an  engagement  between  the  .\ 

English  garrison  and  Wallace  some  little  distance  from  the  castle,  the 

defeat  and  flight  of  the  former,   pursued   by  the   Scots   towards  their 

strength,  where 

"  Few  men  of  fenss  was  left  that  place  to  kepe, 
Wemen  and  preistis  wpon  the  wall  can  wepe  : 
For  weill  thai  wend  the  fleais  was  their  lord  ; 
To  tuk  him  in  thai  maid  thaim  redy  ford, 
Leit  doun  the  bryg,  kest  up  the  yettis  wide. 
The  frayit  folk  entrit,  and  durst  nocht  byde. " 

Here  Wallace  and  his  followers  stayed  seven  days,  spoiled  and  wrecked 
the  place,  and  under  cloud  of  night  betook  themselves  to  the  neigh- 
bouring woods,  when 

"  The  contre  folk,  quhen  it  was  lycht  of  day, 
Gret  reik  saw  ryss,  and  to  Kynclewyn  thai  socht : 
Bot  wallis  and  stane,  mar  gud  thar  fand  thai  nocht." 

Although  thus  cast  down,  the  castle  was  evidently  put  in  order  again, 
and  in  1335  was,  along  with  other  strongholds,  held  by  Edward  in.,  then 
master  of  Scotland,  but  in  the  following  year  most  of  these  castles,  includ- 
ing Kinclaven,  were  recaptured  by  the  Scots. 

Kinclaven  never  was  a  residence,  but  was  purely  a  garrison  castle. 
It  must  have  been  abandoned  for  many  centuries,  as  old  fruit-trees  are 
growing  in  the  courtyard,  and  probably  when  the  Minstrel  wrote,  his 
description  was  true  to  his  time  as  to  ours — 


"  In  till  Kinclewyn  thar  duelt  nane  agayne ; 

Thar  was  left  nocht  hot  brokyn  wallis  in  playne." 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    70    — 


LOCHINDORB  CASTLE 


It  has  been  several  times  stated  that  a  sum  of  money  is  annually  paid 
by  Government  for  keeping  this  castle  in  repair.  Of  the  accuracy  of  this 
statement  we  know  nothing,  but  it  is  quite  apparent  that  no  attention 
whatever  is  paid  to  the  building,  and  great  portions  of  the  walls  have 
fallen  within  the  last  few  years. 


LOCHINDORB  CASTLE,  MORAYSHIRE. 

The  castle  of  Lochindorb  is  situated  in  Cromdale,  in  Morayshire, 
about  7  miles  from  Grantown.  It  occupies  the  whole  of  an  island, 
extending  to  about  one  Scotch  acre,  in  the  middle  of  the  loch,  which  is 
about  2  miles  long  by  three-quarters  of  a  mile  broad.  The  Old  Statistical 
Account  states  that  the  island  is  at  least  partly  artificial,  as  "  rafts  and 
planks  of  oak  are  sometimes  brought  to  light  by  the  beating  of  the  waves." 


FIG.  48. — Lochiiidorb  Castle.     Plan. 

The  castle  (Fig.  48)  consists  of  the  usual  quadrilateral  enclosing 
walls,  forming  a  slightly  irregular  parallelogram,  measuring  an  average 
length  of  160  feet  from  north  to  south,  by  126  feet  from  east  to  west. 
The  walls  are  about  7  feet  thick  and  20  feet  high.  At  each  angle  is  a 
round  tower,  23  feet  in  diameter,  enclosed  next  the  courtyard  with  a 
diagonal  wall  containing  a  door  into  the  tower.  These  towers  are  two 
stories  in  height,  and  had  wooden  floors  and  small  windows  with  iron 
stanchions.  They  were  all  standing  in  1793  when  the  Old  Statistical 
Account  was  written,  but  now  there  are  only  two  in  fair  preservation. 


LOCHINDORB  CASTLE  71    FIRST  PERIOD 

The  projection  of  the  towers  is  slight,  thus  forming  a  link  between  such 
castles  as  Castle  Roy  without  towers  at  the  angles  and  the  subsequent 
ones  in  which  the  towers  have  a  bold  salient.  There  are  garde-robes  in 
the  thickness  of  the  walls  adjoining  two  of  the  angle  towers.  It  seems, 
therefore,  likely  that  these  were  occupied  as  living-rooms  by  the  garrison. 
The  entrance  to  the  castle  is  from  the  east,  where  there  is  a  landing- 
place.  The  doorway  is  9  feet  wide,  and  has  been  arched.  Extending 
along  the  south  side  of  the  courtyard  there  are  the  ruins  of  buildings,  the 
westmost  one  of  which  is  called  the  chapel,  but  from  the  state  of  these 
fragments  it  is  impossible  to  determine  their  date  or  destination.  A  very 
remarkable  part  of  this  castle  is  an  outer  enclosing  wall  extending  along 
the  south  and  part  of  the  east  sides.  It  is  broken  off  at  the  west  end  by 
the  force  of  the  waves,  and  there  is  no  saying  how  much  further  it  may 
have  gone  on  that  side.  The  portion  of  the  wall  on  the  south  side  is 
about  20  feet  high,  and  contains  a  well-formed  gateway.  The  jambs  are 
of  dressed  freestone,  with  splay  on  the  outside,  which  has  been  continued 
round  the  depressed  arch,  now  demolished.  This  gateway  has  the  grooves 
for  a  portcullis  well  cut  on  each  side.  The  part  of  the  wall  shown  by 
dotted  lines  on  the  east  side  is  reduced  to  mere  foundations,  except  the 
portion  at  the  north  end,  which  is  well  preserved.  The  remarkable  thing 
about  this  outer  courtyard  is,  that,  except  the  above-mentioned  gateway, 
there  is  no  other  means  of  ingress  or  egress,  and  no  communication  with 
the  inner  courtyard.  Fig.  49  gives  a  general  view  of  the  castle  from 
the  south-east. 

This  castle  belonged  in  the  thirteenth  century  to  the  Comyns, 
Lords  of  Bad enoch.  In  1303  Edward  i.  penetrated  into  Badenoch,  for 
the  purpose  of  reducing  them.  He  then  resided  at  Lochindorb  Castle 
for  about  a  month.  From  this  time  it  remained  for  several  years  in  the 
hands  of  the  English,  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  greatly  extended  it. 
Possibly  the  enclosing  wall  of  the  outer  court  with  the  depressed 
arched  gate  may  have  been  added  by  them  as  a  basse-cour  for  cattle 
and  provisions,  and  also  to  enclose  the  whole  island,  so  as  to  prevent  an 
enemy  from  obtaining  a  footing  on  it.  After  the  English  had  retired  from 
Scotland,  Lochindorb  became  a  royal  castle.  In  1335  it  was  held  by  the 
Duke  of  Athole  for  Edward  Baliol,  and  besieged  by  the  Regent,  Sir  Andrew 
Murray.  In  1372  it  became  the  stronghold  of  King  Robert  ii.'s  fierce 
son,  "the  Wolfe  of  Badenoch."  In  1455  the  castle  was  strengthened  by 
Archibald  Douglas,  when  he  became  Earl  of  Moray,  and  after  the  fall  of 
the  Douglases  it  was  destroyed  by  order 'of  King  James  n.  The  warrant 
for  its  demolition  was  granted  to  the  Thane  of  Cawdor  in  March  1455-56, 
and  the  Exchequer  Accounts  attest  that  this  was  done  in  1458.  It  is  said 
that  the  "iron  yett"  of  Cawdor  Castle  was  carried  off  from  Lochindorb  at 
that  time.  The  castle  now  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Seafield. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    72 


LOCHINDORB  CASTLE 


LOCH-AN-EILAN  CASTLE  73    FIRST  PERIOD 

LOCH-AN-EILAN  CASTLE,  INVERNESS-SHIRE. 

This  castle  (Fig.  50),  like  Lochindorb,  is  situated  on  an  island 
in  the  middle  of  a  loch,  surrounded  with  lofty  mountains.  The  loch 
is  about  1  mile  in  length,  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  broad.  It  lies  in  the 
midst  of  the  remains  of  the  ancient  forest  of  Rothiemurchus,  in  Inverness- 
shire,  about  3  miles  from  the  Aviemore  Station  of  the  Highland  Railway. 
This  castle  was  also  one  of  the  strongholds  of  the  Wolf  of  Badenoch.  It 
is  now  occupied  by  ospreys,  whose  nest  is  seen  on  the  top  of  the  tower 
to  the  right,  and,  in  order  to  save  them  from  disturbance,  no  boats  are 
allowed  on  the  loch,  and  it  is  therefore  impossible  to  examine  the  build- 
ings, or  make  a  plan  of  them.  They  appear,  however,  to  consist  of  the 
same  high  and  massive  enclosing  walls  as  Lochindorb,  and  the  whole 
island  seems  to  have  been  enclosed  by  the  walls.  There  was  a  strong 
square  tower  to  the  right,  the  walls  of  which  rise  perpendicularly  from 
the  water's  edge,  while  the  adjoining  central  curtain,  in  which  is  the 
entrance  door,  is  battered  or  sloped  inwards. 

INVERLOCHY  CASTLE,  INVERNESS-SHIRE. 

Inverlochy  Castle,  Inverness-shire,  is  situated  on  level  ground  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  Lochy,  a  short  way  above  its  junction  with  Loch 
Linnhe,  and  about  2  miles  from  Fort-William. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  origin  of  this  castle,  but,  according  to  the 
Statistical  Account,  tradition  says  that  it  was  built  by  the  Comyns. 

In  the  absence  of  any  proper  history,  it  has  been  conjectured  that  it 
may  have  been  erected  in  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century  by 
George,  second  Earl  of  Huntly,  and  it  is  stated  to  have  been  still  unfin- 
ished in  the  time  of  Charles  n. 

As  will  be  hereafter  pointed  out,  some  great  castles  with  quadrangles 
were  erected  in  the  fifteenth  century,  but  their  leading  characteristics  are 
different  from  those  of  Inverlochy.  They  have  high  and  thick  enclosing 
walls,  and  sometimes  round  towers  also,  but  the  walls  of  the  enceinte  inva- 
riably form  an  integral  part  of  the  buildings  which  compose  the  castle.  In 
this  case  the  walls  of  the  enceinte  stand  alone,  without  connection  with 
any  internal  buildings,  nor  are  there  any  windows  or  shot-holes  in  the  walls 
(such  as  we  invariably  find  in  fifteenth-century  work)  to  indicate  that  any 
buildings  of  that  kind  ever  existed. 

A  glance  at  the  plan  (Fig.  51)  will  show  that  it  has  much  more 
affinity  with  the  arrangements  of  the  thirteenth-century  castles  above 
described,  while  its  great  round  towers  projecting  boldly  at  the  four 
angles  bring  it  into  connection  with  the  more  finished  castles  of  the 
period  about  to  be  referred  to. 

Inverlochy  Castle  consists  of  a  great  courtyard,  measuring  101  feet 
from  north  to  south,  by  90  feet  from  east  to  west,  surrounded  by  walls  of 


FIRST  PERIOD 


LOCH-AN-EILAN  CASTLE 


INVERLOCHY  CASTLE 


—  75  — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


enceinte  9  feet  in  thickness,  and  which  were  probably  about  30  feet  high, 
though  now  reduced  to  from  20  to  25  feet.     There  is  a  principal  gate- 


FIG.  51. — Iiiverlochy  Castle.     Plan. 

way  in  the  south  wall,  7  feet  6  inches  wide,  and  another  immediately 
opposite  in  the  north  wall,  5  feet  6  inches  wide.  These  were  each  provided 
with  a  portcullis,  the  grooves  for  which  are  still  partly  preserved.  Some 
portions  of  the  freestone  dressings  of  the  doors  still  exist,  showing  that 
the  angles  have  all  plain  splays.  The  south  gate  has  had  an  internal 
gate-house,  with  probably  an  interior  door  and  apertures  in  the  roof  from 
which  assailants  might  be  attacked.  The  north  door  has  been  strengthened 
with  two  oaken  bars  running  into  grooves  in  the  wall,  one  opposite  the 
lower  part  and  the  other  opposite  the  higher  part  of  the  door.  There 
are  some  traces  of  building  outside  this  door,  which  may  indicate  that 
there  was  at  one  time  an  outer  porch  or  gate-house. 

The  angles  at  the  north-east,  south-east,  and  south-west  are  fortified 
with  round  towers,  about  14  feet  diameter  internally,  and  each  is  provided 
with  a  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  winding  round  the  tower,  and 
giving  access  to  the  two  upper  floors  and  the  battlements. 

The  tower  at  the  north-west  angle  (Fig.  52),  called  the  Comyn's 
Tower,  is  larger  than  the  others,  and  formed  the  donjon  or  resi- 
dence of  the  lord  of  the  castle.  It  is  20  feet  in  diameter  within  the  walls, 
which  are  10  feet  4  inches  thick,  and  contain  a  staircase  3  feet  6  inches  wide, 
arranged  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  other  towers.  The  angle  towers 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—  76  — 


INVERLOCHY  CASTLE 


were  provided  with  loops  to  light  the  staircases  and  upper  rooms  ;  but 
these  are  now  represented  only  by  holes  in  the  walls,  the  freestone  dress- 
ings being  torn  out.  There  is,  however,  a  portion  of  one  loop  left  in  the 


north-east  tower,  showing  that  they  were  narrow  slits,  splayed  on  the 
outside,  with  a  round  termination  or  oilet  at  the  bottom.  The  donjon  was 
probably  higher  as  well  as  larger  than  the  other  towers,  as  we  shall  see 
was  usually  the  case. 


INVERLOCHY  CASTLE 


—  77  — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


The  whole  castle  was  surrounded  with  a  moat  about  30  feet  wide,  placed 
about  40  feet  from  the  building.     This  was  no  doubt  supplied  with  water 


from  the  river.  Its  position  may  still  be  traced  in  the  marshy  depression 
in  the  ground  round  the  castle.  Along  the  south  front  (Fig.  53)  the 
ground  between  the  towers  is  raised  above  the  general  level,  and  has 
formed  a  platform  with  a  retaining  wall.  Some  remains  of  masonry  in 
front  of  this  and  immediately  opposite  the  entrance  gate  indicate  the 
position  of  the  drawbridge. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—  78  — 


LOCHMABEN  CASTLE 


The  locality  of  Inverlochy  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  site  of  an 
ancient  Pictish  town,  which  was  demolished  by  the  Danes.  But  apart 
from  this  tradition,  we  think  there  can  be  no  question  about  the  antiquity 
of  the  castle.  Its  thick  walls,  without  openings,  and  unconnected  with 
other  buildings,  associate  it  with  the  style  of  castles  erected  in  the  thir- 
teenth century,  while  its  boldly  projected  round  towers  give  it  a  striking 
resemblance  to  the  castles  of  the  period  in  France  and  England,  such  as 
Coucy  and  Pevensey.  The  form  of  the  staircases  in  the  towers  is  also 
characteristic  of  thirteenth-century  work,  as  for  example  at  Conisborough 
Castle,  Yorkshire. 


LOCHMABEN  CASTLE,  DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

Lochmaben  Castle,  in  Dumfriesshire,  the  hereditary  castle  of  the 
Bruces,  was  the  most  powerful  fortress  on  the  Borders.  The  lordship  of 
Annandale  was  bestowed  on  the  Bruces  by  David  i.  in  1124,  and  it  is 
said  that  their  original  castle  was  on  the  Castle-hill,  close  to  the  town  of 
Lochmaben,  and  that  the  present  castle  was  built  in  the  thirteenth 
century  by  Robert  Bruce  (King  Robert's  grandfather),  the  competitor 
for  the  crown,  who  died  here  in  1295.  There  are  some  relics  of  masonry 
on  the  top  of  the  Castle-hill,  and  there  is  an  intrenchment  round  the  base, 
indicating  that  the  original  castle  was  of  the  earlier  order  of  strongholds, 
whose  chief  defences  consisted  of  earthen  mounds  with  palisades  and 
ditches. 

The  existing  castle  is  built  on  a  peninsula  or  spit  of  flat  ground 
running  into  Lochmaben  from  the  south-east  (Fig.  54).  A  wide  ditch 

cut  across  the  neck  of  the  penin- 
sula, which  joined  a  burn  on  the 
east,  and  was  filled  with  water  from 
the  loch,  separated  it  from  the 
mainland,  and  formed  an  island 
about  16  acres  in  extent.  Before 
reaching  the  castle  the  interven- 
ing ground  is  defended  by  two 
additional  ditches,  running  east 
and  west,  through  which  also,  no 
doubt,  the  water  of  the  lake 
flowed.  These  ditches  would  all 
be  provided  with  well-fortified 
drawbridges.  Close  to  the  castle, 
and  partly  enclosed  within  its 

&  fourth  ditch 


MABEN    LOCH 


FIG.  54.-Plan  of  Site. 


The  plan  (Fig.  55)  shows  that  this  ditch  or  moat,  about  20  feet  wide, 
was  enclosed  at  either  end  of  the  castle  with  a  great  wall,  each  having 


LOCHMABEN  CASTLE 


—  79 


FIRST  PERIOD 


AiRCiH 


LOCHMABEN   CASTLE 

DUMFRIESSHIRE 
M 1 1 1 1 1 ,_ 


an  arched  opening  through  which  the  water  flowed  (Fig.  56).  The  moat 
was  here  lined  with  ashlar,  some  portions  of  which  still  remain.  It  seems 
probable  that  a  wall  ex- 
tended along  the  front  of  the 
building  outside  the  moat, 
and  joined  the  two  ends  of 
the  above  wing  walls,  so  as 
to  enclose  this  portion  of  the 
moat.  Access  to  the  castle 
was  likely  chiefly  by  means 
of  boats,  and  this  enclosure 
would  form  a  safe  landing- 
place,  and  also  protect  the 
boats  which  might  be  col- 
lected within  it.  The  recess 
in  the  centre  under  the  gate- 
way is  evidently  intended  for 
a  boat  being  set  back  into. 
The  arches  in  the  wing  walls 
would  be  secured  with  grated 
iron  gates,  and  there  would 
be  a  strongly  secured  gate  in  FlG-  55-~  Lochmaben  Castle.  Plan. 

the  front  wall.     The  moat  would  be  well  defended  from  the  battlements 
all  round  this  outer  court. 

The  remainder  of  the  building  is  very  similar  to  Kinclaven  and  other 
castles  of  the  period,  being  a  parallelogram  126  feet  long  from  north  to 
south,  by  108  feet  wide  from  east  to  west.  The  walls  are  of  the  usual 
solid  description,  and  have  been  faced  with  ashlar.  But  this  has  now 
almost  entirely  disappeared,  having  been  peeled  off  and  carried  away, — 
this  castle  having  been  used,  as  is  unfortunately  so  often  the  case  with 
our  ancient  buildings,  as  a  convenient  quarry  for  building  materials. 

The  plan  shows  that  there  are  a  few  indications  of  buildings  within 
the  walls,  but  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  any  of  these  are  original.  In 
1 503-4  James  iv.  repaired  the  castle,  and  built  a  hall  within  it,  and  it  may 
be  the  scanty  remains  of  his  construction  which  are  now  visible. 

The  walls  were  undoubtedly,  as  may  be  seen  from  their  ruins,  of  great 
height,  and  were  no  doubt  well  provided  with  parapets  and  defences  on 
the  top ;  but  they  are  now  reduced  to  mere  shapeless  fragments. 

This  castle  commanded  the  entrance  to  the  south-west  of  Scotland, 
and  was  therefore  the  subject  of  many  contests.  It  was  taken  by 
Edward  i.  in  1298,  and  he  is  said  to  have  strengthened  its  works.  In  1304 
Robert  Bruce  fled  to  it  ?rom  England  before  taking  the  field  for  the 
crown  of  Scotland.  After  his  success,  he  bestowed  it  on  Randolph,  Earl 
of  Moray.  The  castle  was  handed  over  to  Edward  in.  by  Baliol,  but  it 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    80    — 


ROTHESAY  CASTLE 


was  besieged  and  retaken  by  David  n.  in  1346.  After  the  Battle  of  the 
Standard  it  again  fell  into  Edward's  hands,  till  Archibald  Douglas,  Lord 
of  Galloway,  reduced  it,  and  expelled  the  English  in  1384.  At  the 


Fio.  56.—  Lochmaben  Castle.    View  of  Entrance  Front. 

attainder  of  the  Douglases  in  1455  it  became  a  royal  castle.  In  1588  it 
was  besieged  and  taken  by  James  vi.  from  Lord  Maxwell,  and  the 
governorship  granted  to  the  Earl  of  Annandale.  Mr.  Hope  Johnstone  of 
Annandale  is  now  the  Hereditary  Keeper  of  the  castle. 


ROTHESAY  CASTLE,  BUTESHIRE. 

The  origin  of  this  most  remarkable  castle  is  involved  in  obscurity.  It 
is  said  to  have  been  erected  in  very  early  times  to  resist  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  Norsemen.  In  the  time  of  Alexander  in.  it  was  attacked 
by  the  Norwegians  with  eighty  ships,  and  taken,  but  was  retaken  after 
the  Battle  of  Largs  in  1263.  It  was  also  taken  and  retaken  several  times 
in  the  wars  of  Bruce  and  Baliol. 

Rothesay  Castle  was  a  favourite  residence  of  Robert  n.  and  Robert  in. 
in  the  fourteenth  century,  but  there  are  no  records  in  the  Exchequer 
Rolls  of  outlay  connected  with  it.  In  1398  King  Robert  created  his  son 
David  the  first  Duke  of  Rothesay,  a  title  still  retained  by  the  Prince  of 
Wales. 

The  castle  was  destroyed  by  Argyll  in  1685.  The  mildness  of  the 
climate  of  Rothesay,  and  the  sheltered  position  of  its  bay,  have  made  it  a 
desirable  place  of  residence  at  all  times.  Being  on  an  island  also  added 


HOTHESAY  CASTLE 


—    81    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


to  its  security,  and  its  low  situation  enabled  it  to  be  surrounded  with  a 

deep  fosse  filled  with  water.     This  was  for  long  filled  up,  but  has  within 

recent  years  been  cleared  out,  and  the  wooden  way  of  approach  restored 

,  by  the  present  noble  proprietor,  the  Marquis  of  Bute.     It  is  said  that 


FIG.  .37.—  Rothesay  Castle.    General  Plan,  showing  Moat,  etc. 

some  remains  of  the  old  wooden  posts  which  carried  the  ancient  bridge 
were  found  in  the  excavations. 

Architecturally,  this  is  one  of  our  most  interesting  castles,  and  is 
an  admirable  example  of  a  thirteenth-century  fortress.  We  here  see 
(Fig.  57)  the  great  wall  of  enceinte  in  its  simplest  form,  defended  by 

F 


FIRST  PERIOD  82    ROTHESAY  CASTLE 

four  round  towers.  This  castle  differs  from  the  examples  already  given 
in  having  the  wall  of  enceinte  of  a  circular  or  oval  form,  instead  of 
quadrilateral ;  but  the  ditch,  enclosing  the  wall  with  its  towers,  brings 
the  whole  approximately  to  the  usual  square  form.  The  walls  are  from 
8  to  10  feet  in  thickness,  and  the  diameter  of  the  courtyard  is  142  feet. 
The  wall  of  enceinte  is  well  preserved,  and  is  built  with  good  ashlar-work. 
The  forms  of  the  loop-holes  and  their  recesses  are  of  an  early  type. 
The  top  of  the  walls  would  be  finished  with  a  parapet  resting  on  pro- 
jecting corbels  with  machicolations  between,  or  armed  with  a  wooden 
hoarding — it  is  impossible  to  say  which,  but  probably  the  latter.  Some 
corbels  still  remaining  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  wall  seem  to 
indicate  the  position  of  these  defences  (Fig.  58).  The  upper  part  of 
the  wall  above  them  is  of  a  different  style  of  masonry,  and  was  evidently 
heightened  at  a  later  period,  and  will  be  referred  to  further  on.  The 
entrance  gateway  seems  to  have  been  (as  at  present)  at  the  north  end, 
through  a  square  tower  projecting  about  16  feet  from  the  wall  of  the 
enceinte.  There  remain  the  grooves  of  two  portcullises,  and  one  jamb 
of  the  inner  gateway,  afterwards  reduced  in  size.  In  the  small  guard- 
room added  on  the  east  side  of  this  tower  may  still  be  seen  two  bold 
stone  corbels,  which  look  as  if  they  had  formed  part  of  the  defences  of  the 
original  gate-tower,  which  is  incorporated  with  the  later  buildings.  Of 
the  four  round  towers,  only  the  one  to  the  north-west  remains  in  good 
preservation  ;  the  three  others  are  considerably  demolished,  but  the  lower 
part  of  each  still  exists,  showing  the  usual  batter  at  the  base.  They  have 
each  a  door  entering  from  the  courtyard  on  the  ground  level. 

The  chapel  is  the  only  building  within  the  enceinte  of  which  the  walls 
remain,  but  the  foundations  of  many  other  buildings  can  be  traced. 
These  give  an  idea  of  the  irregular  manner  in  which  the  buildings  within 
the  wall  of  the  enceinte  of  these  early  castles  were  scattered  about.  The 
chapel  is  of  early  date,  but  has  no  architectural  features  of  much  interest. 
At  the  back  or  east  end  of  the  chapel  is  a  staircase  leading  to  the 
ramparts. 

The  building  which  runs  out  to  the  north  of  the  ancient  entrance 
tower,  and  forms  the  existing  entrance,  is  of  later  date.  It  is  built  with 
rubble-work,  and  resembles  in  almost  all  its  features  the  quadrilateral 
keeps  of  the  fourteenth  century.  It  is  most  probable  that  it  was  built 
by  Robert  n.  or  in.,  so  as  to  provide  a  residence  similar  to  their  other 
royal  castles,  such  as  Dundonald.  In  this  case  the  ground  floor  is  almost 
entirely  occupied  with  a  vaulted  passage,  1 1  feet  6  inches  wide,  leading 
into  the  castle.  The  cellars,  etc.,  usually  occupying  this  position  would 
be  amply  supplied  by  stores  in  the  courtyard.  The  entrance  door  was  no 
doubt  defended  by  a  drawbridge  and  iron  gate,  and  has  a  small  guard- 
room adjoining.  On  the  west  side  of  the  passage  is  a  small  door  leading 
to  the  ground  between  the  wall  and  the  moat.  The  square  tower  adjoin- 


ROTHESAY  CASTLE 


—    83 


FIRST  PERIOD 


FIRST  PERIOD 


ROTHESAY  CASTLE 


ing  this,  and  masking  it,  contains  the  shoots  from  latrines  on  the  upper 
floor.  The  chamber  on  the  east  side  adjoining  the  stair  to  the  hall  seems 
to  have  served  as  a  guard-room,  from  the  small  window  in  it  commanding 
the  entrance  passage. 


FIG.  59.— Rothesay  Castle.     Plan  of  First  Floor  of  Palace. 

The  upper  floor  of  the  keep  (Fig.  59)  is  now  approached  by  a  long 
straight  stair  from  the  courtyard,  but  the  original  stair  was  evidently 
that  adjoining  the  guard-room.  This  led  to  the  hall,  which  was  49  feet 
long  by  24  feet  6  inches  wide.  The  great  fireplace  still  remains,  and 
there  appear  to  have  been  windows  on  three  sides.  At  the  south 
end  a  portion,  12  feet  wide,  was  cut  off  by  a  partition  to  form  a  private 
room,  which  had  a  large  window  overlooking  the  courtyard.  From  this 
passages  in  the  heightened  portion  of  the  wall  of  enceinte  lead  to  the 
north-east  and  north-west  towers,  which  were  probably  used  as  apart- 
ments in  connection  with  the  palace.  On  the  upper  floor  above  this 
point  are  the  remains  of  groined  and  ribbed  vaulting,  as  if  there  had 
been  a  small  vaulted  oratory  there  (Fig.  59) ;  otherwise,  the  upper 
floor  cannot  now  be  distinctly  made  out.  The  square  west  tower 
contains  two  wide  apertures,  which  terminate  in  shoots  into  the  moat  at 
the  base  of  the  tower,  and  were  evidently  the  latrines  for  the  two 
upper  floors  (Fig.  58). 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


—    85    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE,  ARGYLLSHIRE. 

Dunstaffnage  Castle,  in  the  Lome  district  of  Argyllshire,  stands  near 
the  point  of  a  low-lying  peninsula  jutting  out  into  the  sea  at  the  entrance 
to  Loch  Etive,  and  is  about  4  miles  distant  northwards  from  Oban.  The 
peninsula,  about  half  a  mile  in  length,  is  about  700  yards  in  width  at  the 
neck,  uneven  and  diversified  on  its  surface,  and  well  wooded.  The  site 
of  the  castle  is  a  rocky  platform,  rising  from  20  to  30  feet  above  the 


FIG.  00.— Uunstcift'uage  Castle.     Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

general  surface  of  the  ground,  with  precipitous  faces,  that  along  the 
north  front  overhanging  considerably.  The  walls  follow  the  outline  of 
the  rock,  and  are  built  sheer  up  from  the  edge,  so  as  to  allow  no  foothold 
on  the  rock  outside.  In  plan,  the  castle  (Fig.  60)  is  rudely  quadrangular, 
with  great  curtain  walls,  from  9  to  1 1  feet  thick,  and  about  60  feet  high 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    86    — 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


from  the  ground  outside  to  the  top  of  the  battlements,  or  25  feet  high 
from  the  parapet  walk  to  the  courtyard  inside.  At  the  east  and  west 
ends  of  the  north  front  are  round  towers  ;  over  these  this  front  measures 
about  137  feet.  At  the  meeting  of  the  south  and  west  fronts,  the  wall  is 
rounded,  and  slightly  projected  beyond  the  west  face  only,  along  which 
the  castle  measures  about  112  feet.  At  the  south-east  corner,  where  the 
entrance  is,  there  is  a  two-faced  projection — one  face  parallel  with  the 
east  front,  and  the  other  set  on  diagonally,  and  connected  with  the  south 
front  by  a  solid  round  in  the  re-entering  angle.  Along  the  south  front 
the  walls  are  about  68  feet  long,  and  along  the  east  front  about  100  feet. 
The  entrance  gateway,  placed  about  12  or  15  feet  above  the  ground,  was 
undoubtedly  reached  by  a  drawbridge  ;  remains  of  what  was  probably  its 
pier  exist  in  the  garden  opposite.  The  present  staircase,  leading  to  the 
entrance  doorway,  is  of  comparatively  modern  date.  The  whole  of  this 
part  of  the  castle  has  undergone  alterations  on  the  outside  at  various 
times.  The  principal  entrance  was  by  a  pointed  arched  doorway 


Fio.  61.— Dunstaffnage  Castle  from  the  South-East. 

(Fig.  6l),  about  10  feet  wide.  This  has  been  contracted  to  a  narrow 
round  arched  doorway,  placed  out  of  the  centre  of  the  pointed  arch,  and 
continued  as  an  arch  through  the  thickness  of  the  wall.  At  a  later  date 
the  doorway  has  been  still  further  contracted  and  lintelled  over.  Entering 
off  the  ingoing  is  a  low  chamber  or  guard-room,  about  5  or  6  feet  square. 
Although  this  rounded  doorway  is  clearly  an  insertion,  it  has  all  the 
appearance  of  being  of  an  early  date.  In  the  end  wall  facing  the  court- 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


87    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


yard,  at  the  inner  end  of  the  entrance  passage,  there  is  a  pointed  archway 
(Figs.  60  and  62)  also  built  up,  and  containing  a  late  lintelled  doorway. 
This  archway  is  9  feet  wide,  and  possibly  it  represents  the  original  entrance 


fS 


FIG.  62.— Dunstaffnage  Castle.    View  in  Courtyard. 

to  the  courtyard  through  what  may  have  been  an  oblong  tower,  somewhat 
on  the  lines  of  the  sixteenth-century  building  now  standing  in  this  position. 
Right  opposite  the  entrance  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  castle  is  the 
keep,  circular  to  the  outside,  and  set  in  a  slight  recess  of  the  north  and  west 
curtains,  and  square  to  the  courtyard,  but  with  the  inner  angle  rounded. 
Fig.  63  shows  that  the  circular  form  of  the  tower  on  plan  is  contracted  at 
the  base  against  the  north  wall,  that  it  spreads  out  somewhat  in  the  middle, 
and  attains  its  full  circumference  only  towards  the  top.  Over  all,  this 
tower  measures  about  28  feet  by  25  feet.  It  stands  upon  the  highest  part 
of  the  rock,  with  its  ground  floor,  about  6  feet  above  the  courtyard,  reached 
by  a  stair,  of  which  the  ruined  foundation  still  exists,  along  the  south  face. 
At  the  head  of  this  stair  is  the  doorway,  inside  of  which,  in  the  thickness 
of  the  wall,  a  circled  stair  leads  on  the  right  to  the  floor  above.  Inside 
of  this  again  on  the  left  is  a  bar-hole  for  closing  the  inner  door  of  the 
basement  floor,  which  was  probably  used  as  a  store  for  provisions. 

The  keep  comprises  three  low  stories,  having  arched  recesses  in  the 
wall,  with  long  narrow  slits  or  loop-holes  for  light  and  defence.  The 
centre,  which  is  a  mere  well  some  10  or  11  feet  in  diameter,  was  floored 
over  with  wood.  The  upper  floor,  which  is  entered  from  the  battlements, 
is  6  or  7  feet  wider  than  the  ground  floor,  the  walls  being  thinned  off 
internally.  The  interior  of  the  keep  is  too  ruinous  to  enable  one  to  say 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—  88 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


anything  certain  about  fireplaces,  etc.  The  garde-robe  flues  exist  outside, 
but  their  interior  arrangements  are  gone.  The  tower  at  the  north-east 
corner  is,  like  the  keep,  circular  in  form  towards  the  exterior  of  the  castle, 


FIG.  63. — Duustaffnage  Castle  from  the  West,  showing  Keep,  etc. 

and  square  inside  the  curtains.  A  large  portion  of  its  exterior  wall  has 
fallen  inwards,  and  choked  it  up,  so  that  not  much  can  be  ascertained  as 
to  its  internal  design.  Its  walls  on  the  inside  have  evidently  been 
stripped  of  the  dressed  stones,  and  probably  this  process  hastened  its  fall. 
It  is  well  worthy  of  being  cleared  out,  and  the  broken  wall  restored.  It 
had  no  direct  door  to  the  courtyard,  having  been  entered  from  the  battle- 
ments. As  far  as  can  be  made  out,  it  consisted  of  two  floors,  the  under- 
most being  some  7  or  8  feet  below  the  level  of  the  parapet  walk. 

Along  the  north  curtain,  between  the  keep  and  this  round  tower, 
there  have  been  buildings.  This  space  is  at  present  partly  occupied  by  a 
house  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  large  kitchen  fireplace  of  this 
house  is  probably  ancient,  as  are  the  garde-robes,  sinks,  and  windows  of  the 
curtain.  There  is  also  a  large  fireplace  in  this  north  wall  near  the  keep, 
which  seems  to  indicate  that  here  was  the  hall.  Another  row  of  build- 
ings extended  along  the  east  curtain,  with  a  fireplace  in  the  square  side 
of  the  north-east  tower.  The  outer  wall  here  bends  inwards,  and  is 
thinned  off  from  the  inside  ;  and  in  all  likelihood  in  the  recess  thus  formed 
was  placed  the  stair  to  the  battlements,  adjoining  the  round  tower,  which 
entered  from  them,  as  already  mentioned.  The  two  light  lancet  windows 
in  this  east  curtain  (Fig.  6l )  are  built  up,  as  well  as  a  similar  one  in  the  north 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


FIRST  PERIOD 


curtain.     In  the  south  and  west  curtains  there  are  mural  chambers,  or 
large  recesses  with  long  loops  widely  splayed  to  the  inside. 

The  chamber  in  the  semi-round  south-west  tower  and  the  one  adjoin- 
ing in  the  south  wall  were  enclosed  to  the  courtyard,  the  doors  opening 
inwards.  The  wall  recesses  are  all  a  few  feet  above  the  courtyard, 
and  have  been  enclosed,  the  base  of  the  enclosing  screen  still  existing,  as 
shown  on  the  plan,  all  along  the  west  curtain.  It  is,  however,  doubtful 
if  this  enclosing  wall  is  original.  The  base  of  a  similar  enclosing  wall  or 
screen  exists  along  the  east  curtain  also. 


FIG.  64. — Dtmstaft'nage  Castle.     Plan  of  Battlements. 


The  oblong  building  at  the  entrance  is  mostly  in  the  style  of  the  six- 
teenth or  seventeenth  century.  It  is  four  stories  high,  with  a  low  base- 
ment floor,  having  two  squint  shot-holes  to  the  entrance  passage.  The 
first  floor  was  reached  by  an  outside  stair  along  the  north  wall,  the  second 
by  a  wheel  stair  in  the  curtain,  and  from  thence  by  a  projecting  corkscrew 
to  the  top.  There  is  access  from  one  of  the  floors  to  the  battlement 
walk.  At  the  west  gable  of  this  building,  and  between  the  entrance  to 
the  courtyard  and  the  south  curtain,  and  of  later  date  than  the  latter, 
there  is  a  mass  of  ruined  masonry,  the  only  probable  explanation  of  which 
is  that  it  supported  another  stair  to  the  battlement  walk. 

The  battlements  (Fig.  64),  which  are  in  a  ruinous  state,  have  evidentlv 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—  90  — 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


FIG.  65.— Dunstaffnage  Castle. 
View  on  East  Battlements. 


.been  altered  for  guns  (as  have  also  several  of  the  openings  in  the  walls), 
and  three  beautiful  Spanish  pieces,  relics  of  the  Armada,  are  lying  on 

the  top.  A  two-pronged  iron  stand  (Fig.  65) 
fixed  into  a  large  stone,  for  holding  a  beacon 
light,  stands  on  the  battlements  near  the 
stair-turret  of  the  south-east  building. 

The  quaint  eighteenth  -  century  house 
along  the  north  curtain  is  two  stories  high, 
with  an  outside  stone  stair  to  the  upper  floor, 
and  an  inside  service  stair  of  wood  from  the 
kitchen,  now  boarded  over.  In  the  upper 
floor  the  ceilings  are  coomed,  and  the  walls 
and  ceilings  are  lined  with  wood  panelling, 
with  mantelpieces  also  of  wood,  all  in  good 
style.  The  windows  and  door  have  O.  G. 
pediments,  carved  with  festoons,  and  the 
latter  (Fig.  62)  bears  the  date  1725  and  the 
letters  M  C  and  DL  C. 

About  160  yards  south-west  from  the 
castle  is  the  chapel  (Fig.  66).  It  measures 
90  feet  7  inches  long  by  26  feet  6  inches 
wide,  and  is  divided  into  nave  and  chancel ; 
up,  and  used  as  a  private  bury  ing-ground, 
door  and  steps  are  entirely  modern,  but 
likely  enough  the  gable  is  on  the  old  foundation.  The  west  gable  has 

angle  shafts  at  the  corners.  The 
walls  exist  to  about  their  full  height, 
and  are  encumbered  with  an  extra- 
vagant growth  of  ivy,  which  prevents 
the  beautiful  details  from  being  seen. 
The  nave,  used  as  a  public  burying- 
ground,  is  67  feet  long  by  20  feet 
4  inches  wide.  There  are  indications 
as  of  a  porch  near  the  west  end  of  the  south  wall.  The  portion  of  the 
north  wall  opposite  is  ruinous.  East  of  this  on  both  walls  are  three 
narrow  broadly-splayed  lancet  windows,  the  daylight  measuring  variously 
from  lOf  to  10^  inches  wide,  and  varying  from  about  6  feet  to  8  feet 
high.  The  two  pairs  of  lancets  next  the  chancel  (Fig.  67)  have 
banded  shafts,  6  feet  9|  inches  high  by  5  inches  diameter,  with 
the  ordinary  Early  English  base  and  carved  caps.  The  eastmost  lancet 
in  the  south  wall  has  a  square  abacus  and  dog-tooth  ornament  up  the 
side  of  the  end  shafts,  and  it  only  has  similar  dog-tooth  ornament  round 
the  outside  splay.  The  jambs  have  bead  and  hollow  mouldings  continued 
round  the  arch.  It  should  be  added  that  the  westmost  of  these  windows 


the  latter  is 
The    east    gable 


now  walled 
with    its 


Fio.  00.— Plan  of  Chapel. 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 


FIRST  PERIOD 


in  the  north  wall  is  ruined  at  the  top,  and  that  the  central  window  is  not 
a  lancet,  but  is  round-headed.  The  west  window  in  the  south  wall  is 
also  round-headed,  and  is  without  shafts,  having  mouldings  only  on  the 
inner  angle,  but  of  a  different  section  from  those  above  described  at  B, 
Fig.  67.  The  other  and  opposite  windows,  which  are  also  round-headed, 
are  without  shafts,  and  have  mouldings  only,  but  of  a  different  section 


FIG.  t>7. — Dunstaffnage  Castle.    Details  of  Chapel. 

from  those  just  described.  The  square  reveal  of  the  window  openings 
measures  only  2  inches,  with  no  groove  for  glass.  Between  these  windows 
and  the  pairs  just  described  are  ruined  round-arched  recesses,  of  which 
nothing  can  be  made.  Running  along  the  side  walls  inside,  at  about  3  feet 
6  inches  above  the  present  floor  level,  and  just  beneath  the  windows,  is  a 
moulded  string-course  of  the  section  shown. 

The  opening  into  the  chancel,  now  built  up,  is  adorned  in  a  similar 


FIRST  PERIOD  -    92    DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE 

style  to  the  windows  adjoining,  only  somewhat  richer ;  and  probably  few 
things  of  this  kind  in  Scotland  have  equalled  it.  It  had  beaded  angle- 
shafts  and  elaborate  mouldings  with  dog-tooth  enrichments  continuous  on 
jamb  and  arch.  The  arch  is  gone,  but  it  was  doubtless  semicircular. 
Of  the  chancel  nothing  can  be  said,  as  it  is  inaccessible.  The  side  walls 
are  evidently  original,  and  there  are  no  openings  in  them. 

The  fully  developed  Early  Pointed  style,  of  which  this  chapel  is  a  fine 
example,  prevailed  in  Scotland  from  about  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth 
century  till  its  close ;  and,  inferring  from  its  details,  the  erection  of  the 
chapel  may  be  assigned  to  about  the  year  1250 ;  and  there  is  every  pro- 
bability, and  almost  certainty,  that  the  castle  is  of  the  same  age,  and  built 
by  the  same  men.  The  peculiar  widely-splayed  windows  of  the  chapel 
are  to  be  seen  in  a  very  marked  manner  in  the  interior  splays  of  many  of 
the  castle  loops,  where  they  are  unaltered  ;  and  the  Early  Pointed  lancets 
in  the  curtain  walls,  already  referred  to,  point  to  the  same  conclusion, 
while  the  plan  of  the  castle,  with  its  round  or  partially  rounded  towers, 
forms  an  intermediate  link  between  the  simpler  form  of  castle,  like  that  of 
Kinclaven,  and  the  completed  style  of  the  first  period,  like  Bothwell  and 
Kildrummie.  We  have  also  in  the  Introduction  called  attention  to  the 
resemblance  between  this  castle  and  the  walls  and  towers  of  St.  Andre  at 
Villeneuve,  built  about  1300.  The  latter,  as  seen  from  the  south-west,  has 
the  same  rounded  angle  containing  a  tower  as  we  find  at  DunstafFnage,  and 
the  walls  of  the  enceinte  are  of  the  same  plain  and  massive  description. 
The  long  loops  are  also  similar.  It  is  remarkable  to  find  such  a  striking 
similarity  in  castles  so  remotely  situated  from  one  another,  although  pro- 
bably belonging  to  about  the  same  period.  The  shape  of  the  towers  has 
been  limited  in  both  instances  by  the  outline  of  the  rock,  which  circum- 
stance has  prevented  them  from  being  built  with  the  usual  bold  salient — 
such,  for  instance,  as  we  see  at  Inverlochy.  Tradition  and  legend  carry 
Dunstaffhage  back  to  a  much  remoter  period,  and  probably  the  site  early 
commended  itself  as  a  strong  place.  By  nature  it  is  so,  and  but  little 
art  would  be  required  to  render  it  almost  impregnable  against  the  simple 
modes  of  warfare  practised  in  those  times.  If  any  earlier  castle  stood 
here,  nothing  of  it  now  remains.  While  the  existing  castle  was  still  new, 
in  the  year  1308,  Bruce,  as  related  by  Barbour, 

" That  stoute  wes,  stark,  and  bauld, 

Till  Dunstaffynch  rycht  sturdely 

A  sege  set ;  and  besyly 

Assaylit  the  castell  it  to  get. 

And,  in  schorl  tym,  he  has  thaim  set 

In  swilk  thrang,  that  thar  in  war  than, 

That  magre  tharis  he  it  wan. 

And  ane  gud  wardane  tharin  set  ; 

And  betaucht  hym  bath  men  and  met, 

Swa  that  he  lang  tyme  thar  mycht  be, 

Magre  thaim  all  off  that  countre." 


DUNSTAFFNAGE  CASTLE  -    Q3    -  FIRST  PERIOD 

By  a  charter  which  still  exists,  King  Robert  grants  to  Sir  Arthur 
Campbell  "  the  Constabulary  of  Dunstaffnage  and  the  Maines  thereof 
which  Alexander  Argyle  had  in  his  hands ; "  while  David  n.,  in  the 
fourth  year  of  his  reign,  dates  a  charter  from  Dunstaffnage.  In  1455 
Hume  of  Godscroft  tells  us  that  Earl  Douglas  "by  flight  got  him  to 
Dunstaffnage,  where,  finding  Donald  Earle  Rosse,  and  Lord  of  the  Isles, 
he  incited  him  to  make  war  against  the  King,  James  n.,  in  his  favours ; " 
but  whether  this  usurping  and  semi-independent  chief  was  in  possession 
of  Dunstaffnage  at  this  time  is  a  disputed  point.  In  1490  James  iv.  seems 
to  have  twice  visited  Dunstaffnage  in  pursuance  of  his  policy  of  winning 
the  favour  and  of  attaching  to  his  interests,  by  personal  intercourse, 
the  wild  western  chiefs.  Generally  it  may  be  said  that  the  castle  was 
held  in  the  interest  of  the  Sovereign,  and  this  continued  to  be  the  case 
down  to  the  period  of  the  rebellion  in  1715,  and  again  in  1745,  when 
troops  were  quartered  within  its  walls.  Now  a  small  portion  of  it  is 
occupied  by  one  or  two  fishermen,  who  find  its  courtyard  a  convenient 
place  for  the  peaceful  occupation  of  mending  their  nets. 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE,  LANARKSHIRE. 

Of  our  thirteenth-century  castles,  Bothwell,  on  the  Clyde,  is  the 
finest ;  indeed  it  is  probably  the  grandest  ruin  of  its  kind  in  Scotland. 
This  castle  belonged  in  the  thirteenth  century  to  the  De  Moravia  or 
Murray  family.  It  was  taken  by  Edward  i.,  and  by  him  given  to  Aymer 
de  Valence,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  who  was  Governor  of  that  part  of  Scotland. 
The  castle  seems  to  have  been  a  good  deal  in  the  hands  of  the  English 
till  1337,  when  it  was  taken  by  storm  by  the  Scotch  and  dismantled.  It 
afterwards  passed  to  the  Douglas  family  by  marriage,  and  continued  in 
their  possession  till  their  forfeiture  under  James  11.,  in  1445.  The  castle 
is  now  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Home. 

Bothwell  Castle  is  situated  on  a  rocky  promontory,  having  steep  banks 
sloping  on  the  south  and  west  to  the  river  Clyde,  while  on  the  east  and 
north  it  was  cut  off  from  the  adjoining  level  land  by  deep  and  wide 
ditches,  the  outline  of  which  may  still  be  traced. 

This  castle  (like  those  of  the  corresponding  period  in  France  and 
England)  consists  of  a  great  courtyard  or  bailey  (Fig.  68),  surrounded 
with  high  enclosing  walls,  strengthened  at  the  corners  with  round  and 
square  towers,  and  provided  with  a  great  round  donjon  dominating  the 
whole.  The  total  length  of  the  building  is  325  feet,  by  140  feet  in 
width.  The  donjon  (Fig.  68)  is,  as  usual,  situated  on  the  enceinte,  and 
is  cut  off  from  the  court  by  its  own  ditch  and  parapet.  The  donjon 
and  considerable  portions  of  the  south  curtain  and  towers  belong  probably 
to  the  latter  half  of  the  thirteenth  century.  The  masonry  of  these  por- 


FIRST  PERIOD 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


BOTH  WELL  CASTLE 


FIRST  PERIOD 


tions  is  built  with  a  fine  red  freestone,  carefully  dressed  and  regularly 
coursed. 


The  donjon  (Figs.  69  and  70)  is  a  noble  tower,  65  feet  in  diameter, 
and    90    feet    in    height    to    top   of  parapet.       The    walls    are    15  feet 


FIRST  PERIOD 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


thick,  and  the  tower,  which  is  circular  externally,  has  been  octagonal 
internally  ;  but  only  four  sides  of  the  octagon  now  remain,  the  present 
western  enclosing  wall  being  a  late  addition. 


FIG.  70. — Bothwell  Castle.    Section  through  Courtyard  on  Hue  A  B  onJPlan,  and  Elevation  of  Donjon. 

The   story  on   the   level  of  the   courtyard   (Fig.  72)  had  a  wooden 
floor,  carried  by  beams,  which  rested  on   a  stone  arch  and  a  central 

pillar.  The  basement  floor  of 
the  donjon  (Fig.  71),  which  is 
below  the  level  of  the  courtyard, 
is  entered  by  a  newel  stair  from 
above  only.  It  evidently  con- 
tained the  stores  of  the  keep. 
It  also  contains  a  draw-well  of 
good  design  under  the  inner 
wall  of  the  donjon  (Fig.  73). 

The  floor  above  this  forms 
the  hall  of  the  donjon.  It  was 
37  feet  in  diameter  and  22  feet 
high  to  the  apex  of  the  vault, 
which  had  moulded  ribs  spring- 
ing from  corbels  in  the  angles  of 

PIG.  71. -Bothwell  Castle.     Plan  of  Basement  of  Keep.      the  octagon,  and  resting  Oil  the 

central  pillar.  The  large  window  overlooking  the  court  is  enriched  with 
tracery,  and  the  ingoing  has  had  nook  shafts  with  carved  caps  and  bases, 
and  good  simple  arch  moulds.  The  principal  entrance  is  on  the  level  of 
the  floor,  but  3  feet  above  the  level  of  the  court,  and  the  entrance 


BOTHVVELL  CASTLE  97    FIRST  PERIOD 

passage  is  zigzagged  for  the  purpose  of  defence.      It  is  also  provided 


Fio.  72. — Bothwell  Castle.     Section  through  Donjon  on  line  C  D. 

with  a    portcullis,   which  was  worked    from    a   small   vaulted    chamber 
above  (Fig.  74).     The  way  in  which  the   circular  outline  of  the  keep 


m. 


OUTSIDE  Of  SDRAII^    FROM    MOAT 


xMR£rv  - 


BOT,TOMlQF   STAIR    IN  DUN  JON  WELL 

Fio.  73. — Bothwell  Castle.     Details  of  Donjon. 

is  broken  with  a  spur  to  receive  the  entrance  door  and  portcullis  is 


FIRST  PERIOD 


BOTHVVELL  CASTLE 


FIG.  74.— Bothwell.    In  Portcullis  Kooin  of  Donjon. 


remarkable — as  also  the  great  stone  corbels  near  the  parapet  (Fig.  70), 
evidently   placed    there   to    carry   the   defences    sufficiently  far   out  to 

clear  the  spur  and  protect 
the  doorway.  A  drawbridge 
has  also  been  worked  from 
the  portcullis  room.  This 
drawbridge  was  of  the  earlier 
description  of  these  de- 
fences, which  were  raised 
by  chains  worked  with  a 
windlass,  but  without  any 
of  the  balancing  apparatus 
such  as  we  see  in  another 
and  later  example  in  the  same  castle.  Drawbridges  of  the  latter  kind 
were  not  attached  to  doorways,  even  in  France,  till  about  1300. 

The  newel  staircase  leading  down  to  the  basement  is  also  continued 
upwards  to  serve  the  upper  floors  and  the  roof  of  the  donjon,  and  also 
the  parapets  of  the  curtains.  It  enters  from  the  hall,  not  from  the 
entrance  passage,  so  that  eveiy  one  going  in  or  out  would  be  visible  as 
he  passed  through  the  hall. 

The  first  and  second  floors  do  not  appear  to  have  been  vaulted,  but 
to  have  had  strongly  framed  and  strutted  floors,  probably  supported  by 
the  central  pillar,  continued  up  in  wood  (as  suggested  in  the  section). 
The  first  floor  has  no  window  to  the  court,  and  probably  had  only  small 
loops  to  the  exterior.  This  apartment  seems  to  have  been  occupied  by 
the  garrison,  and  for  the  storing  of  munitions  of  war.  It  is  on  the  level 
of  the  parapets  of  the  curtains,  and  would  thus  form  a  convenient  post 
for  the  soldiers.  The  top  story  has  a  fine  pointed  window  to  the  court, 
divided  by  a  central  shaft  into  two  lights  with  trefoiled  heads.  This  was 
no  doubt  the  private  apartment  of  the  lord  and  his  family.  The  parapet 
is  entirely  gone,  but  must  probably  have  been  finished  in  a  somewhat 
similar  style  to  that  of  Coucy,  ante,  p.  37  (to  which  this  castle  has  also 
other  strong  points  of  resemblance),  and  crowned  with  embrasures  and 
crenellations.  The  corbels  remaining  over  the  spur  of  the  doorway  are 
similar  to  those  of  Coucy,  and  there  was  probably  a  row  of  smaller  corbels 
at  a  higher  level,  on  which  wooden  hoards  would  be  supported  when 
required.  The  large  corbels  over  the  doorway  would  receive  larger  and 
more  projecting  hoards,  for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  doorway  and 
also  the  entrance  to  the  donjon  from  the  parapet  of  the  north  curtain. 
It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the- mother  of  Alexander  in.,  who  played  a  con- 
siderable part  in  Scottish  history  at  this  period,  was  Marie  de  Coucy,  the 
sister  of  Engherrand  de  Coucy,  who  built  the  great  castle  of  Coucy, 
which  Bothwell  so  strongly  recalls  in  many  of  its  features. 

The  roof  of  the  donjon  stair  was  no  doubt   continued   higher  than 


BOTH  WELL  CASTLE 


FIRST  PERIOD 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    100 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


—    101    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


the  parapet,  and  formed  a  lofty  watch-tower.  There  is  a  communica- 
tion from  the  donjon  (Fig.  75)  to  passages  in  the  thickness  of  the 
south  curtain.  These  contain  garde-robes.  They  also  flank  the  donjon 
and  enfilade  the  ditch  from  crosslet  loops.  The  flues  from  these  garde- 
robes  descend  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  and  the  arrangement  for 
cleaning  them  out  at  the  bottom  is  peculiar.  A  passage  runs  from  the 
moat  of  the  donjon  through  the  wall  (Fig.  69)  where  the  flues  reach  the 
bottom,  so  that  these  may  be  washed  out  by  water  let  off  from  the  moat. 
But  as  the  opening  in  the  wall  for  this  purpose  might  be  taken  advantage 
of  for  gaining  access  to  the  moat,  the  passage  is  divided,  and  carried 


FIG.  77. — Both  well  Castle.     Buttress  at  North- West  Angle. 

round  a  central  pier,  which  completely  blocks  the  entrance,  and  renders 
it  impassable  (Fig.  73).  This  arrangement  shows  that  the  moat  was 
sometimes  supplied  with  water,  and  probably  explains  the  use  of  a 
large  stone  supply  sink  and  drain  in  the  north  curtain  wall.  Rain- 
water from  the  roofs  may  have  been  collected  by  gutters  and  led  to 
this  trough,  or  water  may  have  been  carted  from  the  exterior  and  poured 


FIRST  PERIOD 


102 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


through  the  stone  filler  into  it,  and  so  carried  by  a  drain  to  the  moat, 
which  in  this  way  would  be  well  washed  out,  and  the  waste  water  dis- 
charged through  the  aperture  above  described ;  or  the  water  may  have 
been  stored  in  a  tank,  and  occasionally  let  off  through  the  moat,  when 
both  tank  and  moat  would  be  cleaned  out. 


FIG.  78.— Bothwell  Castle.    Buttress  at  East  End  of  North  Wall. 

There  is  a  postern  door  from  the  moat  leading  to  the  external  ditch 
(see  Fig.  72),  which  has  been  provided  with  a  portcullis,  besides  two 
doors  with  strong  bars. 

The  two  upper  floors  of  the  donjon  (Fig.  75)  communicate  by  the 
passages  in  the  south  curtain  with  the  south  parapet  walks,  but  the  com- 
munication is  very  strongly  defended  with  doors  and  narrow  sloping 
passages.  There  was  usually  in  castles  of  this  type  a  private  way  of 
escape  from  the  donjon,  and  it  seems  in  this  case  to  have  been  by 
these  passages  to  the  parapet  and  tower  adjoining,  and  thence  by  the 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


—    103 


FIRST  PERIOD 


postern  in  the  south  wall.  The  doorway  of  this  postern  has  been  strongly 
defended  with  a  portcullis,  and  it  opens  above  a  perpendicular  rock 
8  feet  or  10  feet  high  (Fig.  76).  The  basement  floor  of  the  round 
tower  adjoining  has  been  the  prison.  It  is  provided  with  a  garde-robe  and 
a  small  aperture  for  ventilation  at  a  high  level.  The  upper  floors  of  this 
tower  and  the  portcullis  chamber  adjoining  were  entered  by  an  outside 
stair,  so  that  the  only  access  to  the  south  battlements  is  through  this 
post,  and  the  outside  stair  leading  to  it  is  thoroughly  commanded  from 
the  battlement  walk  above.  The  remainder  of  the  south  curtain  is 
defended  by  a  square  tower  on  the  flank,  and  by  a  large  round  tower  at 
the  south-east  corner  (Figs.  75,  76).  The  curtain  wall  rises  from  a  per- 
pendicular rock  15  feet  to  20  feet  high,  and  there  are  no  apertures  in  the 


FIG.  79. — Section  and  Elevation  of  Doorway  in  North-East  Tower. 


lower  part  of  the  curtain.  The  upper  part  of  the  curtain,  containing  the 
windows  of  apartments  and  of  the  chapel  was  rebuilt  about  1400.  The 
south-east  tower  (Fig.  83)  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  architecture  of  the 
thirteenth  century.  It  has  no  stair  from  the  ground  floor,  the  entrance 
being  on  the  first  floor,  where  a  newel  stair  begins,  and  runs  to  the  roof. 
The  upper  part  of  this  tower,  with  the  beautiful  corbelling  of  its  machico- 
lations, is  considerably  later  than  the  donjon,  probably  of  the  same  date 
as  the  hall  and  chapel  adjoining.  The  various  towers  round  the  enceinte 
were  within  recent  times  known  by  the  names  of  the  "  Valence  Tower," 
the  "  Douglas  Tower,"  the  "  Hamilton  Tower,"  etc.,  from  which  it  may 
perhaps  be  inferred  that  Aymer  de  Valence  may  have  added  to  the 
castle  during  the  English  occupation. 

The  castle  must  have  suffered  greatly  during  the  War  of  Independ- 
ence, when  it  frequently  changed  hands,  and  (as  we  have  seen)  was 
dismantled  in  1377. 

After  this  demolition,  the  north  and  east  curtains  have  evidently  been 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    104    — 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


rebuilt  towards  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,  or  the  beginning  of 
the  fifteenth  century.  The  style  of  the  masonry  is  greatly  inferior  to  the 
early  work,  and  the  junctions  of  the  new  and  old  work  are  distinctly 
traceable.  The  forms  of  the  flanking  buttresses,  with  their  corbelling 
and  overhanging  turrets,  also  indicate  the  above  period  (Figs.  77  and  78). 


FIG.  80. — View  of  Drawbridge  in  North-East  Tower  (restored). 

The  north-east  tower  was  square,  and  has  been  large  and  strong, 
in  order  to  protect  this,  which  may  be  considered  the  weakest  point  of 
the  enceinte.  This  tower  is  now  greatly  ruined,  but  in  Slezer's  view, 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


—    105    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


published  in  1693,  it  is  shown  complete,,  and  crowned  with  a  corbelled 
parapet  having  turrets  at  the  angles.  These  are  in  the  style  ot  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  may  have  been  additions.  There  is  here  a 
unique  example  of  the  em- 
ployment of  a  drawbridge 
(Figs.  79  and  80)  on  the 
inside  door  of  this  tower, 
which  evidently  formed  part 
of  the  original  building  be- 
fore the  hall  and  other  parts 
were  erected  in  the  court- 
yard. This  illustrates  what 
was  pointed  out  in  connec- 
tion with  the  French  castles, 
viz.,  that  at  this  period  each 
tower  formed  an  independ- 
ent post.  The  object  here 

clearly  was,  in  case  of  the  Fir-  8i.-Detaiis  from 

enemy  obtaining  possession  of  the  courtyard,  to  cut  the  besiegers  off, 
by  raising  the  drawbridge,  from  all  access  to  the  north-east  tower  or  the 


FIG.  82.— Bothwell  Castle.    Elevation  of  Hall. 


battlements  of  enceinte,  all  of  which  would  continue  the  defence  till 
separately  reduced.  As  above  mentioned,  this  drawbridge  shows  the 
later  form  of  these  defences,  careful  provision  being  made  in  the  masonry 
for  the  counterpoise,  etc.  This  specimen  is  quite  unique  in  Scotland. 

This  important  castle  also  beautifully  illustrates  the  period  in  castel- 
lated architecture  when  the  lords,  tired  of  the  narrow  bounds  of  their 
donjons,  built  themselves  spacious  halls  and  residences  round  the  enceinte. 
We  have  here  a  fine  example  of  this  change  of  manners  in  the  great  hall 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    106 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


(65  feet  long  by  32  feet  wide),  the  chapel,  and  other  buildings  erected 
within  the  enceinte.  These  were  no  doubt  constructed  by  the  Douglases 
while  they  held  the  castle,  as  is  apparent  from  the  Douglas  arms  being 
carved  in  different  places  (Fig.  81).  It  is  most  likely  that  they  were 
built  by  Earl  Archibald  the  Grim,  about  1400.  The  mouldings  and 
enrichments  correspond  with  those  of  the  churches  of  that  date,  such 
as  St.  Bride's  Chapel  at  Bothwell,  which  was  founded  by  Archibald 
the  Grim  in  1398,  and  bears  his  arms,  and  Lincluden  College,  Dumfries, 
which  was  also  rebuilt  by  him. 


FIG.  83.— Bothwell  Castle.    View  of  Chapel,  South-East  Tower,  and  Window  and  Door  in  Hall. 

The  hall  is  on  the  first  floor,  with  vaulted  cellars  beneath.  The  east 
wall  is  built  independently  of  the  curtain,  and  about  18  inches  from  it, 
probably  from  a  desire  not  to  weaken  the  curtain,  and  also,  perhaps,  to 
secure  a  private  passage  along  it.  From  the  height  of  the  sills  of  the 
windows  in  the  west  wall  (Fig.  82),  there  would  appear  to  have  been  a 


BOTHWELL  CASTLE 


—    107    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


corridor  running  along  the  west  side  of  the  hall,  with  the  roof  resting 
against  it.  Some  remains  of  the  stair  at  the  north  end  leading  to  the 
corridor  (Fig.  84)  existed  within  recent  years,  but  are  now  removed.  The 
south,  or  dais  end,  has  a  fine  window  with  tracery  (Fig.  83),  and  a  door 
communicating  with  a  corridor  leading  to  the  chapel  and  private  apart- 
ments along  the  south  wall,  of  which  the  windows  are  visible  in  the  south 
elevation  (Fig.  7^)-  The  two  eastern  bays  of  the  chapel  (Figs.  75,  83) 


FIG:  84. — Bothwell  Castle.    Suggested  Restoration. 

are  32  feet  long  and  18  feet  wide,  and  have  been  roofed  with  groined 
vaulting ;  some  of  the  vaulting  shafts  and  carved  work  still  remain,  as 
also  a  double  piscina  at  the  east  end.  The  chapel  extended  one  bay 
westwards.  This  bay  seems  to  have  had  a  plain  barrel  vault,  and  con- 
tained the  entrance  doorway  (one  jamb  of  which  still  remains)  and 
a  holy-water  stoup  in  the  north  wall  and  a  window  similar  to  that  of 
the  two  eastern  bays  in  the  south  wall.  The  kitchen  and  offices  were 


FIRST  PERIOD  108    BOTH  WELL  CASTLE 

probably  under  the  chapel  and  hall,  and  there  appears  to  have  been 
the  usual  screen  with  a  gallery  at  the  north  end  of  the  hall.  It  is  curious 
that  there  is  no  trace  of  a  fireplace  in  this  great  hall,  but  it  has  probably 
been  carried  off,  as  being  too  good  to  be  left,  and  has  disappeared.  The 
fireplace  of  the  great  hall  at  Doune  has  met  with  a  similar  fate.  At 
Dunblane,  Craigmillar,  and  elsewhere,  the  jambs  of  fine  old  ornamental 
fireplaces  and  other  carved  work  may  be  seen  utilised  as  gateposts  to 
gardens,  farm-steadings,  etc.  There  were  also  domestic  buildings  with 
windows  in  the  south  curtain,  along  the  south  side  of  the  courtyard. 

Unfortunately  all  trace  of  the  main  gateway  to  the  castle  has  dis- 
appeared. It  seems  most  likely  that  it  was  situated  at  the  gap  in  the 
north  curtain,  where  the  wall  is  demolished,  and  would  probably  be 
defended  with  towers.  There  would  also  be  a  drawbridge  over  the  moat, 
and  possibly  a  fortified  gatehouse  or  barbican  beyond.  Fig.  84  repre- 
sents the  supposed  appearance  of  Bothwell  Castle  after  its  restoration 
by  Archibald  the  Grim  about  the  year  1400. 


KILDRUMMIE  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

Bothwell  Castle,  as  above  mentioned,  was  built  by  the  Murrays.  It 
is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  another  of  the  great  thirteenth-century 
castles,  still  partly  preserved,  was  also  erected  by  a  Murray. 

Kildrummie,  in  Aberdeenshire,  one  ot  the  largest  castles  in  Scotland, 
was  built  by  Gilbert  de  Moravia,  Bishop  of  Caithness,  in  the  reign  of  Alex- 
ander ii.  This  castle  is  situated  near  the  river  Don,  and  occupies  a  very 
strong  position  on  the  top  of  a  high  bank  which  slopes  steeply  down  to  a 
rivulet  on  the  north  and  west  sides,  while  on  the  east  and  south  the  castle 
was  protected  by  a  deep  fosse,  the  eastern  portion  of  which  still  remains. 
It  resembles  Bothwell  in  general  design.  In  plan  (Fig.  85)  it  is  an 
irregular  quadrangle  (the  south  side  bulging  out  in  the  centre  towards 
the  gateway),  and  had  high  curtain  walls  enclosing  the  enceinte,  flanked 
by  six  round  towers  at  the  angles  and  gateway.  One  of  these,  called 
the  Snow  Tower,  situated  at  the  north-west  angle,  was  of  great  size, 
being  53  feet  in  diameter,  and  no  doubt  formed  the  donjon.  It  also 
contained  a  draw-well.  The  walls  of  this  tower  are  now  only  a  few  feet 
in  height. 

The  castle  measures  200  feet  in  length  along  the  north  front,  by  175 
feet  in  breadth,  exclusive  of  the  towers.  The  entrance-gate  was  on  the 
south,  and  appears  to  have  been  flanked  by  two  towers,  now  entirely 
demolished.  Immediately  opposite  the  gateway  there  is  a  great  hall,  73 
feet  by  41  feet  built  against  the  north  wall,  with  four  windows  overlooking 
the  valley  to  the  north  (Fig.  86).  Unfortunately  the  buildings  within 
the  enceinte  are  almost  entirely  demolished.  The  walls  of  the  block  con- 


KILDRUMMIE  CASTLE 


—  109  — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


taining  the  hall  are  the  best-preserved  portion,  and  they  are  for  the 
most  part  only  about  5  feet  high.  The  south  wall  shows  remains  of 
four  loops  which  lighted  the  basement,  the  hall  being  on  the  first  floor. 
The  floor  of  the  hall  seems  to  have  been  of  wood,  as  there  is  no  indica- 
tion of  the  basement  having  been  vaulted.  The  chapel  is  conspicuous 
(Figs.  87,  88,  and  88A),  with  its  three  tall  lancet  windows,  in  its  only 
remaining  wall  to  the  east.  These  from  their  style  are  undoubtedly 
thirteenth-century  work,  and  must  have  formed  part  of  the  original 


KILORUMMyCASTL 

\\\XABERQEENSHIRE 


FIG.  85. — Kildrummie  Castle.    Ground  Plan. 

building.  As  at  Bothwell,  the  chapel  has  been  larger  than  in  the 
later  castles,  measuring  about  35  feet  by  20  feet.  The  masonry  of  the 
buildings  generally  is  built  with  the  finely  dressed  and  coursed  ash- 
lar characteristic  of  the  period.  It  is  of  freestone,  which  must  have  been 
brought  from  a  considerable  distance,  as  there  is  none  in  Aberdeenshire. 
The  form  of  the  windows  in  the  north-east  tower  (Figs.  86,  87)  is  unusual, 
and  seems  to  point  to  the  English  occupation  for  its  origin,  being  the 


FIRST  PERIOD 


110    — 


KILDRUMMIE  CASTLE 


KILORUMMIE  CASTLE 


—    Ill     — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    112    — 


KILDRUMMIE  CASTLE 


square-headed  trefoil  so  commonly  adopted  in  the  Edwardian  Castles.  A 
great  deal  has  been  written  about  a  subterranean  passage  supposed  to 
exist  in  connection  with  the  outworks.  All  that  can  now  be  seen  is  the 
remains  of  a  stone  staircase  leading  from  a  small  postern  in  the  north 
wall,,  to  what  was  evidently  an  underground  passage.  This  may  have  been 
for  access  to  the  stream  below  for  water,  or  it  may  have  been  in  connec- 


FIG.  88.— Kilclrummie.    Plan  ami  Interior  Elevation  of  East  End  of  Chapel. 

tion  with  the  defences.  Similar  subterranean  passages  have  been  men- 
tioned as  occurring  at  Arques,  Dover,  and  other  castles,  and  we  shall  meet 
with  further  examples  at  Yester  Castle,  East  Lothian. 

This   castle  passed  through  many  vicissitudes.     It  was  besieged  by 
Edward  i.  in  1306,  and  yielded  in  consequence  of  a  great  conflagration, 


KILDHUMMIE  CASTLE 


—    113    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


when  Nigel  Bruce,  the  King's  brother,  fell  into  Edward's  hands.  Some 
of  the  buildings,  no  doubt,  date  from  that  period,  when  it  was  probably 
restored  by  the  English  ;  and  when  the  square-headed  trefoil,  above 
referred  to  as  characteristic  of  English  domestic  work,  was  introduced. 
Amongst  other  strange  changes  of  fortune,  Kildrummie  was  bestowed 
by  James  in.  on  his  favourite,  Robert  Cochrane,  the  architect,  who  was 
hanged  at  Lauder  Bridge. 


Fie.  88.\. — Kildruininie.    View  of  Interior  of  Chapel. 


The  following  three  examples,  viz.,  Dirleton  Castle,  Yester  Castle, 
and  Hailes  Castle,  all  in  East  Lothian,  contain  considerable  remains  of 
thirteenth-century  work. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    114    — 


DIRLETON  CASTLE 


DIRLETON  CASTLE,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

Dirleton,  now  the  property  of  Lady  Mary  Nisbet  Hamilton,  was  a 
strong  castle  at  the  time  of  Edward  the  First's  invasion  in  1297,  and^it 


l-    r, 


5.1. 


then  stood  a  famous  siege  by  Bishop  Anthony  Beck.     It  appears  to  have 
been  built  by  the  Devaux  or  De  Valibus  family.     After  being  taken  by 


DIRLETON  CASTLE 


115    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


Beck,  the  castle  was  demolished,  the  only  portions  which  seem  to  have 
been  left  standing  being  the 
south-west  towers,,  two  of  them 
round,  the  other  square  (Figs. 
89,  90),  with  the  adjoining 
walls,  and  the  lower  part  of  the 
south-east  tower.  These  por- 
tions, which  are  shaded  black 
on  the  plan,  were  undoubtedly 
parts  of  the  thirteenth  century 
castle.  They  still  exist,  having 
been  incorporated  in  the  build- 
ings of  the  castle  when  re- 
erected  a  century  later.  The 
newer  buildings  most  probably 

show    the     extent    of    the    old  Fio.  90. -Dirleton  Castle  from  the  West. 

castle,    as   the   outline  of    the    rock    which    forms    the    site    naturally 


FIG.  91.— Dirleton  Castle.    View  of  Interior  of  South-West  Tower. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—     116    — 


DIRLETON  CASTLE 


defines  the  shape  and  extent  of  the  fortress.  This  rock  is  not  high, 
but  stands  clear  above  the  general  level,  while  the  deep  moat  sunk 
around  it  added  considerably  to  its  elevation,  and  the  rocky  nature 
of  the  foundations  rendered  the  walls  safe  against  the  operations 

of  the  miner.  The  original 
castle  evidently  had  the  lofty 
curtains  and  round  towers 
which  distinguished  the  thir- 
teenth century.  The  south- 
west towers  and  -adjoining 
walls  are  all  of  the  solid  ashlar- 
work  then  used,  and  the  rooms 
were  lighted  only  with  narrow 
loop-holes, — the  present  win- 
dows in  the  upper  floor  having 
been  enlarged  at  a  later  period. 
The  apartments  in  this  circular 
tower  (Fig.  91)  are  multangu- 
lar internally  (like  the  Keep  of 
Bothwell),  and  vaulted  with  a 
rude  multangular  dome,  with- 
out ribs  in  the  angles,  such  as 
are  shown  in  Billings'  view. 
The  fireplaces  are  enriched,  the 
dog-tooth  and  other  mouldings 
indicating  Early  English  or  thir- 
teenth-century work  (Fig.  92). 
The  battered  basement  wall  of  the  south-east  tower  still  exists,  and 
has  been  utilised  in  the  re-erection  of  the  castle  (see  Plan). 

The  other  portions  of  this  castle  belong  to  a  later  period,  and  will  be 
referred  to  hereafter. 


FIG.  92.— Dirleton  Castle.    Details  of  Fireplace 
in  South-West  Tower. 


YESTER  CASTLE,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

The  Castle  of  Yester  belonged  to  the  Gifford  family,  and  was  erected 
(according  to  Cosmo  Innes)  in  1268.  It  is  now  the  property  of  the  Mar- 
quis of  Tweeddale.  This  castle  is  situated  on  a  high  triangular  promon- 
tory at  the  junction  of  the  Hopes  Water  and  a  smaller  burn,  the  banks 
of  which  are  precipitous,  while  the  site  is  cut  off  from  the  adjoining  land 
on  the  third  side  by  a  great  fosse,  about  50  feet  wide  and  20  feet  deep. 
The  general  plan  of  the  site  (Fig.  93)  is  thus  triangular.  The  walls  were 
lofty,  those  still  remaining  being  about  40  feet  high  and  6  feet  6  inches 
thick  (Fig.  94).  Of  these  the  only  portions  now  standing  are  the  northern 
angle  and  part  of  the  east  flank,  but  the  general  plan  may  be  traced 
from  the  ruins  of  the  foundations. 


YESTER  CASTLE 


—  117  — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


The  northern  wall,  or  that  nearest  the  point  of  the  triangle,  is-  a 
curtain  without  flanking  towers,  and  without  any  openings  except  a  small 


postern  door.     Returning  portions  of  the  east  and  west  curtains  branch 
off  from  the  northern  wall. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


118    — 


YESTER  CASTLE 


There  appear  to  have  been  buildings  on  each  side  of  the  central 
courtyard,  with  sloping  roofs  resting  against  the  curtains,  the  chases  for 
which  are  seen  in  the  north  wall.  A  piscina  or  basin  is  visible  in  the 
upper  floor  of  the  west  wall,  with  a  drain  to  the  outside.  The  postern 


Fio.  94. — Tester  Castle.    View  of  East  and  North  Walls  and  Subterranean  Chamber,  looking  South. 

door  in  the  north  wall  leads  to  a  small  open  piece  of  ground  at  the  point 
of  the  promontory,  on  which  there  may  have  stood  a  tower  or  detached 
work  for  defence. 

The  principal  gateway  was  evidently  at  the  south  side  of  the  enceinte, 
and  seems  to  have  been  defended  by  two  towers ;  there  is  also  a  round 


YESTER  CASTLE  119    FIRST  PERIOD 

arched  bridge  across  the  small  burn  near  this  point,  showing  that  the 
approach  to  the  castle  was  in  this  position.  This  bridge  is  built  with 
carefully-dressed  masom-y  in  regular  courses,  and  is  certainly  of  old  date. 
The  parapet  has  been  renewed  in  a  less  careful  manner  in  1717,  a  stone 

inserted  in  it  bearing  that  date,  with  the  letters  « . -,  (probably   for  the 

o      1 

Marquess  of  Tweeddale).  A  wall  seems  to  have  run  from  the  south-east 
corner  tower  of  the  enceinte  down  to  the  Hopes  Burn  as  an  additional 
protection.  The  part  of  the  wall  of  enceinte  which  remains  on  the  east 
side  is  about  50  feet  long  and  at  least  30  feet  high.  The  ground-floor 
at  this  point  contained  a  semicircular  vaulted  chamber,  above  which  has 
apparently  been  the  hall.  But  this  part  of  the  building  is  of  later  date, 
probably  fifteenth  century,  to  judge  from  the  mouldings  of  a  window  on  the 
upper  floor.  A  peculiar  feature  in  this  hall  is  a  large  window  in  the  back  of 
the  huge  vent  of  the  fireplace,  the  sill  being  about  6  feet  above  the  floor. 

But  the  most  remarkable  building  connected  with  the  castle  is  a  sub- 
terranean chamber,  having  underground  passages  cut  in  the  rock,  leading 
from  it,  popularly  known  as  "The  Goblin  Hall,"  and  so  named  on  the 
plan  and  sections  (Fig.  93).  This  underground  chamber  is  the  hall 
referred  to  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  the  "  Host's  Tale  "  in  Marmion.  It 
is  entered  from  the  castle  by  a  long  straight  flight  of  steps,  with  doorways 
in  the  centre  as  well  as  the  top  and  bottom,  which  have  been  defended 
with  strong  bars  against  entrance  from  the  exterior.  The  chamber  is 
situated  immediately  outside  the  north  wall  of  the  castle,  below  the  open 
ground  above  referred  to.  Its  position  is  shown  by  dotted  lines  on  the 
plan  and  by  the  sections  (Fig.  93).  It  is  37  feet  long  by  13  feet  wide,  and 
is  vaulted  with  a  pointed  tunnel  vault  (Fig.  95)  19  feet  high  to  apex, 
strengthened  with  numerous  broad  splayed  ribs.  This  chamber  was 
divided  into  two  stories  in  the  height,  with  a  wooden  floor  at  the  level  of 
the  springing  of  the  vault.  The  apertures  for  the  joists,  and  portions  of 
the  joists  themselves,  are  still  apparent.  There  is  a  door  to  the  upper  floor 
(see  sketch,  Fig.  94)  under  the  castle  wall,  nearly  above  that  to  the  lower 
floor,  and  there  must  have  been  a  passage  to  this  door  from  the  central 
landing  of  the  stair.  At  the  north  end  of  the  chamber  (see  enlarged 
plan  and  section  A  B,  Fig.  93)  there  is  a  passage  with  a  pointed  vault  cut 
through  the  rock,  which  leads  westwards  to  the  outside  about  half-way 
down  the  slope  of  the  precipitous  bank  of  the  stream.  This  passage  is 
33  feet  6  inches  long.  It  has  a  considerable  slope  downwards  towards  the 
outside,  and  is  defended  by  three  doors,  with  strong  sliding  bars,  the  iron 
door  at  the  outside  being  4  feet  4  inches  high,  and  2  feet  6  inches  wide. 
The  inner  door  seems  to  have  been  provided  with  a  portcullis. 

A  similar  passage  was  begun  to  be  formed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
chamber,  and  a  doorway  (see  plan  and  section,  Fig.  93)  with  slots  for  slid- 
ing bars  is  there  built,  but  it  leads  only  to  a  face  of  solid  rock.  The 
constructors  seem  to  have  changed  their  mind,  and,  stopping  operations 
in  this  direction,  proceeded  to  cut  a  descending  staircase  through  the 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    120 


YESTER  CASTLE 


TESTER    ,    GOBLIN       MALI 


FIG.  9.5.— View  in  Subterranean  Chamber,  looking  North. 


YESTER  CASTLE  121    FIRST  PERIOD 

rock,  starting  at  the  same  point  as  the  above  passage.  This  staircase 
descends  44  feet,  measuring  on  the  slope  of  the  stair,  when  it  reaches  a 
well  sunk  in  the  rock,  which  formerly  contained  water,  although  now 
filled  up  with  stones.  It  seems  to  have  been  intended  to  cut  the  passage 
or  staircase  further,  as  it  is  left  unfinished,  with  a  face  of  rock  at  the  end. 
Probably  it  has  been  meant  to  continue  these  unfinished  passages  as 
mines  round  the  building,  with  a  view  to  act  as  countermines  wherever 
found  necessary  to  resist  the  sapping  operations  of  besiegers. 

In  the  north  wall  of  the  subterranean  chamber  there  is  a  remark- 
able aperture  with  a  flue  or  tunnel  leading  upwards,  the  purpose  of  which 
is  at  first  sight  matter  of  doubt  and  conjecture  (sections,  Fig.  93,  and 
view,  Fig.  95).  There  are  deep  slots  in  the  wall  as  if  for  sliding  beams  to 
carry  a  platform,  placed  at  a  level  about  half-way  between  the  two  floors, 
and  the  corbels  which  supported  these  beams  still  remain.  The  position 
of  these  corbels  and  beam-holes,  and  the  slope  of  the  back  of  the  aperture 
are  peculiar,  but  the  simplest  mode  of  explaining  them  is  to  suppose  that 
they  formed  part  of  a  fireplace.  The  sloping  back  of  the  chimney  is  not 
unusual,  especially  when  the  hearth  was  covered  with  a  hood.  Hoods, 
being  often  of  wood  or  plaster,  have  generally  disappeared.  In  this  case 
the  hood  would  be  constructed  of  wood,  the  beams  carrying  it  being 
inserted  in  the  wall  holes  and  supported  by  the  corbels  beneath.  The 
hood  would  be  finished  with  plaster  and  sloped  back  to  the  wall  towards 
the  top  of  the  chamber.  The  sloping  back  of  the  flue  in  the  wall  would 
thus  correspond  with  the  slope  of  the  hood.  The  hearth  would  be  on  the 
level  of  the  floor  and  the  smoke  would  rise  perpendicularly  along  the 
straight  part  of  the  wall  till  it  reached  the  hood.  The  use  of  the  side 
corbels,  which  is  at  first  unintelligible,  is  thus  explained.  They  are  the 
brackets  frequently  introduced  at  the  sides  of  fireplac.es  to  carry  lamps, 
of  which  a  fine  example  occurs  at  Tullyallan.  A  fireplace  of  almost 
identical  construction  with  the  one  at  Hailes  occurs  at  the  castle  ot 
Villeneuve-les-Avigiion,  already  referred  to.  The  chimney  of  Dirleton 
Tower  (Fig.  91)  is  covered  with  a  stone  hood,  and  the  back  of  the  fire- 
place begins  to  slope  at  the  hearth,  but  in  other  instances,  as  at  Dun- 
donald  Castle,  the  slope  begins  at  some  distance  above  the  floor,  as  it 
does  here.  Possibly  this  chamber  served  several  purposes.  It  has  clearly 
been  intended  for  a  military  post,  where  soldiers  might  assemble,  and 
from  which  they  might  sally  out  by  the  secret  door  above  described.  It 
might  also  be  used  for  secretly  introducing  reinforcements  and  provisions. 

This  chamber,  with  its  secret  rock-cut  passages  and  stairs,  strongly 
recalls  similar  constructions  in  early  French  castles,  such  as  Arques  and 
Roche  Guyon.  Underground  passages  were  also  not  uncommon  in  the 
early  English  castles,  as  at  Windsor,  where  a  passage  was  tunnelled  from 
the  castle  down  to  the  edge  of  the  river.  At  Dover,  also,  numerous 
similar  passages  are  cut  in  the  chalk  rock  round  the  castle. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    122    — 


HAILES  CASTLE 


HAILES  CASTLE,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 
We  have  the  remains  of  another  of  these  thirteenth-century  castles 


at  Hailes,  near  East  Linton.     This  castle  (Fig.  96)  is  situated  on  a  rocky 


HAILES  CASTLE  -123    FIRST  PERIOD 

promontory    on    the    south    bank    of  the    Tyne,    formed   by   the  June- 


"'"*" 

,, 

;;>„•'-<""  i 


tion  of  another  small  stream  with  the  river.      The  castle   has  been  of 
considerable  dimensions,  its  length  being  240  feet  by  90  feet  wide.      In 


FIRST  PERIOD  124    HAILES  CASTLE 

general  form  it  somewhat  resembles  Bothwell,  but  the  keep,  situated 


at  the  point  of  the   promontory,  is  square  instead  of  round  (Figs.    97, 


HAILES  CASTLE 


125    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


98.)     The  walls  of  enceinte  are  8  feet  6  inches  thick,  and  have  been 
strengthened  with  towers  at  intervals.     The  lower  portion  of  the  walls 


FIG.  99. — Hailes  Castle.    View  in  Court  from  Entrance. 

seems  to  be  original  all  round,  but  the  upper  portions  have  been  greatly 
altered  at  a  later  date,  the  hall  seen  in  the  view  from  the  courtyard 
(Fig.  99)  being  probably  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Some  of  the  details 
shown  on  the  sketches  (Figs.  99A,  99s)  are  evidently  parts  of  the  earlier 
work,  and  the  north  postern,  adjoining  the  square  donjon,  is  certainly 
very  ancient. 


FIG.  99A. 


One  ancient  portion  of  the  building  which  is  specially  worthy  ol  note  is 
a  postern  stair  at  B  on  plan,  strongly  vaulted  and  ribbed,  which  leads  down 
to  the  river.  About  half-way  down  there  is  a  landing  (section,  Fig.  99u) 
which  has  been  protected  by  a  drawbridge,  the  outer  edge  of  which  rested 
on  a  tall  built  pier,  having  a  deep  pit  between  the  pier  and  the  stair-landing. 
The  remainder  of  the  stair  was  probably  of  wood,  and  moveable.  Hailes 


FIRST  PERIOD  126    HAILES  CASTLE 

castle  belonged  from  a  very  early  period  to  the  Hepburns,  and  the  more 


Flo.  99B. 


modern  parts  belong  to  the  time  of  the  famous  James  Hepburn,  Earl  of 
Bothwell,  Queen  Mary's  husband. 


FIG.  100.— Old  Hailes  Castle. 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE 


—    127    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


SLUO-    « 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE,  DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

Caerlaverock  Castle  is  situated  on  the  shore  of  the  Solway  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Nith,  aud  about  7  miles  distant  from  Dumfries.  The 
castle  is  in  ruins,  but  is  well  preserved  and  taken  care  of  by  its  noble 
owner,  Lord  Herries.  The  building,  which  is  triangular  on  plan 
(Fig.  101),  measures  about  171  feet 
along  its  southern  side  or  base,  and 
1 52  feet  along  its  eastern  and  western 
sides  respectively,  and  is  surrounded 
by  a  deep  moat  full  of  water  measur- 
ing about  70  feet  wide.  Surround- 
ing this,  and  separating  the  castle 
from  a  marsh  (which  probably  ex- 
tended originally  to  the  Solway),  on 
all  sides,  except  the  north,  there  is  a 
great  mound  of  earth  about  70  feet 
in  width,  with  a  sluice  into  the 
marsh  near  the  south-west  corner. 
All  along  the  northern  side  is  firm 
ground,  a  large  portion  of  which  has 
been  enclosed  to  form  a  courtyard 
beyond  the  moat.  Of  the  enclosing 
wall  only  the  arched  gateway  remains,  about  300  yards  north  from  the 
moat.  The  entrance  gateway  of  the  castle  towards  the  north  was  pro- 
tected by  the  moat,  which  was  crossed  by  a  drawbridge,  and  beyond 
this  with  a  ditch  which  united  the  marsh  on  the  east  and  west  sides, 
and  was  doubtless  crossed  by  another  bridge. 

The  castle  in  its  present  form  (Fig.  102)  is  the  work  of  six  distinct 
periods.  To  the  first  period  belong  the  outside  triangular  walls  of 
enceinte.  The  west  wall  as  it  now  stands  is  almost  all  the  work  of  this 
period,  the  east  wall  likewise,  in  large  portions,  and  also  what  remains 
of  the  south  wall.  The  castle  thus  seems  originally  to  have  consisted 
of  high  walls  enclosing  a  courtyard,  with  temporary  or  slight  build- 
ings inside,  similar  to  the  early  castles  above  described,  such  as 
Kinclaven,  which  is  square  on  plan,  Rothesay,  which  is  round  on  plan, 
and  Dunstaffhage,  which  is  of  irregular  plan,  while  Caerlaverock  is 
triangular  on  plan.  How  the  points  of  the  three  angles  terminated  we 
do  not  know,  but  probably  they  were  provided  with  round  towers  similar 
to  those  now  existing. 

In  the  roll  of  Caerlaverock,  recounting  the  siege  of  the  castle  by 
Edward  i.  in  1300,  written  by  Walter  of  Exeter,  who  accompanied 
Edward's  army,  the  castle  is  described  as  being  in  figure  like  a  shield  of 
three  sides,  with  a  tower  on  each  angle,  one  of  these  a  jumellated  or 


FIG.  101.— Caerlaverock  Castle.    Plan  of  Site. 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    128    — 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE 


double  one,  so  high,  so  long,  and  so  spacious,  that  under  it  was  the  gate, 
with  a  drawbridge,  well  made  and  strong,  with  a  sufficiency  of  other 
defences. 

It  has  generally  been  asserted  that  the  castle  besieged  by  Edward 
was,jsituated  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the  south  of  the  present  ruin.  It 
may,  however,  be  said  with  almost  absolute  certainty  that  the  outer 
walls  of  the  castle  just  described  are  not  later  than  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury. That  there  was  a  castle  a  little  further  in  on  the  marsh  to  the 
south  is  obvious,  but  it  was  evidently  mainly  an  earthwork. 


Fio.  102. — Caerlaverock  Castle.     Plan  of  Ground  Floor,  etc.  ;.. 

The  siege,  which  was  a  formidable  affair,  with  powerful  engines  hurl- 
ing huge   stones  day  and   night  against  the   castle,  terminated  by  the 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE  -    129    FIRST  PERIOD 

capitulation  of  the  garrison,  which  was  found  to  consist  of  only  sixty  men. 
The  towers  were  probably  then  demolished,  as  in  the  case  of  Dirleton 
Castle,  also  besieged  by  Edward,  where  the  stump  of  one  of  the 
demolished  round  towers  is  incorporated  with  the  walls  of  the  existing 
castle,  which  was  erected  about  100  years  later. 

The  buildings  of  the  second  period  are  immediately  behind  the 
round  towers,  at  the  entrance  gateway,  and  comprised  some  10  or  12 
feet  of  the  outer  walls  where  the  latter  join  the  towers.  This  part  of 
the  walls  is  of  a  different  style  of  workmanship  and  materials  from  the 
older  part,  but  it  is  probably  a  rebuilding  or  repair  of  the  original  design. 
The  northern  point  of  this  portion  of  the  building  formed  the  original 
entrance,  and  part  of  the  old  front  is  still  standing  at  about  1 1  feet  in 
from  the  present  doorway.  At  this  place  an  opening  is  seen  in  the  roof 
(section,  Fig.  102),  in  length  the  full  breadth  of  the  passage  by  2  feet 
wide,  leading  up  to  the  room,  afterwards  added,  from  which  the  port- 
cullis and  drawbridge  were  worked.  In  the  face  of  the  wall  forming 
the  south  side  of  this  opening  there  still  exists  a  narrow  loophole,  some 
8  or  9  feet  in  length  by  about  2  inches  in  width,  widened  at  the  base, 
so  that  it  exactly  resembles  a  spade  (sketch,  Fig.  102).  The  base  is 
sharply  splayed  so  as  to  give  an  almost  perpendicular  aim.  The  whole 
will  be  recognised  at  once  as  the  kind  of  slit  so  commonly  seen  in  the 
outer  walls  of  Edwardian  castles.  In  its  present  position,  with  a  wall 

2  feet  in  front  of  it,  such  a  contrivance  would  be  useless.     This  conclu- 
sively shows,   even  in  the   absence  of  the   other  evidence,  referred  to 
further  on,  that  the  present  entrance  doorway,  with  portcullis-room  above, 
have  been  added  in  front  of  the  old  entrance  at  a  later  date,  and  that  the 
inner  wall  with  the  Edwardian  loop  formed  the  exterior  face  of  the  castle. 
If  therefore  the  buildings  of  the  second  period  are  Edwardian,  the  build- 
ings of  the  first  period  may  well  have  been  those  against  which  Edward 
laid   siege.      The  original  entrance   doorway  was  thus  deeply  recessed 
between  the  double  towers  referred  to  by  Walter  of  Exeter,  as  was  usual 
at  that  time.     The  round  towers  were,  as  we  shall  see,  rebuilt  at  a  later 
period,  when  they  were  probably   carried  up   on   the  old   foundations, 
and  the  new  gateway,  etc.,  added  in  front  of  the  old  one.     In  the  room 
immediately  behind   the   above   loophole   there   is  a  round  arch  6  feet 

3  inches  wide,  now  built  up  (Fig.   105).     This  evidently  led  into  a  wall 
recess  out  of  which  the  slit  opened,  as  at  Dunstaffnage  and  other  early 
examples.     This  recess  formed  the  room  from  which  the  original  portcullis 
was  worked ;  the  groove  for  the  portcullis  still  remains  in  the  masonry. 

The  third  period  of  building  operations  comprises  the  front,  with  its 
twin  towers,  the  two  southern  angle  towers,  and  probably  a  contraction 
of  the  passage  at  the  inner  end  of  the  entrance  passage.  The  imperfect 
junction  in  the  arching  of  the  passage  where  the  work  of  this  period 
joins  that  of  the  second  period  is  quite  obvious.  The  different  style  of 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    130    — 


the  masonry   and  the   tint   of  the   stones  in  the  round  towers,  is  also 


•^      / 

*  # 
il 

*s  f« 

a    '« 


quite  distinct  from  that  of  the  outside  walls  of  the  first  period.     This  is 
particularly  clear  at  the  south-west  corner,  where,  at  about  6  feet  north- 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE  131    FIRST  PERIOD 

wards  from  Murdoch's  Tower,  there  is  a  perpendicular  joint  from  top  to 
bottom  of  the  wall,  showing  the  junction  of  the  old  and  new  work. 
The  front  towers  (Fig.  103)  measure  about  26  feet  in  outside  diameter. 
Being  provided  with  gun-holes  which  are  clearly  original  and  not  inserted, 
these  towers  cannot  be  earlier  than  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century. 
In  both  towers  the  ground  floor  was  vaulted,  but  the  vaults  are  now 
ruinous.  They  rise  from  the  ground  as  bee-hive  vaults,  and  seem  to  have 
been  insertions,  as  the  wall  behind,  from  which  they  have  fallen  away, 
has  a  finished  face  on  the  inside.  The  towers  contain  two  stories  above 
the  vaults,  the  western  one  being  domed  and  ribbed  at  the  top. 

The  portcullis-room  between  the  towers  (plan  and  section,  Fig.  1 02)  is 
at  a  sufficient  height  above  the  ground  to  admit  of  the  portcullis  being 
drawn  up  without  the  necessity  of  its  coming  into  the  room,  which 
is  thus  left  free  for  the  purpose  of  working  the  drawbridge  from  it.  The 
numerous  grooves  in  the  walls  for  the  windlasses  and  beams  connected 
with  the  hoisting  apparatus  are  still  visible.  This  room  is  probably  a 
reconstruction  in  stone  of  what  in  the  original  castle  may  have  been  a 
wooden  hoarding,  which  contained  the  apparatus  for  hoisting  the  draw- 
bridge, and  also  served  as  a  defence  over  the  gateway. 

The  buildings  of  the  fourth  period  of  operations  comprise  the  range 
against  the  west  wall,  which  is  two  stories  high,  with  three  rooms  on 
each  floor.  As  will  be  seen  on  the  plans,  the  southern  rooms  do  not 
now  exist.  The  appearance  of  this  range  of  buildings,  with  their  fine 
mullioned  and  traiisomed  windows,  and  with  Murdoch's  Tower  in  the 
background,  is  shown  on  Fig.  104. 

At  this  period  the  west  curtain  wall  was  heightened  by  6  or  8  feet  in 
inferior  masonry,  of  stones,  small  as  compared  with  those  of  the  wall  below, 
and  at  the  same  time  a  window,  the  only  opening  in  this  wall,  was  slapped 
out  in  the  so-called  library  (Fig.  105).  The  date  of  these  buildings  was 
probably  the  first  half  of  the  sixteenth  century.  This  portion  of  the 
castle  shows  very  clearly  how  the  ancient  wall  of  enceinte  was  altered 
and  utilised  in  connection  with  the  extended  buildings  which  were  placed 
against  it  at  a  later  date. 

The  fifth  period  of  the  works  comprises  the  large  circular  staircase  on 
the  west  side  and  the  lofty  archway  adjoining,  in  continuation  of  the 
entrance  passage  (Fig.  106).  The  work  of  this  period  has  blocked  up  a 
finely  moulded  doorway  with  an  old  Gothic  lintel  of  the  previous  period, 
leading  from  the  south  into  the  circular  staircase  on  the  first  floor.  (See 
plan,  Fig.  105.) 

The  sixth  and  last  period  of  the  history  of  Caerlaverock  comprehends 
the  splendid  range  of  buildings  forming  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the 
courtyard  built  by  Robert,  Lord  Maxwell,  probably  about  the  time  he 
.was  created  first  Earl  of  Nithsdale,  in  1620.  These  buildings  are  in  the 
Renaissance  style,  which  was  then  coming  greatly  into  use  in  Scotland, 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    132 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE 


and  superseding  the  native  style  of  architecture.      Along  the  east  side 
the    buildings   remain    entire  for  a    considerable    length,  three    stories 


FIG.  104. — Caerlaverock.    View  in  Courtyard,  looking  South-West 


in  height,  with  highly  ornamental  windows  (Fig.  106),  having  thin 
rounded  attached  shafts  with  bracketed  bases  and  Ionic  caps,  cornices, 
and  pediments,  triangular  and  curved,  all  filled  with  sculpture  and 
heraldic  carving.  The  sculpture  represents  classic  legends,  such  as 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE 


—    133    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


Prometheus  on  the  rock  with  the  vultures.  Every  window  tells  its 
own  story,  which  was  doubtless  suggested  by  the  Earl  himself,  who  is 
known  by  the  sobriquet  of  the  Philosopher.  Among  the  heraldic 
emblems  are  the  Maxwell  saltier  and  double-headed  eagle,  with  the 
Nithsdale  crest — a  stag  with  a  holly  bush,  and  the  initials  of  the  Earl 
and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Beaumont.  The  panel  over  the  outer  entrance 
gateway  contains  the  Nithsdale,  Maxwell,  and  Royal  Arms,  and  is 
evidently  an  insertion. 


FIG.  105.— Caerlaverock  Castle.     Plan  of  First  Floor. 

The  grouping  and  design  of  the  windows  and  doorways  alternating 
along  the  ground  floor  is  very  beautiful,  and  with  the  splendid  doorway 
leading  into  the  banqueting-hall  (Fig.  104),  right  opposite  the  entrance- 
passage,  entitles  this  to  rank  as  one  of  the  finest  and  richest  specimens 
of  early  Renaissance  in  Scotland.  Unfortunately,  of  the  banqueting-hall 
only  the  basement  floor  now  exists. 

Fig.  107  shows  one  of  the  fireplaces  in  the  eastern  wing,  the  others 
being  of  a  corresponding  character. 

These  seventeenth-century  buildings  are  all  lighted  from  the  outside 
as  well  as  from  the  courtyard,  the  curtain  wall  on  the  east  side,  which 
is  entire  to  the  top,  having  been  slapped  and  partly  rebuilt.  The  south 


FFRST  PERIOD 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE 


FIG.  10(5.—  Caerlaverock  Castle.     North  Angle  of  Courtyard. 


CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE 


—    135    — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


curtain  only  exists  to  the  height  of  two  stories  at  the  east  end,  and  at  its 
west  end  to  the  height  of  about  3  feet. 

The  buildings  on  the  east  side  are  vaulted  on  the  ground  floor,  and 
contain  the  kitchen  and  well-room  adjoining,  also  used  as  a  secondary 
kitchen,  having  an  oveii.  A  service-room  adjoining  the  banqueting-hall 
has  its  roof  vaulted  with  a  raking  or  sloping  arch,  so  as  to  support  the 
steps  of  the  grand  staircase.  The  latter  is  entirely  ruined,  but  it  has  been 
on  a  scale  of  considerable  magnificence.  A  small  service-stair  leads  from 
the  well-room  to  the  private  dining-room  and  other  apartments  above. 

The  chapel  is  said  to  have  been  situated  over  the  banqueting-hall, 
but  nothing  remains  to  indicate  this.     The  round   tower  adjoining  the 
banqueting-hall,  and  belonging  to  an  early  period  of  the  castle,  is  quite 
ruinous.    It   had  a  wheel    stair 
giving  access  to  its  upper  floors, 
and  to  the  rampart  walk.     We 
have    mentioned  this  tower   as 
belonging  to  the  third   period, 
more  because  it  seems  naturally 
to  belong  to  the  same  period  as 
the  corresponding  tower  (Mur- 
doch's) at  the  opposite  end  than 
from  any  indications  in  itself. 

Murdoch's  Tower,  about  21 
feet  in  external  diameter,  con- 
tains three  floors  above  the 
ground  floor.  The  latter  enters 
directly  from  the  courtyard  level, 
the  first  floor  by  a  door  up  a  few 
feet,  and  the  upper  floors  by  a 
straight  stair  leading  from  the 
rampart  walk. 

We  have  already  referred  to 
the  tradition  of  an  earlier  castle  of  Caerlaverock,  triangular  in  plan, 
situated  some  300  yards  southwards  from  the  present  building,  which 
is  supposed  to  have  remained  intact  till  1357,  when  it  was  taken 
down  and  rebuilt  in  the  same  shape  in  its  new  position.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  of  the  existence  of  this  earlier  castle,  but  the  story  other- 
wise is  unsupported,  and  extremely  improbable,  considering  that  the 
present  curtain  walls,  in  part  at  least,  are  evidently  not  later  than  the 
thirteenth  century.  The  position  of  Caerlaverock,  either  the  old  or  new 
site,  is  a  strong  one,  on  the  edge  of  what  was  a  pathless  morass.  The 
earlier  castle,  which  was  an  earthwork,  was  in  all  likelihood  the  "strength" 
of  primitive  settlers,  and  seems  to  have  been  abandoned  for  the  more  con- 
venient and  equally  strong  situation  of  the  existing  ruins  at  the  time 


PIG.  107. 


FIRST  PERIOD  136    TARBERT  CASTLE 

when  castle-building  in  stone  began  in  Scotland.  Viewed  in  the  light  of 
its  various  architectural  styles,  and  in  the  light  of  its  own  history,  it  is 
clear  that  the  original  portions  of  this  castle  could  not  have  been  erected 
later  than  about  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  the  date  at  which 
Caerlaverock  Castle  is  said  to  have  changed  its  site. 


TARBERT  CASTLE,  ARGYLLSHIRE. 

This  castle  is  of  unusual  interest  from  being  intimately  associated  with 
King  Robert  the  Bruce.  It  is  situated  on  a  small  creek  called  Loch 
Tarbert,  on  the  west  side  of  Loch  Fyne,  and  stands  on  the  summit  of  an 
eminence  about  60  feet  above  the  sea,  and  at  a  distance  from  the  shore 
of  about  60  yards.  It  was  one  of  the  royal  fortresses  which  Edward  i. 
caused  to  be  handed  over  to  Baliol,  after  placing  him  on  the  throne  in 
1292.  In  1325  Bruce  had  the  castle  inspected  and  impaired,  with  the 
intention  of  using  it  for  the  purpose  of  overawing  the  Highlanders,  then 
being  brought  by  him  under  subjection,  and  a  gl-ance  at  the  map  will 
show  that  the  situation  of  Tarbert,  on  its  isthmus,  is  one  of  the  best 
strategical  positions  in  the  country.  The  object  of  the  castle  from  its 
first  erection  must  have  been  to  serve  as  an  entrenched  camp  or  strong- 
hold for  a  large  garrison  on  the  edge  of  a  country  which  might  any  day 
rise  up  in  rebellion,  and  this  explains  its  plan.  The  castle  with  which 
Bruce's  name  is  associated  seems  hitherto  not  to  have  been  recognised, 
but  has  always  been  confounded  with  a  late  keep  adjoining  it  to  the  east, 
situated  in  the  outer  courtyard.  It  is  shown  by  hatched  lines  on  the 
plan,  and  will  be  hereafter  described. 

We  have  now  no  means  of  exactly  determining  to  what  extent  the 
castle  existed  before  Bruce's  additions  and  repairs  were  made,  but  judg- 
ing by  analogy  we  may  infer  that  the  square  enclosure  which  constitutes 
the  castle  proper  was  what  he  found  existing  before  he  commenced  his 
operations.  This  castle  or  enclosure  has  a  strong  resemblance  to 
Kinclaven  Castle,  Perthshire,  a  pre-Brucian  castle  of  almost  the  same  size 
and  plan.  If  this  surmise  is  correct  we  may  conclude  that  Bruce  erected 
the  lower  court  with  its  drum  towers,  and  so  enlarged  the  castle  as  to 
make  it  better  available  for  his  purpose. 

Tarbert  Castle  (Fig.  108)  consisted  of  walls  enclosing  a  square  measur- 
ing about  120  feet  each  way,  now  generally  reduced  to  little  more  than 
grass  mounds,  with  pieces  of  masonry  seen  here  and  there,  except  along 
the  north-east  curtain,  where  considerable  portions  of  the  old  wall  can 
still  be  seen  on  the  lower  ground  outside.  These  walls  were  not  less  than 
8  feet  thick,  but  of  their  height  no  estimate  can  now  be  formed.  The 
north-west  angle  of  the  square  was  slightly  canted  to  suit  the  ground. 
Inside  this  enclosure  was  another  square  formed  by  walls  of  the  same 
thickness  as  those  just  described,  with  a  space  between  of  from  18  feet 


TARBERT  CASTLE 


—  137 


FIRST   PERIOD 


to  20  feet,  and  in  this  space  the  castle  buildings  have  apparently  stood. 
There  are  grass-covered  traces  of  foundations  against  the  north-east  and 
south-east  curtains,  not  however  extending  quite  across  the  1 8-feet  space. 
At  the  inside  angle  of  the  north  corner  there  has  been  a  building  of  some 
kind  about  20  feet  square,  with  the  walls  seemingly  brought  up  from  a 
depth  below  the  natural  surface.  This  may  have  contained  a  well  in  the 
under  floor,  or  a  tank  or  reservoir  for  water,  such  as  are  sometimes  found 
in  the  earlier  hill  forts. 


CASTLE 


FIG.  108.— Tarbert  Castle.     Plan 


The  centre  of  the  castle  which  in  ordinary  cases  would  be  called  the 
courtyard,  is  here  the  natural  sloping  face  of  the  hill-side,  with  several 
large  rugged  rocks  projecting  in  confused  masses  through  the  ground. 
No  attempt  has  been  made  to  alter  its  surface  by  artificial  means,  but  the 
space  within  the  outer  and  inner  walls  (the  1 8-feet  space)  has  been  raised 
so  as  to  be  about  level  from  north-east  to  south-west,  with  a  fall  to  the 
north-west  corner.  The  making-up,  as  seen  on  the  north-east  side,  has 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    138    — 


TARBERT  CASTLE 


been  on  an  average  about  6  feet,  but  considerably  more  along  the  north- 
west side,,  owing  to  the  fall  of  the  hill  being  in  this  direction. 

Adjoining  the  castle  to  the  north-east  there  is  a  second  and  larger 
enclosure,  already  referred  to  as  being  possibly  the  work  of  Bruce.  This 
forms  the  lower  court,  which,  like  the  court  of  the  castle  just  described, 
is  the  rugged,  rocky,  unaltered  surface  of  the  hill-side.  This  court 
measures  about  300  feet  by  240  feet.  Two  of  its  sides  are  formed  by  a 
continuation  of  two  sides  of  the  castle  proper.  At  the  east  corner  the  wall 
bends  inwards  to  meet  the  north-east  wall,  which  is  strengthened  by  two 
drum  towers  about  28  feet  in  diameter,  and  40  feet  apart.  These  towers 
defend  the  approach  to  the  castle  by  the  sea,  and  probably  the  entrance 
gateway  was  situated  at  the  bend  of  the  wall  near  this  point.  Fig.  109 
gives  a  general  view  of  the  south-east  and  north-east  fronts.  The  north- 
west enceinte  is  a  continuous  crescent-shaped  wall,  shown  on  the  Ordnance 


Fio.  109.— Tarbert  Castle  from  the  Bottth-East. 

Plan  as  having  had  a  drum-tower  at  its  junction  with  the  south-west  wall 
(shown  by  dotted  lines,  Fig.  108),  but  of  this  there  is  now  no  trace.  On 
the  latter  wall,  about  30  feet  distant  from  the  castle,  are  the  remains  of 
a  square  mural  tower  measuring  about  20  feet  each  way.  This  wall 
seems  to  have  been  continued  down  to  the  sea,  but  extensive  quarrying 
operations  and  a  roadway  with  houses  along  the  shore  have  obliterated  its 
lower  end.  On  the  south-eastern  wall  stands  the  later  keep  and  build- 
ings, to  be  afterwards  described.  Of  the  north-east,  south-west,  and 
south-east  walls  just  described,  there  are  considerable  remains,  and  at 
their  most  ruinous  parts  they  can  be  distinctly  traced  along  their 
whole  respective  lengths.  The  north-east  wall  with  its  drum  towers 
on  the  outside  is  about  8  feet  or  10  feet  high.  Of  the  crescent-shaped 
north-west  wall  nothing  remains  but  its  track  along  the  brow  of  the 
hill. 

At  the  southern  corner  of  this  courtyard,  between  the  keep  and  the 
castle,  is  a  triangular  piece  of  ground  about  135  feet  long  by  45  feet  wide. 


TARBERT  CASTLE  139    FIRST  PERIOD 

It  occupies  the  highest  part  of  the  courtyard,  and  is  the  only  level  ground 


within  the  walls,  having  been  made  so  artificially.     It  is  about  the  same 
level  as  the  first  floor  of  the  keep.     The  great  courtyard  above  described 


FIRST  PERIOD 


—    140    — 


TARBERT  CASTLE 


has  evidently  been  the  basse-cour  of  the  castle.  Bruce  found  it  necessary 
to  add  this  to  the  original  structure  in  order  to  make  the  castle  conform 
to  the  plan  then  universally  adopted.  At  the  same  time  he  would  appear 
(from  the  documentary  evidence  to  be  hereafter  referred  to)  to  have  built 
a  hall  and  a  dwelling-house  within  the  walls  of  the  ancient  fortress,  thus 
converting  the  whole  into  a  genuine  castle  of  the  thirteenth-century  type. 


Fio.  111. — Tarbert  Castle.    Keep  from  North-East. 

The  keep  already  referred  to  is  of  late  fifteenth-century  or  early  sixteenth- 
century  work,  and  stands  near  the  centre  of  the  south-east  wall  of  the 
lower  courtyard.  It  measures  41  feet  by  26  feet  3  inches  over,  and  is  four 
stories  in  height.  Up  till  nearly  the  middle  of  this  century  its  four  walls 
were  entire,  with  stairs  leading  to  the  various  floors,  continued  round  the 
north,  west,  and  south  walls,  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls  (as  at  Hallbar, 
Coxton,  etc.),  but  about  that  time  nearly  all  the  south-west  and  south- 
east walls'  fell.  The  keep  (Figs.  109,  HO,  111)  is  now  the  only  portion 
of  Tarbert  Castle  which  bulks  largely  in  the  landscape,  and  it  is  doubt- 
less owing  to  this  that  it  has  had  conferred  on  it  the  honour  of  being 
regarded  as  the  castle  built  by  the  great  Bruce.  The  entrance  (Fig.  108) 
at  the  north  corner  leads  directly  into  the  vaulted  ground-floor,  which  is 
the  only  part  now  entire.  It  measures  inside  26  feet  by  12  feet  6  inches, 
and  was,  when  clear  of  ruins,  about  9  feet  high. 

At  the  south-east  end  is  an  arched  recess  in  the  wall,  4  feet  9  inches 
wide  by  6  feet  deep,  having  a  broad  splayed  shot-hole  for  guns.  This  and 
a  narrow  splayed  loop  in  the  opposite  wall  supply  all  the  light  on  this 
floor.  From  the  passage  leading  to  the  vault,  the  stair  already  mentioned 


TARBERT  CASTLE 


—   141   — 


FIRST  PERIOD 


f  1RST   F.WOR 


j  i  i  r  i  r  t 

FIG.  112. — Upper  Floors  of  Keep. 


leads  off  to  the  upper  floors.     There  has  been  one  apartment  on  each  of 
these  floors  (Fig.  112)  with  wall  chambers,  and  on   the   top  floor  only  is 

there   a  fireplace,  but  doubtless    the    two  

floors  beneath  contained  fireplaces  in  the 
now  fallen  walls. 

There  are  not  many  details  about  the 
keep,  but  what  there  are,  as  shown  by 
sketches,  Figs.  113  and  113A,  all  point  to 
its  erection  at  a  late  period.  These  are  the 
gun-holes,  several  beaded  windows,  and 
beaded  fireplace,  the  parapet  with  its  con- 
tinuous corbelling,  consisting  of  small  mem- 
bers, and  the  general  style  of  masonry. 

Additions  have  been  made  to  the  keep  on  the  north-east  side,  con- 
sisting of  two  apartments,  probably  two  stories  in  height,  and  entering 
from   the    courtyard,   with   shot-holes    on   each   side  of 
the  door.     One  of  these  apartments  was  probably  the 
kitchen.     There  is  a  stone  sink  and  drain  in  the  north- 
east angle. 

The  accounts  of  the  building,  or  rebuilding  and  exten- 
sion of  the  castle,  or  "  Castrum,"  in  the  year  1 326,  are 
preserved,  and  are  printed  in  vol.  i.  of  the  Exchequer 
Rolls.  It  would  appear  from  these  that  the  King  took 
a  personal  interest  in  the  building,  as  is  shown  by  his 
paying  Robert  the  mason  £5,  6s.  8d.,  in  addition  to  his 
contract  of  £282,  15s.,  for  having  in  the  King's  absence  made  the  walls 
of  an  extra  thickness.  These  and  other  figures  from  the  Rolls  denote 
Scots  money.  We  also  find  the  King's  friends,  William  of  Lamberton, 


/ 

,.  cVosf  '" 

FIG.  113A.— Details  of  Keep. 

Bishop  of  St.. Andrews,  and  James  Lord  of  Douglas,  visiting  the  castle, 
and  payments  made  for  decorating  their  apartments  and  the  hall  with 
branches  of  birch,  and  for  providing  litter.  We  have  the  payments  made 
to  John  the  carpenter,  Donald  the  blocker,  Neill  the  plumber,  and 
Neil  the  smith  ;  also  the  payments  for  burning  and  conveying  lime  by 
sea  and  land  to  Tarbert. 

The  Rolls  likewise  contain  payments  for  erecting  a  house  in  the  castle, 


FIRST  PERIOD  142    -  TARBERT  CASTLE 

for  the  plastering  and  roofing  of  the  castle,  fitting  up  its  hall  and  wine- 
cellar,  and  making  a  moat  about  it,  for  erecting  a  mill,  kiln,  bakehouse, 
and  brewhouse,  for  building  a  "  pele  "  at  West  Tarbert,  and  making  a 
road  across  the  isthmus  to  the  said  pele,  which  is  probably  the  road  used 
at  the  present  day.  There  was  a  chaplain  appointed,  with  a  salary  of  £4. 

In  the  year  after  the  death  of  the  King,  which  happened  at  mid- 
summer 1329,  payments  were  made  for  completing  the  castle  and 
keeping  up  the  park.  In  all  probability  the  park  referred  to  is  the 
lower  courtyard,  which  must  have  been  a  very  necessary  appendage  in 
connection  with  the  horses,  cattle,  poultry,  and  sheep,  for  which  pay- 
ments appear  as  well  as  for  the  servants  in  charge. 

The  importance  of  Tarbert  as  a  military  stronghold  continued  to  be 
recognised  long  after  the  time  of  Bruce,  down  indeed  till  the  troubles  of 
last  century.  At  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  James  iv.  found  him- 
self, like  the  Bruce  before  him,  compelled  to  conduct  an  expedition 
against  the  turbulent  islanders,  and  we  have  frequent  references  to  Tar- 
bert in  the  accounts  of  this  period  edited  by  Mr.  Dickson.  There  is  an 
account  of  "  The  expens  maid  uppone  the  vittuling  of  the  Tarbert  and 
the  King's  schippis,  the  tyme  the  King  past  in  the  His,  in  the  year 
of  God,  1494."  And  at  the  same  time  couriers  are  despatched  to  summon 
the  Lords  of  the  Westland,  Southland,  and  Eastland,  to  the  meeting  of 
the  King  at  the  Tarbert,  and  another  courier  is  sent  from  Glasgow  with 
writings  to  his  Majesty  ;  but  perhaps  the  most  interesting  item  is  of  this 
same  year,  and  as  follows  :  "The  Comptare  charges  him  wyth  xx  li.  ressauit 
frae  the  Bishop  of  Dunblane  to  the  biggin  of  Tarbert,"  and  for  the  "  said 
caus  "  the  same  sum  from  the  Abbot  of  Newbotell.  These  sums  were, 
in  all  probability,  for  the  building  of  the  keep,  which,  judging  from  its 
style  of  architecture,  as  already  stated,  belongs  to  this  period. 

In  the  same  year,  an  eventful  one  for  the  place,  there  was  delivered 
to  my  Lord  Chamberlain  at  the  Tarbert,  iiixxvj  li.  xiij  s.  iiij  d.  (<£6(), 
13s.  4d.  Scots).  For  what  purpose  this  money  was  used  we  do  not  learn, 
but  it  is  satisfactory  to  find  documentary  evidence  for  building  operations 
corroborating  the  equally  valuable  evidence  of  architectural  style.  The 
King  was  back  again  at  Tarbert  three  years  later,  when  we  may  readily 
suppose  the  keep  to  have  been  finished. 


THE  CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 
ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND. 

SECOND  PERIOD— 1300-1400. 

WITH  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century,  the  style  of  castles  consisting 
of  great  walls  of  enceinte  strengthened  with  massive  towers  comes  to  an 
end.  The  invasion  of  Edward  i.  in  1296,  and  the  disturbances  of  the 
fourteenth  century,  destroyed  the  prosperity  of  the  preceding  period. 
There  is  thus  a  great  gap  between  the  style  of  the  thirteenth-century 
buildings  and  those  which  succeeded  them  in  the  course  of  the  four- 
teenth century,  and  we  have  to  traverse  a  very  long  period  ere  we  meet 
with  castles  of  the  size  and  elegance  of  those  we  have  just  been  con- 
sidering. The  thirteenth-century  buildings  of  Scotland  thus  form  a 
very  distinctly  marked  period  in  the  architectural  history  of  the  country, 
and  constitute  the  first  period  of  Scotch  castellated  architecture. 

During  the  fourteenth  century  the  country  was  in  a  state  of  complete 
exhaustion,  consequent  on  the  great  struggle  for  national  independence, 
and  was  not  in  a  condition  to  engage  in  extensive  building  operations. 
Besides,  the  policy  of  Bruce  was  opposed  to  the  building  of  large  castles, 
as  these  were  found  liable  to  be  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  to  afford 
him  a  secure  footing  in  the  country.  Bruce's  policy  was  to  destroy 
everything  before  an  army  of  invasion,  and  leave  it  only  a  barren  country 
to  occupy — a  policy,  the  wisdom  of  which,  in  the  relative  position  of 
Scotland  and  England,  was  often  proved  subsequently  by  the  starving 
out  of  the  invaders. 

The  castle  erected  or  extended  by  Bruce  at  Tarbert  was  exceptional, 
being  for  the  specific  purpose  of  keeping  the  Highlands  and  Islands  in 
order,  and  to  provide  security  for  the  garrison.  The  castle  of  Loch- 
maben,  and  some  others,  were  also  preserved,  from  their  occupying  special 
positions,  which  it  was  necessaiy  for  strategic  purposes  to  fortify. 

For  the  above  reasons  we  find  only  few  and  small  remains  of  castles 
or  domestic  buildings  erected  in  the  fourteenth  century,  or  at  least  till 
near  the  close  of  the  century.  The  dwellings  of  the  peasantry  were 
mere  huts,  which  were  easily  replaced  after  the  storm  of  an  invasion  was 
past.  The  houses  in  the  towns,  also,  at  this  period,  and  for  long  after, 


SECOND  PERIOD  144    INTRODUCTORY 

seem  to  have  been  constructed  chiefly  of  wood,  and  were  frequently 
destroyed  either  by  accidental  fires  or  by  the  enemy. 

The  mansions  of  the  nobility  in  the  country,  being  constantly  liable 
to  be  attacked  and  burnt,  were  necessarily  built  of  stone  ;  while  from  the 
impoverished  condition  of  the  barons  at  this  time,  they  were  of  the 
simplest  form.  All  that  was  required  was  a  stronghold  sufficient  to 
accommodate  the  owner's  family  and  personal  retainers,  and  to  protect 
them  from  sudden  attack.  The  square  towers  or  Norman  keeps  which 
had  become  familiar  to  the  Scots  in  their  frequent  invasions  of  the 
northern  counties  of  England,  naturally  became  their  model,  and  all  the 
castles  of  this  period  preserved  to  us  are  built  on  this  plan.  These 
castles  consist  of  a  square  or  oblong  tower,  with  thick  walls  built 
sometimes  with  ashlar  and  sometimes  with  rubble-work,  and  defended 
from  the  parapet  at  the  roof,  the  angles  of  which  are  rounded,  or  more 
generally  projected  on  corbels  in  the  form  of  round  open  bartizans. 
The  parapets  and  bartizans  have  frequently  open  machicolations,  but 
sometimes  merely  corbels  without  openings,  and  sometimes  the 
parapet  is  carried  up  flush  with  the  wall,  without  projection  or  string- 
course. The  keeps  of  this  period  sometimes  depart  from  the  original 
Norman  model  to  the  extent  of  having  a  small  wing  added  at  one  corner, 
so  as  to  give  the  building  the  shape  of  the  letter  L.  Such  keeps  are 
described  as  being  built  on  the  L  plan. 

The  ground  floor  is  always  vaulted  with  a  plain  tunnel  vault,  generally 
semicircular,  though  occasionally  pointed,  and  was  used  as  a  store-room, 
or  as  a  stable  for  the  protection  of  cattle,  a  loft  for  the  domestics  sleeping 
in  being  generally  formed  in  the  vault. 

There  is  frequently  no  communication  from  the  ground  floor  to  the 
first  floor,  except  by  a  hatch  in  the  vault.  The  principal  entrance  to 
the  tower  is  usually  on  the  first  or  second  floor  level,  and  was  approached 
by  a  movable  stair  or  ladder.  The  hall  occupies  the  whole  of  the  first 
floor,  and  is  usually  vaulted  with  a  plain  semicircular  or  pointed  barrel 
vault.  This  is  generally  divided  with  a  wooden  floor  into  two  stories 
in  the  height,  as  is  apparent  from  the  rows  of  corbels  which  almost 
invariably  run  along  each  side  to  carry  the  upper  floor.  The  windows 
and  fireplaces  which  occur  at  the  level  of  the  upper  chamber  in  the  vault 
also  show,  where  they  are  introduced,  that  it  was  occupied  as  rooms,  and 
was  not  merely  a  gallery,  as  is  sometimes  thought.  Above  this  there  is 
a  second  story  containing  the  private  apartments  of  the  lord  and  his 
family,  and  there  is  also  usually  an  upper  chamber,  either  in  the  roof  or 
vaulted,  so  as  to  carry  the  roof. 

The  roof  is  generally  constructed  with  stone  slabs,  well  dressed  and 
grooved  into  one  another,  and  resting  on  the  vault  beneath.  The  gutter 
is  also  formed  with  dressed  stones,  every  alternate  stone  having  a  drain 
throiigh  the  parapet  with  a  projecting  gargoyle,  either  plain  or  carved  in 


INTRODUCTORY  145    SECOND  PERIOD 

the  form  of  an  animal,  like  those  of  the  churches.  The  chimney-stacks 
are  carried  up  on  the  inside  face  of  the  thick  walls,  so  as  to  allow  a  free 
parapet  walk  all  round  for  defence.  There  are  sometimes  a  few,  and 
sometimes  a  great  many,  small  chambers  formed  in  the  thickness  of  the 
walls,  which  were  used  as  bed-places,  garde-robes,  etc.  The  access  to  the 
upper  floors  and  the  roof  is  nearly  always  by  a  newel  stair  at  one  corner 
in  the  thickness  of  the  wall. 

A  tower  thus  constructed  almost  entirely  of  stone  was  well  calculated 
to  resist  the  effects  of  siege  and  fire,  so  common  in  those  times  ;  and  even 
if  taken  by  assault,  was  not  easily  so  much  damaged  but  that  it  could 
readily  be  restored  again. 

The  accommodation  of  these  towers  is  very  circumscribed,  and  was 
soon  felt  to  be  so.  There  could  be  no  privacy  where  one  hall  served  as 
living-room  and  sleeping-room  for  the  retainers  and  domestics,  and 
where  there  was  not  even  provision  for  the  separation  of  the  sexes. 
Accordingly,  although  the  above  form  of  tower  was  long  retained 
in  the  smaller  peles,  we  soon  find  efforts  made  to  improve  the  accom- 
modation of  the  larger  keeps  built  at  this  time.  This  was  done  by 
adding  to  the  square  or  oblong  block  a  small  projection  or  wing  at  one 
corner,  which  gave  at  least  one  additional  room  on  each  floor.  A  larger 
number  was  often  obtained  by  making  the  ceilings  lower,  and  thus  intro- 
ducing more  rooms  in  the  height  of  the  wing  than  in  the  tower.  This 
addition  permitted  the  lord  to  have  a  private  room,  where  he  could 
receive  visitors,  apart  from  his  retainers,  besides  supplying  one  or  two 
separate  bedrooms  on  the  upper  floors.  In  course  of  time,  other  modi- 
fications of  the  square  keep  were  adopted,  so  as  to  provide  additional 
accommodation,  but  it  is  remarkable  how  long  and  how  persistently  this 
form  is  adhered  to.  It  may  always  be  assumed  in  examining  these  old 
towers  that  the  presence  of  numerous  apartments  (particularly  when  a 
distinct  kitchen  can  be  discovered)  indicates  that  the  building,  or  at 
least  the  part  of  it  containing  these  apartments,  is  not  amongst  the 
early  examples. 

Although  specially  characteristic  of  the  fourteenth  century,  the 
simple  style  of  keep  above  described  continued  to  be  erected  during  the 
fifteenth  and  subsequent  centuries,  and  so  plain  and  devoid  of  ornament 
are  almost  all  these  keeps,  that  it  is  often  difficult  to  determine  their 
exact  age.  Another  circumstance  which  adds  to  this  difficulty  is  that 
the  same  model  of  keep  tower  is  common  to  all  periods  from  the  four- 
teenth to  the  seventeenth  century.  There  are,  however,  sometimes  a 
few  mouldings  or  enrichments,  or  some  slight  modifications  of  the  plan, 
which,  together  with  historical  evidence,  enable  the  age  of  many  to  be 
approximately  ascertained. 

There  can  scarcely  be  a  doubt  that  all  these  keeps  had,  like  their 
Norman  prototypes,  a  courtyard  connected  with  them,  enclosed  with  a 


SECOND  PERIOD  146    INTRODUCTORY 

good  wall,  although  few  specimens  now  remain.  This  court  or  barmkin 
was  essential  to  contain  the  stables  and  other  offices,  and  gave  consider- 
able additional  security  by  protecting  the  keep  from  sudden  assault. 

In  some  instances  these  courtyards  were  of  considerable  extent,  with 
walls  of  enceinte,  defended  with  towers,  on  the  same  general  idea  as  the 
thirteenth-century  castles  above  described,  although  greatly  reduced  in 
dimensions,  and  wanting  in  the  skilful  disposition  of  the  towers  and 
curtains  for  mutual  defence.  As  the  country  improved,  and  manners 
became  more  refined,  buildings  providing  enlarged  accommodation  were 
extended  round  the  inside  of  the  walls  of  the  courtyard,  large  windows 
were  opened  in  them,  and  finally  the  walls  of  enceinte  became  absorbed 
in  the  buildings.  These  gradually  dropped  their  castellated  character, 
and  assumed  that  of  a  mansion  built  round  a  quadrangle,  precisely  as 
happened  at  an  earlier  period  in  France  and  England,  and,  as  we  have 
observed,  was  the  case  at  Bothwell.  This,  however,  did  not  occur 
generally  in  Scotland  till  the  sixteenth  century.  But  during  the  fifteenth 
century  we  find  several  of  the  larger  castles  designed  from  the  first  upon 
the  plan  of  buildings  surrounding  a  courtyard,  as  will  in  due  course  be 
pointed  out.  Throughout  the  course  of  the  architectural  history  of 
Scotland  we  find  the  two  types  of  plan  above  described  continuing  to 
prevail  together,  viz.,  first,  the  simple  quadrilateral  keep  or  house,  sur- 
rounded by  a  wall  enclosing  a  courtyard  ;  and,  second,  the  castle,  consisting 
chiefly  of  a  wall  of  enceinte,  with  towers  and  other  buildings  connected 
with  it,  until  in  course  of  time  both  these  types  developed  into  the 
mansion  built  round  a  quadrangle  :  the  keep  plan,  by  adding  buildings 
round  the  wall  of  the  courtyard ;  and  the  castle  plan,  by  omitting  the 
towers  and  reducing  the  wall  of  enceinte  and  piercing  it  with  openings, 
so  as  to  form  the  outer  wall  of  apartments  built  round  the  court.  But 
we  shall  find  that  the  keep  plan,  pure  and  simple,  was  also  much  ad- 
hered to  in  later  times,  and  formed  the  model  on  which  many  of  our 
mansions  (even  as  late  as  the  seventeenth  century)  are  planned. 

Examples  of  the  quadrilateral  keep  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth 
centuries  are  very  numerous  all  over  the  country. 

As  above  mentioned,  it  is  difficult  to  fix  the  exact  date  of  many  of 
these  keeps,  but  we  shall  now  describe  first  some  of  the  simple  towers 
or  keeps  which  seem  undoubtedly  to  belong  to  the  fourteenth  century. 


LOCHLEVEN  CASTLE,  KINROSS-SHIRE. 

One  of  the  simplest  and  least  altered  castles  of  this  period  is  that  of 
Lochleven.  The  early  history  of  this  castle  is  almost  unknown.  In  1335 
it  was  defended  by  Alan  de  Vipont  against  John  de  Strivilin,  who  acted 
for  Edward  Baliol ;  and  it  is  most  probable  that  the  existing  keep  and 
wall  enclosing  its  courtyard  are  the  buildings  which  then  existed.  The 


LOCHLEVEN  CASTLE 


14?    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


castle  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  branch  of  the  Douglases,  by 
whom  it  was  held  when  Queen  Mary  was  imprisoned  in  it.  It  is  now 
the  property  of  Sir  Graham  Montgomery. 


Pio.  114.— Lochleven  Castle.    Plans. 

The  keep  (Fig.  114)  is  small,  being  only  22  feet  6  inches  by  16  feet 
6  inches  internally,  with  walls  7  to  8  feet  thick.  The  basement  floor  and 
first  floor  are  vaulted.  The  basement,  which  is  several  feet  below  the 
level  of  the  court,  had  probably  an  outer  door  where  the  present  one  is. 
There  is  no  communication  from  the  basement  to  the  first  floor  but  by 
a  hatch  in  the  vault.  The  most  unusual  feature  in  this  keep  is  the 
entrance  door  (Fig.  115),  which  is  on  the  second  floor  above  the  basement 
floor,  the  only  access  to  the  first  floor  being  by  descending  the  stair  from 
the  second  floor.  There  is  now  no  access  to  the  upper  floors  above  the 
second,  but  it  will  be  obsei-ved  that  the  parapet  rests  on  simple  corbels, 
without  machicolations,  and  that  there  is  no  angle  bartizan  or  turret  at 
the  corner  next  the  interior  of  the  courtyard,  where  it  would  not  be 
needed  for  defence  against  assailants  from  the  outside  of  the  castle. 
The  view  from  the  exterior  of  the  castle  (Fig.  116)  shows  the  three 
angle  bartizans.  The  wall  of  the  courtyard  is  for  the  most  part  old, 
probably  fourteenth-century  work,  and  has  a  parapet  walk  all  round. 
The  round  tower  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  enceinte  is  more  recent, 
apparently  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

There  have  been  much  more  extensive  buildings  on  two  sides  of  the 
courtyard,  which  probably  existed  when  Queen  Mary  was  confined  here, 


SECOND  PERIOD  148    LOCHLEVEN  CASTLE 

but  these  are  now  all  demolished.     At  the  west  side,  part  of  the  enclos- 


ing wall  has  been  rebuilt,  and  a  large  window  inserted  in  connection 
with  buildings  placed  against  it  (Fig.  115),  showing  how  the  process  of 


LOCHLEVEN  CASTLE  —     149    SECOND  PERIOD 

absorption  of  the  wall  of  enceinte  was  carried  out.     The  loopholes  in 


the  north  wall  are  for  the  defence  of  that  side  in  which  the  entrance 
gate  is  situated. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


150  — 


DRUM  CASTLE 


DRUM  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

This  ancient  and  historic  castle  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  rising 
ground  about  a  mile  northwards  from  the  river  Dee,  and  is  surrounded 
with  fine  old  trees.  It  consists  of  an  ancient  keep,  to  which  a  mansion 
was  added  in  1619- 


— f — H 


FIG.  117.-  Drum  Castle.     Plan  of  First  Floor. 

The  estate  of  Drum  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of  Irvine 
from  the  time  of  King  Robert  i.,  by  whom  it  was  bestowed  on  William 
cle  Irvine  in  recognition  of  his  faithful  services  as  the  King's  secretary  and 
armour-bearer.  The  original  charter  conveying  the  property,  dated  1st 
February  1323,  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family,  who  have  always 
played  an  important  part  both  in  the  affairs  of  the  county  and  the  nation. 


DRUM  CASTLE 


151    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


The  existing  keep  was  probably  built  about  the  time  of  William  de 
Irvine.  Drum  was  previously  a  royal  forest,  and  one  of  the  hunting-seats 
of  the  kings  of  Scotland.  This  keep  may  therefore  have  been  originally 
a  royal  residence.  It  has  all  the  characteristics  of  the  fourteenth- 
century  towers.  The  plan  is  quadrilateral,  and  measures  53  feet  long  by 
39  feet  wide  externally,  and  has  the  four  angles  of  the  walls  rounded 
off. 

The  entrance  has  originally  been  at  the  level  of  the  hall,  on  the  first 
floor,  probably  where  the  outer  door  still  is,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
keep.  It  is  now  approached  by  a  flight  of  stone  steps,  but  the  original 
access  would  be  by  a  moveable  wooden  stair. 

The  first  floor  (Fig.  117),  or  the  original  common  hall,  has  been  greatly 
altered,  but  it  has  apparently  entered  by  a  door  (now  built  up)  imme- 
diately opposite  the  entrance  door  to  the  keep.  This  floor,  now 


FIG.  US.— Drum  Castle.    Plan  of  Basement. 


modernised,    is    covered    with  a  barrel   vault.     The   passage    from    the 
entrance  leads  to  a  newel  stair  in  the  angle  of  the  tower,  and  also  gives 


SECOND  PERIOD  152    DRUM  CASTLE 

access  to  a  straight  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the  east  wall,  leading  to  the 
basement  floor  (Fig.  1 1 8),  which  is  vaulted,  and  measures  29  feet  long  by 
15  feet  wide.  The  walls  of  the  basement  are  12  feet  thick,  and  are 
pierced  with  only  two  narrow  loops  at  the  east  and  west  ends.  In  a 
recess  in  the  north-east  angle  of  the  walls  is  the  well,  3  feet  in  diameter, 
and  furnished  with  a  stone  trough  and  drain  to  the  outside. 

Judging  by  the  small  windows,  now  built  up,  which  are  visible  in 
the  outer  walls,  there  have  been  wall  recesses  off  the  hall  on  the  first 
floor,  and  probably  also  a  small  entresol  entering  from  the  stair. 

The  second  floor  (Fig.  119)  also  consists  of  a  single  large  hall  the  full 
size  of  the  building,  viz.,  35  feet  long  by  21  feet  wide.  The  walls  are 
here  about  9  feet  thick.  This  space  is  covered  in  with  a  pointed  barrel 
vault,  measuring  24  feet  from  the  floor  to  the  apex ;  but  this  height 
has  been  divided  into  two  with  a  wooden  floor,  the  corbels  for  supporting 
which  are  visible  in  the  walls  on  both  sides. 

The  lower  of  these  apartments  was  no  doubt  the  owner's  private  hall, 
and  the  upper  space,  in  the  vault,  contained  bedrooms  (as  at  Craigmillar, 
etc.)  The  hall  is  lighted  with  windows  on  every  side,  those  in  the  north 
and  south  wall  being  2  feet  3  inches  wide  and  having  stone  seats  in  the 
recess.  That  in  the  west  wall  is  a  mere  loop.  There  is  a  garde-robe  in 
the  north-west  angle  and  a  fireplace  in  the  north  wall. 

The  newel  stair  in  the  south-east  angle  does  not  go  higher  than  this 
floor.  The  access  to  the  upper  floor  and  to  the  battlements  seems  to 
have  been  by  a  solid  oak  stair  starting  in  the  north-east  angle  of  the 
hall,  where  some  relics  of  the  steps  can  still  be  traced. 

It  is  said  in  the  New  Statistical  Account  of  Aberdeenshire  that  the 
tower  "  had  originally  an  alcoved  roof  of  considerable  height,  which  has 
long  been  removed,  and  one  of  less  altitude  with  flat  roof  has  been  sub- 
stituted." 

The  present  slated  roof  rests  on  the  pointed  vault  above  referred  to. 
Possibly  there  may  have  been  formerly  an  attic  floor  above  this  vault, 
entering  from  the  battlements,  and  serving  as  a  guard-room.  This  is 
frequently  the  case,  as  at  Borthwick,  Clackmannan,  Alloa,  etc. 

The  battlements  here  are  of  unusual  height  (Fig.  120).  This  is 
caused  by  the  stone  gutter  forming  the  parapet  walk  being  stepped 
down  from  the  angles  to  the  centre  of  the  east  and  west  walls,  where 
there  is  only  one  drain  and  gargoyle  to  let  off  the  whole  of  the 
water  from  each  end.  The  same  stepping  of  the  gutter  is  continued 
along  the  north  and  south  sides,  but  there  are  two  drains  on  each  of 
those  sides. 

The  parapet  rests  on  a  corbel  table,  which  is  continued  round  the 
circled  angles  of  the  building  in  a  continuous  string-course,  above  which 
the  parapet  is  also  rounded  and  heightened  at  the  angles,  but  it  does 
not  project  so  as  to  form  a  bartizan  of  the  usual  form.  The  height  from 


DRUM  CASTLE 


—    153    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    154 


DRUM  CASTLE 


ALLOA  TOWER 


—    155    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


the  ground  to  the  top  of  the  parapet  is  70  feet  6  inches.  Such  rounded 
angles  are  by  no  means  uncommon  in  castles  of  the  fourteenth  century ; 
but  there  are  few  such  perfect  examples  of  the  parapet  carried  round  the 
corners  as  at  Drum.  Neidpath,  in  Peeblesshire,  is,  however,  one  similar 
specimen.  The  size  and  style  of  Alloa  Tower,  before  it  was  altered,  with 
its  thick  walls  and  massive  battlements,  are  in  general  harmony  with 
those  of  Drum,  although  Alloa  differs  in  having  the  battlements  provided 
with  bartizans.  The  later  portions  of  Drum  belong  to  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  will  be  described  hereafter. 


ALLOA  TOWER. 

Alloa  Tower,  situated  within  the  grounds  of  the  Earl  of  Mar,  close 
to  the  town  of  Alloa  on  the  Forth,  has  been  a  very  large  and  fine  keep, 
probably  of  the  fourteenth  century.  The  estate  was  bestowed  in  1 360 
by  King  David  n.  on  Sir  Robert  Erskine,  Great  Chamberlain,  whose 
descendants  became  the  Earls  of  Mar ;  and  it  still  belongs  to  the  Earl  of 
Mar  and  Kellie.  Unfortunately,  the  tower  has  been  greatly  altered, 


- 

PLAN  OF  EMTfLEMENTS 

1     1             1  ' 

*     / 

FIG.  121.— Alloa  Tower.     View  from  the  North-West. 


FIG.  122. 


and  its  original  features  destroyed,  the  interior  having  been  entirely 
remodelled,  and  the  exterior  cut  up  with  a  number  of  large  inserted 
windows,  all  arranged  at  equal  intervals,  and  a  good  many  of  which 
are  actually  mock  windows  (Figs.  121  and  123).  The  top  story,  which 
is  shown  on  the  plan  (Fig.  122),  has  been  comparatively  little  inter- 
fered with  (except  by  the  insertion  of  the  four  windows  without  seats 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    156    - 


ALLOA  TOWER 


in  the  side  walls),  and,  with  the  bartizans  and  battlements,  gives  a  fail- 
idea  of  what  the  original  was.  The  hall  was  43  feet  6  inches  by  22  feet, 
and  the  walls  are  10  feet  thick.  In  two  stories  there  are  passages 
round  the  tower  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls.  The  height  of  the 
battlement  is  80  feet  from  the  ground.  The  original  newel  staircase 
in  the  south-west  angle  is  still  preserved,  and  the  loopholes  which 
light  it  are  visible  in  the  view  from  the  west  (Fig.  123).  Additions 


FIG.  123.—  Alloa  Tower.    View  from  the  West. 


were  made  to  the  tower  at  a  later  date,  when  it  was  extended  into  the 
mansion  where  Queen  Mary,  James  i.,  and  Prince  Henry  spent  much  of 
their  youthful  time  ;  but  these  additions  were  all  destroyed  by  a  great 
fire  in  1800. 


HALLFOREST  —    157    —  SECOND  PERIOD 


HALLFOREST,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

This  is  one  of  the  very  few  examples  of  fourteenth-century  keeps  now 
remaining  in  the  north.  It  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  Bruce  as  a 
hunting-seat,  and  bestowed  by  him  on  Sir  Robert  de  Keith,  the  Great 
Marischal ;  and  it  is  still  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Kintore,  one  of  his 
descendants.  In  1639  it  was  the  residence  of  the  Earl  Marischal,  and 
was  frequently  attacked  in  the  wars  of  the  period. 

The  castle  is  situated  on  level  ground  about  Ij  mile  from  Kintore, 
and  was  no  doubt  formerly  surrounded  with   a  wall   and   fosse.      It  is 
a  plain  oblong  on  plan  (Fig.  124),  48  feet  long  by  30  feet  wide.     The 
walls  are  7  feet  thick.     There  are  two  vaults, 
one  at  about  half  the  height  of  the  tower, 
forming  the  floor  of  the  hall,   and  the  other 
at  the  top,  supporting  the  floor  under  the  roof. 
Each  of  these   vaulted   compartments  would 
probably  be    divided  into  two  stories  in  the 

height,   with    wooden   floors.       The   principal 

,,    ,  ,        ,        ,      f      .        ,     ,.    FIG.  124.—  Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

entrance  would    be  at  the  level  of    the    hall 

floor  at  the  south-east  angle,  where  the  aperture  is  still  visible  (Fig.  125), 
and  where  the  remains  of  the  circular  well  for  the  staircase  to  the  battle- 
ments are  traceable. 

The  loops  of  the  basement  are  as  usual  very  small.  There  was  pro- 
bably a  door  to  the  basement,  for  the  admission  of  cattle,  below  that  to 
the  hall,  where  the  long  fissure  in  the  wall  is  seen. 

The  windows  on  the  upper  floors  have  been  larger.  There  was 
originally,  no  doubt,  a  parapet  similar  to  that  at  Drum,  and  probably  a 
stone  roof  upon  an  upper  arch,  but  these  are  now  demolished,  and  are 
quite  inaccessible. 


THREAVE  CASTLE,  KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE. 

This  lofty  grey  stronghold  of  the  Douglases  is  of  great  interest,  both 
from  its  connection  with  many  important  events  in  Scottish  history,  and 
also  as  a  good  specimen  of  the  habitation  of  a  powerful  baron  of  the  period, 
and  of  the  style  of  architecture  and  defence  then  in  use.  It  is  situated 
on  an  island  in  the  river  Dee,  about  two  miles  from  Castle  Douglas,  in 
Kirkcudbrightshire.  The  castle  is  reached  (Figs.  126,  126,\)  by  wading 
a  ford  on  the  eastern  branch  of  the  river  about  20  yards  wide  at  the 
lower  or  southern  extremity  of  the  island,  and  at  a  distance  of  about  200 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    158    — 


Will 

Mi'.yf  rau 


TH  REAVE  CASTLE 


—  159  — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


Fio.  126. — Threave  Castle. 
Plan  of  Site. 


paces  from  the  building.  Above  this  ford  either  branch  of  the  river  can 
only  be  crossed  by  a  boat.  Proceeding  from  the  southern  extremity  about 
80  yards,  a  wide  ditch  or  marsh,  supplied  from  the  Dee,  contracts  the 
approach  to  the  castle  to  about  12  yards  in  width  next  the  western  stream. 

The  island,  which  is  quite  flat,  extends 
about  500  paces  northwards  from  the  castle, 
and  is  about  half  this  distance  in  width, 
forming  a  fine  pasture  meadow  of  nearly  20 
acres  in  extent.  The  river  protects  the  castle 
on  the  west  at  from  15  to  20  yards  distance. 
On  the  other  sides  a  strong  wall  with  a  sloping 
face  and  round  towers  still  surrounds  it,  form- 
ing a  courtyard  about  15  feet  wide  on  the 
south  and  east  sides.  The  wall  was  most 
likely  continued  round  the  west  and  north 
sides,  as  shown  by  dotted  lines,  where  the 
courtyard  would  be  about  30  feet  wide.  The 
round  tower  at  the  south-east  angle  is  entire, 
and  is  9  feet  2  inches  in  internal  diameter, 
and  three  stories  high,  with  three  loopholes 
in  each  story.  The  upper  story  was  reached  from  the  walls. 

The  south-west  tower  (Fig.  127),  about  9  feet  from  the  river,  has  fallen, 
the  greater  part  lying  like  a  cylinder  on  its  side,  nearly  entire.  The 
north-east  tower  is  almost  a  total  ruin ;  enough,  however,  remains  to 
show  that  it  and  the  one  overthrown  were  the  same  size  as  the  existing 
tower. 

The  wall  on  the  north  side  is  gone,  except  a  part  of  the  foundation, 
shown  by  dotted  lines.  From  the  style  of  masonry  of  this  wall,  as  well 
as  from  the  form  of  the  loopholes,  it  has  possibly  been  rebuilt  at  a  later 
date  than  the  castle,  but  probably  on  the  old  foundations.  Outside  the 
wall  there  is  a  ditch,  with  a  mound.  (See  plan  of  Island.)  This  mound 
encloses  an  outer  court  towards  the  east  and  south,  of  about  35  yards 
wide.  There  are  scraps  of  masonry  on  this  mound,  so  that  it  may  have 
been  a  walled  enclosure  with  the  base  of  the  wall  raised  some  4  or  5  feet 
above  the  general  level  of  the  island. 

A  noble  entrance  gateway  (Fig.  128)  (in  a  most  deplorable  state  of 
dilapidation)  leads  through  the  east  wall  into  the  inner  court,  opposite 
which  is  the  entrance  to  the  keep.  This  gateway  has  been  defended 
with  a  drawbridge,  but  there  was  no  portcullis. 

The  castle  (Fig.  126)  is  oblong  on  plan,  measuring  6l  feet  from  north 
to  south,  by  39  feet  4  inches  from  east  to  west,  and  is  63  feet  from  the 
parapet  walk  to  the  ground  at  the  doorway,  and  8  feet  more  to  the 
highest  part  of  the  ruined  parapets. 

There  is  a  central  vault,  25  feet  high,  forming  the  floor  of  the  hall,  and 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    160    — 


TH  HEAVE  CASTLE 


containing  A  lower  and  upper  floor.     Above  the  vault  there  were  three 
wooden  floors. 


The  entrance  doorway  (Fig.  128),  lofty  and  pointed,,  and  raised  a  few 


THREAVE  CASTLE  l6l    SECOND  PERIOD 

feet  above  the  ground,  has  been  altered   and  built  up  in  later  times. 


leaving  the  arched  top  open  to  serve  as  a  window  (Fig.  129).     The  base- 

i. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    162    — 


TH  REAVE  CASTLE 


ment  must  have  been  dark,  having  only  two  small  windows  in  a  wall 
about  8  feet  thick.     It  contains  the  well,  filled  up  and  concealed  with 


;^-?r ~  ?-• -~T^_-II= — ^==^     ^    y      --  — 


FIG.  128. — Threave  Castle.    East  Front  and  Entrance  Gateway. 

rubbish,  although  within  living  memory  it  was  clear  to  the  bottom ;  but 
unfortunately  large  portions  of  the  vaulting  have  fallen  and  heaped  the 
place  with  ruins.  Near  the  well  is  a  drain  from  a  sink,  and  the  three 
recesses  in  the  east  wall  were  probably  for  buckets  containing  a  supply  of 
water  to  stand  in. 

In  the  north-west  corner  of  the  vault  a  dungeon  with  an  arched 
roof  has  been  walled  off,  and  is  entered  from  a  hatchway  at  the  floor 
level  of  the  entresol.  The  kitchen  seems  to  have  been  in  the  entresol, 
having  a  fireplace  in  the  south  wall,  and  a  sink  with  a  drain  in  one  of 
the  windows. 


TH REAVE  CASTLE 


—    163    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


A  doorway  corbelled  out  over  the  dungeon  roof  leads  to  the  staircase 
in  the  north-west  angle  of  the  building.     From  this  corbelling  it  would 


FIG.  129.—  Threave  Castle.    Interior  Basement  Floor. 

appear  that  the  dungeon  was  an  afterthought,  as,  had  it  been  originally 
there,  the  corbelling  might  have  been  dispensed  with,  as  the  vault  could 
have  carried  the  projecting  wall  con- 
taining the  doorway.  This  stair,  the 
only  one  in  the  castle,  leads  to  the 
upper  floors  and  the  battlements.  It 
is  now  quite  ruinous,  not  a  single  step 
remaining. 

The  great  hall,  46  feet  3  inches 
long  by  25  feet  5  incheswide,  is  lighted 
by  side  windows  which  had  mullions 
and  transomes,  and  were  provided  with 
stone  seats.  In  the  east  wall  there  is 
an  opening  2  feet  wide,  which  seems 
originally  to  have  been  meant  as  a 
doorway,  about  30  feet  above  the 
ground,  but  it  has  been  converted 
into  a  window.  About  4  or  5  feet 
below  this  doorway,  on  the  outside 
face  of  the  wall,  there  have  been 
two  corbels,  now  cut  away  (Fig.  128). 
for  the  beams  of  a  bridge  leading  across  to  the  top  of  the  high  entrance 
gateway,  which  apparently  had  no  other  mode  of  access.  It  would  thus 


These  were  evidently  the  rests 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    164    — 


THREAVE  CASTLE 


form  a  post  for  watching  and  defence,  and  may  also  have  been  used 
in  connection  with  the  working  of  the  drawbridge. 

The  fireplace  (now  destroyed)  is  alongside  this  doorway,  and  a  garde- 
robe  leads  off  the  window  in  the  south-west  corner  of  the  hall. 

The  second  floor  is  similar  in  arrangement.  Its  fireplace  (Fig.  130) 
is  quite  entire,  with  a  lintel,  consisting  of  three  stones  with  joggled  joints, 
and  its  moulded  cornice  has  a  gentle  rise  to  the  centre. 

The  angle  moulding  on  the  lintel  and  jambs  of  this  fireplace  and  that 
of  the  great  hall  is  what  is  known  as  a  "  giblet  check."  The  same  mould- 
ing is  used  at  several  windows,  as  well  as  a  hollowed  chamfer. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the 
sketch  of  this  fireplace,  there 
is  a  sunk  rest  at  each  side, 
shaped  to  receive  the  ends  of 
struts  for  supporting  the  flat 
roof  (Fig.  131).  Similar  holes 
exist  along  the  whole  wall,  as 
also  on  the  opposite  side. 

The  upper  floor  has  been 
entirely  used  in  connection 
with  the  defence  of  the 
castle.  The  walls  are  pierced 
with  windows  on  every  side ; 
and  at  the  same  level  all 
round  the  outside  of  the 
north,  south,  and  west  fronts 
(Figs.  12?  and  132)  will  be 
observed  two  rows  of  holes 
for  carrying  a  hoarding, 
while  in  the  centre  of  the 
wall  (in  the  position  shown 
on  the  section,  and  on  plan 
by  white  lines)  a  narrow 

FIG.  131.—  Threave  Castle.    Interior  of  Hall.  tunnel,    16    inches  wide    and 

19  inches  high,  goes  round  the  building,  opening  into  the  ingoings  of  the 
windows.  This  tunnel,  just  sufficient  to  let  a  man  creep  along,  was 
evidently  meant  for  giving  access  for  securing  the  ends  of  the  beams 
which  carried  the  overhanging  hoarding.  It  is  one  of  the  best  pre- 
served instances  of  this  kind  of  defence  in  Scotland.  On  the  east  side 
there  was  no  continuous  hoarding,  but  over  the  doorway  there  were 
bold  corbels  projected  to  receive  a  hoarding  to  defend  the  gateway  and 
entrance  door,  a  very  common  arrangement.  Only  one  of  these  corbels 
now  remains,  and  is  locally  known  as  the  "  Hanging  Stone." 

Threave  Castle  is  universally  stated  to  have  been  built  by  Archibald 


TH REAVE  CASTLE 


—   165 


SECOND  PERIOD 


Douglas,  an  illegitimate  son  of  the  good  Sir  James  Douglas,  towards  the 
end  of  the  fourteenth  century.  Notwithstanding  his  illegitimacy  he  was 
appointed  Lord  of  Galloway  in  1369,  and  in  1389  succeeded  to  the 
Earldom  of  Douglas.  He  saw  much  of  battles,  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
having  served  at  Halidon  in  1333  and  at  Poictiers,  1356.  In  his  govern- 
ment of  Galloway  he  justly  earned  the  sobriquet  by  which  he  is  now 
known  of  "  Archibald  the  Grim." 


FIG.  132.-  Threave  Castle.    View  from  the  North-East. 


He  married  Joan,  daughter  of  Thomas  Murray,  Lord  of  Bothwell,  and 
died  at  Threave  on  3d  February  1401.  In  1455  the  castle  was  forfeited 
by  James,  Earl  of  Douglas,  to  the  King,  who  appointed  keepers  to  hold  it 
in  his  interests.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  Covenanters  it  seems  to  have  been 
a  place  of  habitation,  and  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Nithsdale  family, 
who  were  opposed  to  the  Reformed  religion.  In  1640  its  demolition  was 
begun,  when  the  War  Council  "  ordaines  the  hows  of  Threave  to  be 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    166    — 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


SEC.OND      II.'."! 


riRST       FLOOR 


FIG.  133.— Dundonald  Castle.     Plans. 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


—    167    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


plighted."  Also  that  "  the  sklait  roofe  of  the  hows  and  battlement 
thairof  be  taken  downe,  with  the  lofting  thairof,  dores  and  windows  of 
the  samen,  and  to  tak  out  the  haile  iron  worke  of  the  samen."  Power 
is  further  given  to  the  Laird  of  Balmaghie  "  to  work  his  will  with  the 
castle,  and  to  put  sex  musqueteires  and  ane  sergand  thairin,  to  be  enter- 
teanit  upon  the  public." l  Now  the  work  of  demolition  is  being  carried 
on  surely  and  swiftly  by  the  elements. 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE,  AYRSHIRE. 

The  royal  castle  of  Dundonald  stands  on  the  summit  of  an  isolated, 
steep  hill,  and  is  a  most  conspicuous  object  for  miles  around.  It  is  situ- 
ated about  8  miles  north  from  Ayr,  and  commands  the  wide  expanse  of 
level  country  lying  in  the  basin  of  the  Irvine  and  Garnock  rivers.  The 
base  of  the  hill  on  which  the  castle  stands  was  surrounded  by  a  moat, 
part  of  which  at  present  exists  on  the  north-west  side,  and  is  full  of 
water.  There  have  been  outworks  at  various  parts  of  the  hill,  indicated 
here  and  there  by  green  mounds.  This  castle  was  a  favourite  habitation 
of  Robert  n.  and  Robert  in.,  the  former  of  whom  died  here  in  1390.  It 
is  therefore  naturally  on  a  much  more  extensive  scale  than  most  of  the 
keeps  of  the  fourteenth  century,  but  it  is  of  the  same  general  plan.  The 
building  is  of  two  periods.  The  original  kefcp  (Fig.  133)  is  an  oblong 
block,  81  feet  8  inches  by  40  feet,  and  as  it  now  stands  is  60  feet  high, 
while  its  height  when  entire  was  not  less  than  10  feet  more.  It  is 
divided  in  height  into  two  pointed  arched  compartments  (Fig.  134),  the 


FIG.  134. — Dundonald  Castle.     Sections. 


lower,  which  was  partly  subdivided  into  three  stories,  and  partly  into  two 
with  wooden  floors,  is  37  feet  high,  and  the  upper  one,  which  is  ruined, 
was  about  25  feet  high  (Fig.  139A).  The  original  entrance  to  the  castle 

]  See  MacKerlie's  History  of  Galloway. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    168    — 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


on  the  ground  floor  was  at  the  east  corner  of  the  south  wall.  This,  after 
the  additions  were  made  to  the  castle,  became  the  door  of  communication 
between  the  old  and  the  new  buildings,  while  a  new  entrance  was 
slapped  out  in  the  remarkable  recess  (Fig.  135)  in  the  centre  of  the 


FIG.  135.— Dundonald  Castle.    View  from  the  East. 

east  front.  The  ground  floor  was  divided  into  three  apartments,  traces 
of  the  division  walls  being  visible.  The  two  end  apartments  have  circular 
recesses,  the  northern  one  having  a  corresponding  circular  projection 
outside  (Figs.  136  and  136A),  built  in  a  most  markedly  battered  or  sloping 
manner,  the  four  top  courses  being  perpendicular,  and  the  whole  covered 
in,  at  the  height  of  about  15  feet,  with  a  straight  course  of  overlapping 
stones,  all  built  with  the  most  carefully  dressed  masonry.  There  was 
undoubtedly  a  similar  projection  corresponding  to  the  recess  in  the  other 
chamber  at  the  south  end  of  this  front,  of  which  only  the  overlapping 
stones  remain,  while  the  masonry  bears  marks  of  having  been  disturbed, 
and  is  now  built  up  flush  with  the  remainder  of  the  wall.  The  interior 
of  the  ground  floor  shows  portions  of  circular  bays  corresponding  with 
the  circular  projections  on  the  outside.  The  west  wall  is  very  irregular 
in  shape  on  the  inside  of  the  ground  floor,  but  on  the  first  floor  the  inner 
face  of  the  wall  is  straightened,  thus  leaving  in  some  places  a  scarcement 
or  set-off  of  unequal  breadth  011  the  top  of  the  wall  of  the  ground  floor, 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


—     169    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


while  in  other  places  the  regular  wall  of  the  upper  floors  projects  over 
that  of  the  lower  floor.  The  whole  of  these  features  are  somewhat 
puzzling,  and  there  is  a  difficulty  in  understanding  the  design  or  reason 
for  them.  At  first  sight  the  external  rounds  naturally  suggest  ovens, 
which  are  often  found  projected  beyond  the  walls.  But  this  does  not 
explain  all  the  circumstances.  On  further  consideration  of  all  the 
features,  we  are  inclined  to  think  that  the  west  wall  is  a  survival  of  part 
of  an  ancient  wall  of  enceinte.  The  rounds  at  each  end  are  probably 
the  bases  of  towers,  which  have  been  utilised  in  the  construction  of  the 


CARVED       SHIELDS        ON 

A 


WEST     WALL 


Fro.  186.— Dundonald  Castle.     View  of  West  Front. 


existing  castle,  much  in  the  same  way  as  that  at  Dirleton,  above  referred 
to  (p.  116).  This  supposition  explains  the  irregularity  of  the  inside'of 
the  wall  of  the  ground  floor  and  the  mode  in  which  the  upper  wall  is 
set  upon  it.  It  also  accounts  for  the  corbelling  which  is  inserted  at  the 
exterior  of  the  north-west  angle  to  bring  it  out  to  the  full  thickness  of 
the  upper  wall  and  the  sloping  cope  on  the  top  of  the  projecting  rounds. 
At  the  north-east  corner,  and  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  a  stair  leads 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    170    — 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


up  to  the  first  floor  of  the  lower  vault.  The  stair  is  lighted  from  a  narrow 
slit  carried  through  a  buttress  in  the  north  wall  (see  plan  of  first  floor 
and  Fig.  136A).  This  buttress  was  probably  only  built  as  a  screen  for 
the  closet  shoots  from  the  upper  floors.  There  is  another  access  to  this 
floor  at  the  south  end  of  the  east  wall,  by  a  pointed  doorway  about  15  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  ground.  This  has  been  at  some  time  a  principal 
entrance  doorway,  but  the  arrangements  at  the  doorway  in  the  south 
wall  immediately  over  the  door  to  the  ground  floor  seem  rather  to  point  to 


FIG.  136A. — Dundonalcl  Castle.    View  from  North-West. 

it  as  the  original  entrance  doorway.  It  is  in  close  connection  with  the 
staircase,  and  is  protected  with  a  small  guard-room.  From  the  first  floor 
a  cork-screw  stair  in  the  south-east  angle  of  the  building  leads  to  the 
upper  vault.  As  already  mentioned,  there  was  a  second  floor  in  the  lower 
vault,  but  it  did  not  extend  to  the  south  end,  probably  only  over  the 
northern  and  central  chambers  of  the  ground  floor,  leaving  the  southern 
chamber  at  the  main  entrance  the  full  height  from  the  first  floor  level 
to  the  vault.  In  this  southern  chamber,  or  entrance  hall,  as  it  may  be 
termed,  are  two  singular  recessed  constructions  in  the  side  walls,  and 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE  171 SECOND   PERIOD 

opposite  each  other  (Fig.  137),  terminating  in  flues  carried  up  doubtless 
to  the  battlements,  where,  if  the  earth  and  rubbish  were  removed,  their 
exits  would  be  found.  These  are  in  all  essential  respects  similar  to  the 
flue  and  recess  referred  to  at  Yester,  and  seem  to  have  been  fireplaces, 
the  overhanging  part  of  the  vault  taking  the  place  of  the  usual  projecting 


FIG.  137. — Dundonald  Castle.    Lower  Vault,  looking  North. 

hood  (see  section,  Fig.  134.)  The  windows  of  this  floor  in  the  side  walls 
are  very  curiously  constructed  at  the  inside  jambs,  as  shown  in  the  view 
looking  south  (Fig.  138). 

The  great  hall  (Fig.  1 39A),  the  roof  of  which  is  nearly  all  gone,  has  been 
a  very  noble  apartment,  60  feet  6  inches  long  by  25  feet  6  inches  wide, 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    172    — 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


and  about  25  feet  high  (Fig.  139).     It  was  vaulted  with  a  pointed  tunnel 
vault,  with  two  bays  of  about  25  feet  each,  having  transverse  and  diagonal 


FIG.  138. — Dundonalcl  Castle.     Lower  Vault,  looking  South. 

moulded  ribs  of  large  section,  measuring  14^  inches  across  by  10| 
inches  in  depth,  with  very  depressed  wall  ribs  between,  formed  of  an  arc 
of  a  circle.  These  ribs  spring  from  corbels  (Fig.  139A),  and  are  merely 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


—    173 


SECOND  PERIOD 


ornamental,  and  not  constructional,  like  those  of  a  truly  groined  vault. 
Here  the  ribs  are  merely  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  barrel  vault  (which 
does  not  require  their  aid),  while  in  a  properly  groined  vault  the  ribs  bear 


FIG.  139. — Dundonald  Castle.    View  in  Great  Hall,  restored. 

the  weight  of  the  filling  in  of  the  vault's  surfaces  between  the  ribs.  The 
method  adopted  at  Dundonald  was  often  followed  in  the  vaulting  of 
Scotch  churches,  as  for  example  at  St.  Giles',  Edinburgh,  Paisley  Abbey, 
etc.,  being  easier  of  construction  than  true  groined  vaulting.  The  re- 


SECOND  PERIOD 


174    — 


DUNDONALD  CASTLE 


maining  portion  of  the  roof,  about  1 1  feet  in  length,  next  the  staircase, 
and  forming  the  "  screens,"  had  no  ribs,  but  it  evidently  was  intended 
that  it  should  have  the  wall  rib,  as  the  springer  is  wrought  for  it  on  both 
sides,  while  no  springer  is  wrought  for  the  diagonals.  A  drain  for  the 
"screens"  exists  in  the  groined  stair  landing,  and  there  is  also  a  small 
mural  closet  for  utensils  (see  plan  of  hall).  The  fireplace  of  the  hall  was 
in  the  west  wall,  but  it  is  quite  ruinous.  The  north-east  window  was  of 
considerable  size,  with  a  groined  ceiling,  and  in  the  thickness  of  the 
north  wall  there  are  several  closets  with  vaulted  roofs. 


FIG.  139A.— Dundonald  Castle.    Interior  of  Hall. 

At  a  later  period  extensive  additions  were  made  to  the  castle  (Fig. 
140).  It  was  lengthened  at  the  south  end  to  the  extent  of  17  feet 
6  inches  by  a  breadth  of  about  34  feet,  and  carried  up  as  high  as  the 
original  castle,  from  which  the  various  rooms  of  this  addition  entered.  On 
the  ground  floor  was  a  bakehouse,  with  ovens  projecting  outside  into  the 
inner  bailey,  but  the  bakehouse  and  ovens  are  so  choked  up  with  rubbish 
and  ruins  that  their  details  are  not  easily  made  out.  A  room  at  the  south- 
west corner  enters  off  from  above  the  arched  roof  of  the  bakehouse,  the 
door  of  which  was  strongly  secured  against  the  inmates  with  a  sliding 
bar.  It  may  have  been  a  dungeon,  being  provided  with  a  drain  to  the 
outside,  a  fireplace,  and  a  communicating  drain  to  the  main  building. 
This  portion  of  the  castle  is  in  such  a  ruinous  state  that  it  cannot  further 
be  described. 

In  line  with  the  south  wall  of  this  addition  the  bailey  wall  extends 
eastwards  for  about  120  feet.  It  is  5  feet  6  inches  thick,  and  in  some 
parts  15  feet  high.  The  breadth  of  the  bailey  is  on  an  average  about  121 
feet.  The  entrance  was  probably  in  the  east  wall,  and  in  confirmation  of 
this  idea  there  are  the  remains  of  outworks  about  16  yards  in  front  of 
this  wall  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  and  on  either  side  of  the  pathway. 


TORTHORWALD  CASTLE 


—    175    — 


SECOND   PERIOD 


The  castle  garth  was  divided  into  an  outer  and  inner  court  by  a  wall 
5  feet  thick,  running  parallel  with  the  east  front  of  the  castle,  and  about 
30  feet  distant  from  it.  In  the  centre  of  this  space  are  the  ruins  of 
another  parallel  wall  16  inches  thick,  probably  for  offices.  There  is  a 


FIG. .140. — Dundonald  Castle.    View  showing  Additions  at  South  End. 

series  of  shields  with  armorial  bearings  (Fig.  136),  carved  at  intervals 
along  the  west  wall.  Two  of  these  contain  the  Royal  arms  and  the 
Stewart  arms,  but  the  others  are  not  now  legible. 


TORTHORWALD  CASTLE,  DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

This  ruinous  memorial  of  the  power  of  the  middle  ages  is  situated  on 
high  ground  overlooking  Lochar  Moss,  about  4  miles  east  from  Dumfries, 
the  ground  rising  considerably  higher  than  the  castle  to  the  eastwards. 
This  castle  has,  on  a  smaller  scale,  a  good  deal  of  the  massive  character  of 
Dundonald.  It  is  an  oblong  keep  on  plan  (Fig.  141),  measuring  56  feet 
6  inches  by  39  feet  2  inches  over  the  walls  by  about  45  feet  high  from 
the  ground  to  the  inside  apex  of  the  upper  pointed  vault.  The  building 
is  divided  into  two  compartments  in  the  height,  with  stone  vaults.  The 
lower  vault  was  semicircular,  about  15  feet  high,  and  contained  two  floors. 
The  upper  vault  is  pointed,  and  built  with  dressed  ashlar.  Nearly  the 
whole  of  the  north  gable  and  about  half  of  the  west  wall  are  gone.  The 


SECOND  PERIOD 


176  — 


TORTHORWALD  CASTLE 


entrance  to  the  lower  vault  was  apparently  through  the  centre  of  the 
north  wall.  How  the  upper  floors  were  reached  cannot  exactly  be  deter- 
mined, but  on  the  outside  of  the  east  wall,  at  the  level  of  the  upper  floor 
of  the  lower  division,  where  marked  on  plan,  there  is  a  round  arched 

doorway,  which  has  been  long  ago  built  up 
and  a  small  window  inserted  in  it.  This  has 
probably  been  the  main  entrance  originally, 
although  it  cannot  be  traced  on  the  wall 
inside. 

From  the  upper  floor  of  the  lower  vault 
a  straight  flight  of  steps  in  the  south  gable 
leads  up  to  the  hall  floor,  and  to  a  spiral  stair 
wrhich  runs  to  the  top.  Another  spiral  stair  in 
the  north-east  corner  leads  to  the  hall  only. 
The  two  floors  in  the  lower  vault  were  each 
divided  into  two  apartments.  Where  the 
division  wall  abuts  against  the  east  wall  there 
is  a  wide  and  straight  joint  in  the  masonry 
inside,  continued  up  through  the  hall  and  the 
vaulting  so  far  as  it  exists,  which  is  shown  on 
the  sketch  (Fig.  142).  From  this  it  would 
almost  seem  as  if  about  10  feet  had  been 
added  to  the  length  of  the  castle.  If  so,  this 
must  have  been  done  at  an  early  date,  and 
probably  before  the  building  was  finished. 
As  favouring  this  view  it  may  be  pointed  out 
that  the  exterior  masonry  of  the  portion  first  built  is  of  rubble-work,  while 
that  of  the  supposed  addition  is  in  regular  courses  throughout  its  whole 
height,  and  similar  ashlar-work  is  continued  along  the  upper  part  of  the 
older  portion,  all  along  the  east  and  south  walls,  although  not  everywhere 
at  a  uniform  level.  From  this  we  infer  that  when  the  addition  was  made 
the  castle  was  in  progress,  and  the  change  of  masonry  from  rubble 
to  ashlar  was  begun  just  at  whatever  level  the  walls  chanced  to  be  at. 
The  upper  vault  had  evidently  been  begun  (it  is  of  ashlar  throughout), 
but  the  end  gable  was  not  built  in  nor  the  haunches  of  the  vault 
quite  finished  when  the  enlargement  and  change  was  made.  The 
castle  has  evidently  been  further  heightened  at  a  later  time.  A  small 
portion  of  the  masonry  of  this  heightened  wall  still  stands  at  the  south- 
east corner,  showing  rubble-work  on  the  outside  above  the  ashlar-work 
iust  referred  to. 

The  earthworks  round  the  castle  (Fig.  143)  are  extensive,  especially 
to  the  north  and  east,  and  partly  to  the  south,  while  on  the  west  they 
have  probably  been  obliterated  by  the  plough.  As  in  other  cases,  to 
which  we  shall  afterwards  have  occasion  to  refer,  these  earthworks  have 


FIG.  141.— Torthorwald  Castle. 
Plans. 


TORTHORWALD  CASTLE 


—    177    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


probably  been  part  of  the  defences  of  a  primitive  fortress,  long  before 
the  site  was  occupied  with  the  present  castle. 

The  castle  was  surrounded  with  a  courtyard  having  a  steep  glacis, 
beyond  which  were  a  ditch  and  mound,  succeeded  by  a  marsh  fed  by  a 
burn  at  the  south  end.  Beyond  the  marsh  there  is  an  outer  rampart. 


FIG.  142.— Torthorwald  Castle  from  the  North-West. 

Torthorwald  was  the  early  home  of  the  Carlyle  family,  who  were 
for  centuries  connected  with  this  district.  We  learn  from  Mr.  Froude 
that  Thomas  Carlyle  was  not  displeased  to  know  that  there  ran  in  his 
veins  the  blood  of  the  Lords  Carlyle  of  Torthorwald.  He  says  himself, 
"  What  illustrious  genealogies  we  have ;  a  whole  regiment  of  Thomas 
Carlyles,  wide  possessions,  all  over  Annandale,  Cumberland,  Durham, 
gone  all  now  into  the  uttermost  wreck, — absorbed  into  Douglasdom, 
Drumlanrigdom,  and  the  devil  knows  what."  One  of  these  ancestors 
presented  a  bell  to  a  church  in  Dumfries,  which  still  hangs  in  one  of 
the  steeples  of  that  town,  and  on  which  the  following  inscription  may 
be  read,  "  GUILIELMUS  DE  CARLEIL,  DOM.  DE  TORTHORWALD,  ME  SICUT  FECIT 

FIBRE    IN    HONOREM    SANCTI     MICHAELIS    ANN.     DOM.     MCCCCXXXIII."       (William 

de  Carlyle,  Lord  of  Torthorwald,  caused  me  to  be  made  in  honour 
of  St.  Michael,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1433.)  In  1333  we  find  Sir 
William  Carlyle  of  Torthorwald  issuing  forth  with  his  neighbours  to 
Lochmaben,  about  four  miles  distant,  to  oppose  an  English  raid,  and  dying 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    178    — 


TORTHORWALD  CASTLE 


on  the  field,  along  with  Sir  Humphrey  de  Bois,  an  ancestor  of  Hector 
Boece   the  historian,  and  in   1346   Thomas  Carlyle  of  Torthorwald  was 


MARSH 
BV    SOUTH     END     or    KEEP 


FIG.  143.— Torthorwald  Castle.     Plan  of  Site. 


killed  at  Nevill's  Cross.     Either  of  these  ill-fated  men  may  have  been  the 
builder  of  the  castle. 


CLACKMANNAN  TOWER,  CLACKMANNANSHIRE. 

This  castle  is  interesting  and  instructive  from  its  showing,  by  the 
various  alterations  it  has  undergone,  the  steps  by  which  improvements 
were  gradually  introduced  into  similar  keeps.  It  is  situated  on  the 
top  of  a  hill,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  which  the  town  of  Clackmannan 
stands. 


CLACKMANNAN  TOWER  179    SECOND  PERIOD 

King  David  n.  granted  a  charter  for  this  domain  in  1359  to  a  relative 


T 


of  the  name  of  Bruce,  and  the  castle  was  still  occupied  by  a  descendant 
of  the  family  till  1791. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    180    — 


CLACKMANNAN  TOWER 


CLACKMANNAN  TOWER 


—    181    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


Here  we  have,  first  (Fig.  144),  the  original  rectangular  keep  of  the 
fourteenth  century,  24  feet  by  18  feet  internally,  with  walls  6  feet  thick 
(tinted  black  on  plan).  The  entrance  seems  to  have  been  on  the  ground 
level,  with  a  straight  stair,  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  leading  to  the 


FIG.  146. — Clackmannan  Tower.    Fireplace. 

hall  on  the  first  floor.  Over  this  is  the  upper  hall,  with  private  rooms  on 
the  floor  above,  and  an  attic  room  in  the  roof  for  the  garrison,  entering 
from  the  battlements.  These  have  bold  corbels,  but  no  machicolations 
(Fig.  145).  In  the  thick  walls  there  are  the  usual  chambers  for  garde- 


SECOND  PERIOD  182    CLACKMANNAN  TOWER 

robes  and  deep  recesses  for  windows,  with  stone  seats.  On  the  third 
floor  a  garderobe  is  projected  on  corbels  from  the  wing.  (See  N.E.  view.) 

In  the  fifteenth  century  this  accommodation  was  found  to  be  too 
limited,  and  the  south  wing  (hatched  on  plan)  was  then  added.  The 
entrance  to  the  keep  seems  then  to  have  been  made  by  a  door  in  the  re- 
entering  angle  on  the  first-floor  level,  with  a  passage  cut  through  the  south 
wall  to  the  hall.  The  new  wing  provided  the  additional  accommodation 
which  was  now  found  requisite,  viz.,  a  kitchen  on  the  first  floor,  a  private 
room  on  the  second  floor,  adjoining  the  upper  or  private  hall,  and  bed- 
rooms on  the  upper  floors. 

The  fireplace  of  the  private  room  (Fig.  146)  is  fine,  and,  by  its  style, 
together  with  other  evidence,  fixes  the  date  of  this  wing  towards  the  end 
of  the  fifteenth  century.  It  should  also  be  noticed  that  there  is  a  wash- 
hand  basin,  with  a  drain  to  the  outside,  in  the  east  wall  of  the  hall,  a 
feature  which  is  to  be  found  at  Sauchie  and  other  castles  of  various 
periods.  It  is  remarkable,  and  quite  unusual,  that  the  wing  added  should 
be  carried,  as  in  this  case,  higher  than  the  original  tower.  The  corbels 
and  machicolations  of  the  parapet,  with  the  rounded  angles  of  the  addi- 
tion, are  well  preserved,  and  have  a  fine  effect ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  notice 
that  these  bold  corbels  and  open  machicolations,  which  are  often  regarded 
as  archaic  features,  here  belong  to  the  more  recent  part  of  the  building. 
A  century  later  still  further  improvements  were  considered  necessary. 
The  entrance  on  the  first  floor  was  found  inconvenient,  and  to  remedy 
this  a  new  entrance  passage,  9  feet  in  width,  was  formed  through  the 
south  wing,  and  led  to  a  wide  straight  staircase,  which  was  constructed 
so  as  to  fill  up  the  space  between  the  wing  and  the  main  building.  This 
staircase  gives  easy  access  to  the  doorway  on  the  level  of  the  first  floor, 
and  also,  at  the  level  of  the  first  landing,  to  an  entresol  room  in  the  south 
wing,  which  was  probably  used  as  a  guard-room.  The  staircase  blocks  up 
one  of  the  windows  in  the  kitchen,  which  was  therefore  converted  into  a 
cupboard.  One  of  the  hall  windows  is  also  enclosed,  but  it  is  allowed  to 
remain  as  a  borrowed  light  in  the  staircase.  The  stair  is  continued  a 
few  steps  higher,  to  a  door  which  opens  upon  a  platform  or  balcony  on 
the  roof  of  the  lower  part  of  the  addition.  (See  view  from  S.W.) 

The  eastern  entrance  doorway  has  a  Renaissance  arch  and  entabla- 
ture, which  shew  that  this  work  belongs  to  the  seventeenth  century. 
The  picturesque  belfry  on  the  watch  turret  is  also  of  this  date.  The 
walls  enclosing  the  fore  court,  with  the  moat  and  drawbridge  in  front, 
and  enclosing  walls  round  the  keep,  portions  of  which  still  exist  (see 
Plan),  were  also  constructed  about  this  time. 


NEIDPATH  CASTLE 


—    183 


SECOND  PERIOD 


NEIDPATH  CASTLE,  PEEBLESSHIHE. 

The  picturesque  castle  of  Neidpath,  near  Peebles,  was  for  centuries 
the  residence  of  the  Hays  of  Yester.  In  1654,  the  Earl  of  Tweeddale,  a 
distinguished  statesman,  enlarged  the  building,  erected  stables  and  con- 


FIG.  147.— Neidpath  Castle.    View  from  the  North- West. 

structed  fine  terraced  gardens,  a  few  remains  of  which  are  still  visible. 
The  castle  stands  on  a  high  projecting  rock  overhanging  a  sudden  bend 
in  the  Tweed,  which  forms  a  deep  pool  at  the  base  of  the  rock  (Figs.  147, 
148).  This  castle  is  built  on  the  L  plan,  i.e.  with  a  small  wing  at 
one  side  (Fig.  149).  The  peculiar  shape  of  the  plan,  with  walls  at 
oblique  angles,  probably  arises  from  the  nature  of  the  site.  It  has 
originally  been  a  keep  of  great  strength,  the  walls  being  over  10  feet 
thick.  The  original  door  (plan  of  basement  floor)  was  on  the  most  pre- 
cipitous side  of  the  site,  above  the  river.  It  entered  on  the  ground  level, 
and  communicated  with  the  upper  floors  by  a  turnpike  stair  in  the  wall. 
The  partitions  shown  on  the  basement  floor  are  not  original.  The  tower 


SECOND  PERIOD 


NEIDPATH  CASTLE 


—    185    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


was  divided  into  two  principal  compartments  in  its   height  (Fig.   152, 


p.  188)  by  a  vault.  There  was  also  a  vault  near  the  level  of  the  parapet, 
and  probably  another  vault  carried  the  roof,  each  of  the  principal  com- 
partments being  subdivided  into  two  stories  with  wooden  floors.  The 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    186    — 


NEIDPATH  CASTLE 


NEIDPATH  CASTLE 


—    187  — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—     188    — 


NEIDPATH  CASTLE 


great  hall  was  on  the  second  floor,  immediately  above  the  central  vault, 
and  was  40  feet  in  length  by  21  feet  6  inches  in  breadth.  The  angles  of 
the  building- are  all  rounded,  and  the  parapet  is  also  rounded  like  the 
angles,  without  projecting  bartizans,  in  the  same  way  as  at  Drum. 

This  tower  was  greatly  altered  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  but  is  still  interesting 
as  showing  how  it  was  rendered  available 
for  the  requirements  of  that  period,  without 
entirely  losing  its  ancient  character.  A  fore 
court  is  built  in  front  of  the  east  side  (Figs. 
149,  150)  with  a  portion  cut  off  to  contain 
the  offices,  and  the  entrance  is  changed  to 
the  centre  of  this  front.  It  is  thus  on  the 
first  floor,  which  is  on  the  same  level  as  the 
fore  court.  A  wide  square  stair  is  intro- 
duced in  one  corner  for  access  to  the  upper 
hall  and  private  apartments.  The  top  story 
is  heightened,  and  the  battlements  are 
partly  carried  up  so  as  to  contain  small 
apartments  and  give  increased  accommoda- 
tion ;  the  parapet  fronting  the  courtyard, 
however,  is  left  open,  partly  for  defence  and 
[FIG.  i52.-Neidpath  Castle.  Section.  partly  &s  &  peasant  balcony  or  gallery. 

Fig.  151  shows  the  details  of  the  additions  and  alterations  executed 
in  the  seventeenth  century,  with  the  crest  of  the  Hays  of  Tweeddale 
(a  goat's  head)  carved  over  the  entrance  gateway. 


KEEPS  EXTENDED  INTO  COURTYARDS. 

Although  some  of  the  keeps  above  described  have  been  greatly 
altered  they  still  retain  the  original  simple  form  of  plan. 

We  shall  now  consider  some  fourteenth-century  keeps  which  form  the 
nucleus  round  which  extensive  castles  have  been  built  in  later  times. 
These  extensions  are  generally  made  in  such  a  manner  as  to  convert  the 
simple  keep  into  a  castle  with  buildings  surrounding  a  courtyard. 

The  additions  were  almost  invariably  so  designed  as  to  include  the 
old  keep  as  an  essential  part  of  the  new  edifice.  Hence  it  follows  that 
it  is  scarcely  possible  to  describe  the  old  part  of  these  castles  without 
reference  to  their  later  condition.  It  has  therefore  been  thought  best 
to  complete  the  description  of  each  at  once,  although  we  thus  have  to 
deal  with  buildings  of  a  much  later  date  than  those  of  the  period  imme- 
diately under  consideration,  of  which  the  original  keeps  are  the  repre- 
sentatives. 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


-   189  — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


CRAIGMILLAR   CASTLE,  MIDLOTHIAN. 
The  castle  of  Craigmillar,  near  Edinburgh,  contains  one  of  the  finest 

j 


examples  of  the    keep  enlarged  with   other  buildings  of  a   later  date. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—     190    — 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


This  keep  probably  belongs  to  the  latter  part  of  the  fourteenth  century. 
The  property  of  Craigmillar  was  purchased  from  Sir  John  de  Capella  by 
Sir  Simon  Preston  in  1374,  and  the  doorway  of  the  keep  is  surmounted 
with  the  arms  of  the  latter. 

This  castle  was  often  occupied  by  Royalty  in  the  time  of  the  Stuarts, 
and  was  a  favourite  residence  of  Queen  Mary.  In  1543  it  was  taken  by 
Hertford  and  much  demolished  and  a  great  deal  of  it  burned.  In  the 
seventeenth  century  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Gilmours,  and  is  still 
the  property  of  their  successor,  J.  Little  Gilmour,  Esq.,  under  whose  care 
the  fabric  is  kept  in  excellent  repair. 

Craigmillar  was  undoubtedly  an  important  castle  of  the  period,  as  we 
may  see  from  the  extent  and  strength  of  the  enclosing  walls  of  the  inner 
courtyard,  which  were  probably  erected  soon  after  the  keep,  and  bear 
the  date  1427.  These  walls  (Fig.  153)  enclose  a  space  130  feet  by  90 
feet,  and  are  strengthened  with  round  towers  at  the  angles,  while  the 
keep  is,  as  usual,  situated  on  the  enceinte,  and  on  the  most  commanding 
position  on  the  site,  having  a  perpendicular  rock  20  feet  to  30  feet  high 
on  the  south  under  the  outer  wall  (Fig.  156).  The  general  disposition  of 
the  plan  thus  reverts,  although  on  a  reduced  scale,  to  the  traditional 
arrangements  of  the  great  thirteenth-century  castles. 


n  ,.-• 


-f — F— F- 


FIG.  154.— Craigmillar  Castle.    Section  through  Keep  from  South  to  North 
on  line  A  B. 


The  plan  of  the  keep  is  one  of  the  usual  forms  above  alluded  to, 
having  a  projection  at  one  side  to  supply  private  rooms,  in  addition  to 
the  hall.  This  form  has  the  advantage  of  enabling  the  door  situated  in 
the  re-entering  angle  to  be  well  defended  by  flanking  fire  from  loop- 
holes. The  general  plan  of  the  keep  corresponds  with  the  usual  descrip- 
tion of  similar  buildings  given  above.  The  walls  are  9  feet  thick,  with 
no  openings  on  the  ground  floor  except  the  door.  The  doorways  shown 
on  the  plan  in  the  east  and  west  walls  are  late  additions.  The  whole 
height  is  divided  into  two  compartments  with  full  centred  vaults, 
further  subdivided  (Figs.  154,  155,  and  156)  with  intermediate  wooden 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE  191    SECOND  PERIOD 

floors,  as  is  apparent  from  the  row  of  corbels  for  the  beams  of  the  ceiling 


Fin.  155.—  Craigmillar  Castle.    Section  from  East  to  West. 

of  the  upper  hall,  and  a  scarcement  in  the  lower  hall,  and  also  from  doors 
and  windows  being  placed  at  levels  to  suit  the  upper  floors  in  the  vaults. 


FIG.  156.— Craigmillar  Castle.    Sections. 


The  roof  (Fig.  157)  is  flat,  and  is  laid  with  dressed  stone  flags  at  such  a 
gradient  that  it  might  all  be  occupied  by  soldiers  and  military  engines 
for  defence.  The  parapet  (see  Sections)  is  carried  up  flush  with  the  face 
of  the  wall,  without  projecting  corbels  or  string-course,  but  is  provided 
with  crenelations  and  plain  gargoyles. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    192    — 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


The  entrance  doorway  is  in  the  re-entering  angle  of  the  south  wing. 
It  has  a  circular  arch,  and  is  surmounted  with  a  panel  containing  the 


FIG.  157. — Craigmillar  Castle.     Plan  of  Roof  of  Keep  and  Basement  of  Wings. 

Preston  arms,  boldly  cut  (Fig.  158).  The  position  of  the  entrance 
doorway  and  lobby  is  carefully  considered.  To  arrive  at  the  door  from 
the  main  gateway  the  visitor  has  to  pass  round  at  least  two  sides  of  the 
keep,  and  then  along  a  narrow  passage,  well  defended  on  all  sides,  and 
from  above,  by  the  keep  and  curtain.  Besides,  there  is  a  chasm  in  the 
rock  close  in  front  of  the  doorway  (Fig.  169),  which  had  to  be  crossed 
by  a  moveable  bridge  before  the  door  itself  was  reached.  These  strong 
defences  of  the  doorway  rendered  it  unnecessary,  in  this  instance,  to 
place  the  door,  as  was  usually  done,  at  some  height  above  the  ground. 
This  doorway  leads  into  a  small  entrance  lobby  about  3  feet  below  the 
level  of  the  door-sill,  which  is  commanded  from  the  floor  of  a  guard-room 
above  (see  Fig.  154).  From  this  lobby  there  is  a  passage  at  right  angles 
through  the  wall  into  the  ground  floor.  This  is  defended  by  a  door  at 
the  inner  face  of  the  wall,  adjoining  which  the  passage  is  heightened,  so 
that  it  may  be  commanded  from  above  by  a  door  opening  into  it  from 
the  upper  floor  in  the  vault  (see  Section,  154). 

As  there  is  an  inner  door  at  the  entrance  to  the  stair  to  the  upper 
floors,  any  one  breaking  into  the  outer  lobby  might  stumble  down 
the  steps,  or  would  at  least  be  caught  in  a  trap  and  pounded  from 
above. 

The  stair  is  also  carefully  constructed  with  a  view  to  defence.  A 
newel  stair  runs  from  the  inner  door  above  referred  to,  to  the  level 
of  the  guard-room  over  the  entrance  (shown  by  dotted  line,  Fig.  159), 
where  the  stafr  is  broken  and  a  post  formed  for  defence.  A  new 
stair,  placed  a  few  feet  on  one  side,  with  a  door  at  the  entrance,  runs 
from  this  point  to  the  level  of  the  principal  hall,  where  another  land- 
ing is  provided,  from  which  a  separate  stair  leads  to  the  upper  floors 
and  roof. 

The  great  hall  is  35  feet  long  by  20  feet  9  inches  wide,  and  25  feet 


CKAIGMILLAH  CASTLE 


—     193    — 


SECOND   PERIOD 


CRAIG  Ml    LAR         DOORWAY       TO       KEEP 


Fio.  158.--Craigmillar  Castle.     Entrance  to  Keep. 

N 


SECOND  PERIOD  .  -    194    -  CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 

to  the  top  of  the  vault.     But  the  hall  was  only  12  feet  high  to  the 


PIG.  159.— Craigmillar  Castle.    Plans  of  First  and  Second  Floor. 

wooden  floor  above  at  the  level  of  the  corbels  (see  Sections).     This  upper 
floor  has  a  good  entrance  and  window  provided  for  it,  besides  a  small 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


195    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


window  in  the  west  wall,  such  as  is  often  introduced  in  these  upper  lofts, 
apparently  more  for  air  than  light  (see  plan  of  second  floor). 

The  hall  has  a  fine  fireplace  (Fig.  160),  with  simple  details;  the 
windows  at  the  upper  end  are  large,  and  furnished  with  stone  seats  and 
lockers  in  the  wall. 


FIG.  160.—  Craigmillar  Castle.     Fireplace  in  Hall. 

In  the  south  projection  or  wing,  as  already  mentioned,  there  is  a 
guard-room  half-way  up  to  the  hall  ;  there  is  a  small  room  over  this  on 
the  level  of  the  hall,  and  a  very  agreeable  room  above  it  on  about  the 


REBUS 
WEST     WALL.  N24W.  END 


FROM 


NORTH 


CURTAIN 


FIGS.  161  and  162.— Craigmillar  Castle.    Details  from  Curtains. 

same  level  as  the  upper  floor  of  the  hall  (see  Fig.  1 54).     A  similar  room 
is  also  obtained  on  the  level  of  the  roof  by  carrying  up  the  walls  of  the 


SECOND   PERIOD 


—  196  — 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


south  wing  above  the  roof.  This  is  rather  an  unusual  arrangement,  and 
has  evidently  been  an  addition,  as  some  corbels  still  remaining  indicate 
that  the  parapet  has  been  originally  carried  round  this  part  of  the  build- 
ing (Fig.  163).  It  will  be  observed  that  the  addition  is  placed  on  that 
side  of  the  keep  where  defence  from  the  parapet  is  almost  unnecessary, 
from  the  protection  afforded  by  the  cliff  below  this  point. 


FIG.  163.— Craigmillar  Castle.    View  of  South  Front  (Balustrade  restored). 

The  walls  and  towers  of  the  enceinte  are  peculiarly  interesting.  The 
curtains  are  about  30  feet  high,  and  are  crowned  with  bold  corbels  and 
open  machicolations,  having  a  parapet  provided  with  embrasures  and 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


197  — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


loopholes.  Those  of  the  front  or  north  wall  (Fig.  166)  have  the  initial 
letters  of  Preston  and  Gorton,  another  estate  of  the  family,  carved  on  the 
merlons  (or  spaces  between  the  embrasures),  and  loops  are  pierced  through 
the  letters  (Figs.  l6l,  162).  Some  of  the  other  arms  and  figures  on 
various  parts  of  the  walls  are  also  shown  in  Figs.  l6l,  162,  including  a 
rebus  on  the  name  of  Preston,,  and  a  shield  with  the  Preston  arms  and 
the  initials  of  Simon  Preston.  Along  the  south  front  (Fig.  163),  where 
there  appear  to  have  been  early  buildings  against  the  inside  of  the  walls, 
provision  for  defence  has  been  made,  at  the  east 
end  by  a  stone  parapet  projecting  on  corbels, 
and  a  square  turret  (Fig.  165)  very  boldly 
corbelled  out,  while  the  high  wall  at  the  west 
end  has  been  defended  by  wooden  hoardings, 
the  rows  of  corbels  for  carrying  the  floor  and 
roof  of  which  still  remain,  as  distinctly  seen  in 
the  sketch  (Fig.  163).  The  outline  of  the  door 
leading  out  to  the  hoarding  is  also  visible,  but 
has  been  built  up  when  the  later  additions  were 
made.  This  is  rather  an  exceptional  arrange- 
ment in  Scotland,  though  common  in  France 
and  England.  The  corner  towers,  of  which  there 
is  one  at  each  of  the  four  angles,  are  carried 
higher  than  the  curtains,  and  are  provided  with 
similar  machicolated  parapets.  They  also  appear 
to  have  had  an  upper  battlement  above  the 
existing  parapet,  a  usual  mode  of  defence  in 
French  and  English  castles  (as  at  Pierrefonds 
and  Caesar's  Tower,  Warwick),  but  rare  in  Scot-  FIG.  164. 

land.  The  stair  leading  up  to  this  upper  work  still  exists  in  the  south-east 
tower.  This  tower  is  peculiar  in  plan,  being  circular  to  the  east,  but 
square  to  the  west,  thus  forming  a  recess  to  mask  the  postern,  which  is 
situated  in  the  angle  (Fig.  1()4),  and  which  gave  access  to  the  castle  by 
a  small  winding  staircase.  The  south-west  angle  tower,  seen  in  the  view 
of  the  south  front,  has  been  rebuilt  at  a  late  date.  The  gateway  to  the 
inner  courtyard  (Fig.  166)  is  rather  a  weak  feature  in  this  castle,  as  it 
now  stands ;  but  there  are  indications  of  there  having  originally  been  a 
guard-room  and  inner  gateway,  with  probably  a  portcullis.  That  there 
have  been  buildings  of  some  kind  along  the  inside  of  this  wall  is  apparent 
from  the  window  and  other  recesses  still  remaining.  One  of  these 
recesses  on  the  upper  floor  contains  a  loophole  and  stone  seat,  as  if  for  a 
sentry  to  watch  the  gate. 

Towards  the  east  end  of  this  wall  there  is  a  stone  trough,  with  drain 
and  spout  to  the  inside,  similar  to  that  at  Bothwell.  This  has  been  for 
the  supply  of  water  from  the  outside,  and  no  doubt  there  was  a  barrel  or 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—  198 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


tank  of  some  kind  inside  the  wall  to  receive  it.  Such  an  arrangement  is 
very  common  in  later  castles  and  houses,  where  the  supply-trough  and 
spout  are  generally  situated  in  or  near  the  kitchen. 

It  is  an  interesting  and  somewhat  rare  circumstance  to  find  here  the 
outer  court  and  some  of  the  outer  walls  and  defences  still  existing,  as 
also  some  of  the  farm-buildings  and  the  chapel,  which  were  situated  in 
the  outer  bailey. , 

The  approach  to  the  castle  is  carried  for  a 
considerable  distance  close  under  the  wall  of  the 
outer  courtyard,  which  commanded  it  from  the 
parapet,  and  past  the  north-east  corner  tower, 
which  was  partly  used  for  defence  and  partly  as 
a  dovecot  (see  Figs.  153,  166). 

The  entrance  gate  to  the  outer  bailey,  with 
a  post  for  the  guard,  faced  this  approach.  The 
stables  and  farm-buildings  were  no  doubt  to 
the  west  of  this.  The  barn,  which  still  exists,  is 
of  great  size,  and  is  said  to  have  been  used  as 
the  parish  church  during  the  contests  between 
the  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians  in  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

The  chapel  (Fig.  167)  is  a  very  simple  build- 
ing, the  few  remains  of  carving  about  it  indicating 
fifteenth-century  work.  It  is  so  placed  as  to  be 
accessible  both  from  the  castle  and  the  outer 
bailey. 

When  the  keep  began  to  be  found  too  con- 
fined, and  larger  accommodation  was  required,  it  is  probable  that  some 
buildings  were  added  against  the  west  wall  of  enceinte.  There  are 
evidences  of  the  buildings  here  having  been  pretty  old,  and  it  is  clear 
from  the  work  traceable  on  the  outer  walls  that  the  last  alterations  at 
this  place  (which  belong  to  the  seventeenth  century)  have  superseded 
previous  buildings,  the  walls  of  which  were  then  heightened  and  altered. 
The  greatest  additions,  however,  which  have  been  made  to  Craig- 
millar  no  doubt  belong  to  the  sixteenth  century,  when  the  castle  was 
restored  after  the  ravages  caused  by  Hertford.  These  consist  of  the 
whole  range  extending  along  the  east  wall  and  round  the  south  wall  till 
it  joins  the  keep.  It  was  at  this  period  that  the  arrangements  of  the 
plan  were  so  completely  altered  as  to  take  this  castle  out  of  the  category 
of  the  keeps,  and  bring  it  into  that  of  the  castles  with  quadrangles. 

Although  these  additions  are,  as  above  indicated,  of  a  much  later 
period  than  the  original  castle,  still  they  are,  as  we  shall  presently  see, 
of  a  similar  character  to  those  of  castles  built  in  the  early  part  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  i.e.  on  the  plan  of  a  courtyard ;  and  it  will  be  more 


FIG.  165.— Postern  in  South-, 
East  Tower. 


CKA1GMILLAH  CASTLE 


-  1.99 


SECOND  PERIOD 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    200    — 


CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 


convenient  to   describe  them  now  than   later.     The  same  remark  will 
apply  to  the  description  of  the  additions  made  to  several  other  castles  of 


PIG.  167.— Craigmillar  Castle.    Chapel  from  the  South-West. 

this  period.  The  keep  still  remains  as  a  central  stronghold ;  but  the 
access  to  it  is  improved  by  the  introduction  of  a  wide  and  easy  spiral 
staircase,  with  an  early  Renaissance  doorway  of  sixteenth-century  work 

(Fig.  168).  On  the  basement  of  the 
additions  there  are,  as  usual,  cellars 
— one  containing  a  draw-well,  another 
a  bakehouse  with  oven,  and  other 
offices.  A  separate  stair  branches 
off,  at  the  entrance  door,  to  the 
kitchen  and  its  offices  on  the  first 
floor.  Each  floor  in  this  department 
is  vaulted  (see  Fig.  155).  A  cor- 
ridor on  the  first  floor  has  a  service 
window  from  the  kitchen,  with  easy 
communication  with  the  great  hall. 
This  corridor  also  gives  access  to 
rooms  on  the  south  side.  On  the 
second  floor  there  is  a  similar  cor- 
ridor communicating  with  a  series  of 
bedrooms  on  that  floor.  This  wing 
was  probably  set  apart  for  guests 
and  strangers.  We  usually  find  an 
FIG.  168.— Craigmillar  Castle.  arrangement  of  this  kind  in  these 

Entrance  Doorway  to  Western  Wing.  larffe    castles 

The  west  wing,  as  it  now  stands,  is  seventeenth-century  work,  but 
the  present  buildings  supersede  older  ones,  which  have  been  altered,  but 


CRAIGMII.LAR  CASTLE 


SECOND  PERIOD 


•*?^r 

• 

ii/llfp 

L'B      •<' 


SECOND  PERIOD  -    202    -  CRAIGMILLAR  CASTLE 

of  which  some  features  are  still  traceable.  Thus  (section  G  H,  Fig.  156) 
we  find  a  fifteenth-century  window,  with  mullions  and  transom  now  built 
up,  and  other  details.  This  wing  contained  the  private  or  family  apart- 
ments, with  separate  staircase  and  a  separate  access  to  the  great  hall. 
Here  the  dining-hall  is  on  the  ground  floor,  with  a  kitchen  at  the  north 
end  and  a  private  room  at  the  south  end,  with  wine-cellar  beneath,  and 
private  stair  leading  down  to  it.  This  reminds  us  of  the  arrangement  of 
the  English  halls.  The  plan  of  having  a  private  access  to  the  wine- 
cellar  is  quite  usual  in  Scotch  castles.  The  upper  floor  contained  private 
or  family  bedrooms. 

These  seventeenth-century  buildings  show  that  manners  and  customs 
had  then  greatly  altered.  It  was  no  longer  the  habit  of  the  proprietor 
and  his  family  to  dine  in  the  hall  with  his  retainers.  He  preferred  to 
have  a  distinct  suite  of  public  as  well  as  private  apartments  for  his  own 
use.  The  same  thing  occurred  in  England,  and  was  regarded  as  a 
luxurious  and  effeminate  custom,  which  was  to  be  discouraged,  and  orders 
were  published  prohibiting  dining  apart  from  the  people  in  the  hall ; 
but  like  ordinances  against  the  wearing  of  certain  clothes  and  other 
fashions,  with  small  effect.  As  at  Borthwick,  some  remains  are  still 
visible  of  the  painted  decorations  of  the  hall,  as  shown  on  the  corbels, 
etc.  (Fig.  160). 

Fig.  169  gives  a  general  view  of  the  castle  as  seen  from  the  south, 
with  slight  restorations,  chiefly  the  replacing  of  the  roof.  The  staircase 
at  the  west  end  leading  down  to  the  base  of  the  rock  is  now  a  heap  of 
ruins,  but  the  pedestals  shown  at  top  and  bottom  still  exist  as  gate-posts 
at  the  adjoining  farm-house.  These  show  that  there  was  a  balustrade 
similar  to  that  indicated  on  the  sketch. 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL,  CLACKMANNANSHIRE. 

Castle  Campbell  is  another  castle  which  had  its  origin  as  a  simple 
keep,  and  was  afterwards  extended  into  a  large  castle,  with  buildings 
round  a  courtyard  or  quadrangle.  The  situation  of  this  castle  is  magnifi- 
cent (Fig.  170).  It  stands  on  a  lofty  isolated  point  near  Dollar,  com- 
manding an  opening  in  the  Ochil  Hills,  with  an  extensive  view  over  the 
valley  of  the  Forth.  The  castle  is  approached  through  dark-wooded 
ravines,  surrounded  with  perpendicular  rocks,  which  give  it  a  grand  and 
impressive  effect,  besides  rendering  the  position  almost  unassailable  with 
the  engines  in  use  at  the  time.  This  castle  was  originally  called  the 
Castle  of  Gloume  ;  but  the  name  being  disliked  by  the  first  Earl  of  Argyll, 
the  then  proprietor,  he  obtained  an  Act  of  Parliament  in  1 48.9  for  having 
it  changed  to  its  present  designation.  The  castle  was  destroyed  by 
Montrose  in  1645. 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL  -    203    —  SECOND  PERIOD 

The  keep,  and  some  portions  of  the  walls  of  the  enceinte,  are  very 


similar  to  those  of  Craigmillar.  In  this  case  the  original  keep  (Fig.  171) 
is  a  simple  parallelogram  in  plan.  The  walls  are  7  feet  6  inches  thick, 
and  the  hall  is  28  feet  long  by  16  feet  wide.  The  entrance  door  is  on 


SECOND  PERIOD 


204    — 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL 


the  ground  level,,  and  a  straight  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  leads 
to  the  first  floor,  from  which  another  stair  in  the  opposite  corner  of  the 
hall  (Fig.  172)  leads  to  the  upper  floors  and  the  roof.  The  keep  is  four 
stories  in  height,  and  three  of  these  are  vaulted  (Fig.  173)  with  barrel 
vaults,  viz.,  the  ground  floor,  the  first  floor,  and  the  top  story — the  two 
upper  stories  being  divided  with  a  wooden  floor  resting  on  coi'bels, 
which  still  remain. 


There  do  not  appear  to  have  been  any  lofts  or  upper  floors  in  the 
vaults  of  the  two  lower  floors,  which  are  not  high  enough  to  admit  of 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL 


—    205    — 


SECOND   PERIOD 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    206    — 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL 


them ;  and  the  position  of  the  windows,  which  are  carried  well  up  into 
the  vaults,  shows  that  this  was  not  intended. 


FIG.  173.— Castle  Campbell.    Section  looking  East. 

The  ground  floor  has  an  inner  door  for  protection,  and  very  small 
loops  for  light.  There  is  also  here  a  specimen  of  the  kind  of  accom- 
modation provided  for  prisoners  in  those  days.  A  pit,  ()  feet  ()  inches  by 
3  feet,  is  formed  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  at  the  south-east  angle,  and 
is  entered  from  a  trap  in  the  ceiling  opening  from  the  floor  of  the  wall 
chamber  adjoining  the  fireplace  of  the  hall  above.  The  windows  become 
larger  and  the  rooms  more  cheerful  as  they  ascend.  There  are  the 
usual  small  chambers  and  recesses  in  the  walls  for  garde-robes,  etc.  The 
first  floor  is  the  common  hall,  and  the  second  and  third  floors  are  the 
private  rooms  of  the  lord  and  his  family.  Originally  the  vaulting  of  the 
top  story  has  been  intended  to  carry  the  stone  roof,  with  which  the 
keep  was  no  doubt  covered.  This  vault  is  ornamented  with  ribs  and 
masks,  similar  to  those  of  some  of  the  apartments  of  the  extended  build- 
ings, which  are  of  later  date  than  the  keep,  and  is  clearly  a  restoration 
of  that  time.  The  ribs  of  the  keep  and  the  additions  are  shown  by 
dotted  lines  on  the  plans  of  the  third  floor  and  ground  floor.  The 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL 


—    207    — 


SECOND   PERIOD 


exterior  of  the  keep  (Fig.  174)  is,  as  usual,  perfectly  plain.  The  parapet 
rests  on  a  corbel  course,  without  machicolations,  and  has  rounded  bartizans 
at  the  angles  with  carved  gargoyles. 


The  walls  of  the  enceinte  (Fig.  175),  so  far  as  original,  are  provided 
with  corbels  and  machicolations  similar  to  those  of  Craigmillar,  but  here 
also  the  curtains  have  been  used  for  the  extension  of  buildings  round  the 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    208    — 


CASTLE  CAMPBELL 


courtyard.  Along  the  south  side  (see  Fig.  171)  there  is  a  fine  suite  of 
apartments  over  vaulted  cellars  (Fig.  176)  on  the  basement  floor,  com- 
prising a  great  hall  42  feet  by  20  feet,  with  a  porch  and  staircase  at  the 


west  end,  entering  from  the  com'tyard,  and  a  large  window  and  fireplace 
on  opposite  sides  at  the  upper  end.  The  hall  communicates  at  the  east 
end  with  the  private  parlour  or  lord's  room  beyond,  to  the  east  of  which 


<  RICHTON  CASTLE 


—  209  — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


is  a  large  bedroom.  Some  time  ago  the  floor  of  this  range  of  buildings 
was  excavated  and  examined  by  Mr.  Miller,  C.E.,  Edinburgh,  when  he 
found  a  quantity  of  fragments  of  the  stained  glass  with  which  the 
windows  were  glazed.  The  kitchen  and  offices  were  probably  at  the  west 
end  of  the  hall.  The  entrance  portico  of  the  extended  buildings  is 
unusually  fine  (Fig.  173),  and  is  so  placed  as  to  communicate  by  means  of 
corridors  and  stairs  with  the  old  keep  and  other  apartments  on  the  one 
hand,  and  with  the  hall  and  public  rooms  on  the  other  hand.  The 
former  were  probably  the  family  apartments,  and  are  approached  by  a 
wide  circular  newel  stair.  The  guests'  apartments  were  probably  over  the 
hall  and  south  wing,  and  had  two  separate  entrances  and  staircases,  one 
in  connection  with  the  entrance  portico  and  the  other  at  the  west  end. 


FIG.  176.— Castle  Campbell.    Plan  of  Basement  of  South  Side. 

It  should  be  observed  that  the  staircases  and  apartments  of  this  wing 
are  joined  by  a  corridor  or  passage.  This  is  a  very  unusual  arrangement, 
the  houses  of  this  period  being  almost  invariably  "single  tenements" 
with  windows  on  both  sides. 

The  gateway  and  gatehouse  of  Castle  Campbell  (Fig.  174)  are  interest- 
ing and  well-preserved  features. 

The  horizontal  loopholes  for  fire-arms  show  that  they  are  of  late  date. 


CRICHTON  CASTLE,  MIDLOTHIAN. 

Crichton  Castle  in  Midlothian  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  a  castle  which 
had  its  origin  in  a  simple  fourteenth-century  keep,  and  became  extended 
in  after-times  into  a  castle  surrounding  a  courtyard. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  building  of  the  keep,  but  about  the  middle 
of  the  fifteenth  century  this  castle  belonged  to  Sir  William  Crichtoun,  who 
was  Chancellor  under  James  i.,  and  afterwards  guardian  of  James  n.  In 
1445  Crichton  was  stormed  and  dismantled  by  Forrester  of  Corstorphine, 
one  of  the  Livingston  faction.  In  1488  the  castle  and  lands  were 
granted  to  Patrick  Hepburn,  first  Earl  of  Bothwell.  James  vi.  bestowed 
them  in  1576  on  his  favourite,  Francis  Stewart,  fifth  Earl  of  Bothwell. 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    210    — 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


They  have  since  passed  through  many  hands,  and  are  now  the  property 
of  W.  Burn  Callendar,  Esq. 

The  castle  is  situated  on  a  platform  near  the  top  of  a  steep  upland 
hill,  which  rises  from  the  valley  of  the  Tyne,  in  Midlothian,  near  its  source, 
and  not  far  from  Borthwick  Castle. 

s/  T- "* 


FIG.  177.— Crichton  Castle.     Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

Simple  as  the  fourteenth-century  keeps  are,  they  have  almost  all 
some  peculiarity  of  plan,  as  will  be  seen  is  the  case  here.  At  Crichton 
the  keep  (shaded  black  in  Fig.  1 77)  is  of  the  usual  oblong  form,  being 
46  feet  6  inches  long  by  33  feet  8  inches  broad.  The  walls  are  7  feet 
4  inches  thick.  It  is  partly  ruined,  but  still  retains  portions  of  two  plain 
barrel  vaults  (Fig.  178),  one  of  which,  at  the  level  of  the  hall  floor,  is 
semicircular,  and  encloses  the  usual  two  basement  stories,  and  the  other, 
which  is  slightly  pointed,  forms  the  roof  of  the  hall. 

The  original  entrance  to  the  ground  floor  was  from  the  north,  whence 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


—    211    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


a  straight  stair  led,  in  the  thickness  of  the  north  wall,  to  the  upper  floor 
in  the  vault  of  the  basement.     This  staircase  also  conducted  to  the  door 


of  the  dungeon  in  the  north-east  corner  of  the  keep,  which  is  about  8  feet 
long  by  6  feet  wide.     The  door,  which  is  only  about  30  inches  high,  is 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    212    — 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


about  9  feet  above  the  floor.      There  is   the  usual  narrow  slit  for  air 
through  the  outer  wall. 

The  only  entrance  to  the  hall  (Fig.  179)  was  by  an  outer  door  at  the 
level  of  the  floor,  above  the  door  to  the  basement,  there  being  no  internal 
communication  from  the  basement  to  the  upper  floors.  The  hall  is  33  feet 
6  inches  long,  by  19  feet  8  inches  wide,  and  23  feet  9  inches  high  to  the 
top  of  its  pointed  vault.  This  height  has  not  been  divided  by  any  inter- 
mediate floor,  but  has  been  all  included  in  the  hall.  This  is  apparent 
from  the  position  of  the  large  windows,  which  go  well  up  into  the 
vault,  and  from  the  sloping  sill  of  the  upper  window  in  the  north  gable 
(Fig.  178). 


Pio.  179.— Crichton  Castle.    Plan  of  First  Floor. 

The  arrangement  of  the  kitchen  of  the  keep  (Fig.  179)  is  very 
peculiar,  being  an  entresol  formed  in  the  haunch  of  the  vault  of  the 
basement  floor  immediately  above  the  dungeon.  It  is  entered  only  by 
a  stair  going  down  from  the  north  end  of  the  hall,  where,  by  borrowing 
part  of  the  thickness  of  the  outer  wall,  a  space  of  about  12  feet  by  7, 
with  a  fireplace,  is  obtained. 

Adjoining  the  entrance  door  a  newel  stair  leads  to  the  upper  floor 
and  the  roof.  There  appear  to  have  been  the  usual  private  rooms  above 
the  hall.  These  were  probably  vaulted,  with  a  stone  roof  resting  on  the 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


—    213    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    214    — 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


vault,  and  battlements   all  round  ;    but  the  whole    top  story   has  now 
disappeared. 

The  first  extensions  of  the  buildings  were  on  the  south  and  west  sides 
of  the  courtyard,  where  probably  the  enclosing  wall  formerly  stood.  The 
southern  side  contained  the  new  halls,  and  the  western  side  the  kitchens, 
etc.  These  buildings  date  from  the  fifteenth  century,  and  were  pro- 
bably erected  by  the  Chancellor.  They  correspond  with  the  arrange- 
ments of  other  great  castles  of  that  period,  such  as  Doune  and  Tantallon. 
Thus  the  entrance  was  by  an  archway  under  the  hall,  as  at  Doune, 
and  the  halls  on  the  upper  floors  are  of  great  dimensions.  The  external 
character  of  the  work,  with  its  bold  corbels  and  machicolations,  also 
corresponds  with  that  of  the  above  castles  (Fig.  180).  There  were  two 
entrances  under  the  new  buildings,  one  from  the  east  and  the  other 
from  the  south  (Figs.  177,  180),  but  the  latter  was  subsequently  built 
up,  probably  because  the  levels  of  the  ground  were  found  to  suit  best 


FIG.  181.—  Crichton  Castle.    Plan  of  Second  Floor. 

for  the  eastern  entrance.  The  basement  is  as  usual  occupied  with 
vaulted  cellars.  Above  this,  on  the  south  side,  there  are  two  halls,  one 
over  the  other.  That  on  the  first  floor  was  approached  by  a  wide  outside 
stair,  and  has  an  inner  lobby  and  service  room  with  a  hatch  to  the  cellar 
at  the  west  end.  A  rather  remarkable  circular  balcony  projects  from 
the  window  of  the  service  room  (see  Billings),  the  use  of  which  it  is 
difficult  to  define.  The  lobby  and  service  room  are  separated  from  the 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


—    215    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


hall    by  a   stone    partition,  which    occupies   the    usual    position   of  the 
"  screens." 

The  hall  is  44  feet  long  by  26  feet  8  inches  broad.  The  fireplace  is 
enriched  with  carving  similar  to  that  at  Borthwick,  and  the  outer  and  inner 
doors  are  also  carved  and  shaped  in  the  style  of  the  fifteenth  century. 


FIG.  182. — Crichton  Castle.    View  in  Courtyard. 

Above  this  hall,  at  a  height  of  14  feet,  is  another  hall  (Fig.  181)  of 
the  same  dimensions,  which  would  usually  be  regarded  as  the  withdrawing- 
room,  but  would  appear  (as  we  shall  afterwards  see)  to  have  been  also  used 
as  a  private  dining-room.  It  has  a  stone  cornice  carved  with  flowers  and 
ball  ornaments,  and  a  handsome  fireplace  with  a  straight  arched  lintel, 
the  arch  stones  being  joggled  011  the  joints.  It  seems  also  to  have  had  an 
open  timber  roof,  similar  to  that  of  the  banqueting-hall  at  Doune.  This 
upper  hall  being  on  nearly  the  same  level  as  the  hall  in  the  keep,  with 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    216    — 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


which  it  was  no  doubt  connected  by  the  small  ante-room  shown  on  the 
plan  (Fig.  181),  these  rooms  would  probably  be  used  as  a  suite  of 
apartments. 

The  next  range  of  buildings  contains  the  kitchens  and  offices.  These 
have  however  been  somewhat  altered  when  the  later  additions  were 
made  on  the  north  side  of  the  quadrangle. 


Fiu.  183. — Crichton  Castle.    Section  through  Courtyard,  looking  West, 

The  ground  floor  contains,  besides  the  usual  cellars,  a  passage  to  a 
postern,  close  to  which  a  stair  leads  to  the  kitchen  on  the  first  floor 
(Fig.  179).  The  kitchen  fireplace  is  very  large,  taking  in  the  full 
breadth  of  the  room,  or  21  feet,  and  being  fully  10  feet  deep.  This 
wide  opening  is  arched  in  two  spans,  with  a  pillar  in  the  centre.  There 
is  a  shoot  at  one  side,  by  which  ashes,  etc.,  might  be  discharged. 
Adjoining  the  kitchen  on  the  north  are  two  good  pantries,  and  on  the 
south  side  there  is  a  large  back-kitchen  or  scullery,  with  sink  and  drain. 
The  square  block  at  the  south  end  of  this  range  has  a  very  massive 
appearance,  and  has  hitherto  been  erroneously  described  as  the  original 
keep  of  the  castle.  It  formed  a  defensive  tower  at  the  south-west  angle 
of  the  castle,  but  is  clearly  of  the  same  date  as  the  adjoining  buildings. 
This  tower  was  divided  with  several  wooden  floors  in  its  height,  and 
was  probably  used  as  bedrooms.  It  is  the  only  part  of  the  castle  where 
there  are  no  vaulted  floors. 

On  the  second  floor  above  this  kitchen  there  occurs  another  kitchen 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


—    217 


SECOND  PERIOD 


IIP  I 

: 


SECOND  PERIOD 


—    218 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


(Fig.  181),  which  seems  to  have  been  used  in  connection  with  the  upper 
hall  or  withdrawing-room. 

The  corbels  and  holes  in  the  wall  may  still  be  seen  (Figs.  182, 
183)  which  carried  an  overhanging  wooden  passage  projected  on  the 
east  side  of  this  floor,  and  containing  a  service  window  from  the  upper 

kitchen.  The  object  of  this  arrange- 
ment seems  to  have  been  to  give 
access  from  this  kitchen  to  the 
upper  hall  without  passing  through 
the  corner  block  and  interfering 
with  its  use  as  bedrooms.  The  upper 
hall  would  thus  appear  to  have 
served  as  a  private  dining-room,  as 
well  as  a  withdrawing-room. 

Fig.  180  shows  the  massive  and 
imposing  character  of  the  buildings 
added  in  the  fifteenth  century,  the 
corbelling  and  machicolations  being 
of  unusual  magnitude. 

In  the  seventeenth  century  the 
use  of  private  dining  and  reception 
rooms,  quite  distinct  from  the  hall  and  public  reception  rooms,  came  into 
fashion.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  motive  for  the  erection  of  the 
suite  of  apartments  on  the  north  side  of  the  quadrangle. 


FIG.  185. — Caps  of  Corridor  and  Central 
Monogram  above. 


FIG.  186.— Crichton  Castle.    Plan  showing  Position  of  Outbuilding. 


About  this  date  too  the  old  turnpike  form  of  staircases  gave  way  to 
more  spacious  and  commodious  square  stairs. 

The  new  buildings  contain  all  the  newest  requirements.     They  are 


CRICHTON  CASTLE 


—    219    — 


SECOND  PERIOD 


entered  by  a  very  handsome  square  staircase  (Fig.  183)  with  steps  5  feet  6 
inches  wide.  The  solid  newel  is  ornamented  with  attached  pillars  at  each 
landing,  having  ornamented  caps  and  bases,  and  carved  and  flowered  string- 
courses at  the  landings.  The  roof  of  the  staircase  is  of  stone,  and  is 
wrought  with  raised  ribs  in  imitation  of  the  plaster  ceilings  of  the  Eliza- 
bethan period  (see  sketch,  Fig.  183).  This  is  certainly  one  of  the  hand- 
somest staircases  of  its  period  in  Scotland. 

Entering  from  this  staircase,  on  the  first  floor  is  a  spacious  private 
dining-room,  and  beyond  it  a  private  sitting-room  or  withdrawing-room. 
This  dining-room  is  so  placed  as  to  be  in  communication  with  the  kitchen. 
On  the  upper  floor  the  same  accommodation  is  repeated,  the  rooms  over 
the  dining-room  and  drawing-room  having  probably  been  bedrooms. 
There  was  also  an  attic  floor 
above  this,  which  would  con- 
tain several  bedrooms. 

The  buildings  on  this  side 
of  the  quadrangle  evidently 
belong  to  about  the  year  1600, 
with  the  exception  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  exterior 
wall,  which  is  very  thick,  and 
has  a  very  old  appearance. 
This  was  no  doubt  the  ancient 
wall  of  enceinte,  which  has 
been  incorporated  in  the  new 
buildings.  There  is  the  same 
mixture  of  the  Renaissance 
and  Scotch  styles  in  these 
buildings  as  may  be  seen  in 
most  of  the  other  buildings  of 
the  same  period.  We  have 
in  these  examples  the  turrets 
and  corbellings  (Fig.  184)  so 
common  in  Scotch  work, 
mingled  with  features  which 
strongly  recall  many  Renais- 
sance buildings  on  the  Conti- 
nent, especially  in  Germany 
and  the  Low  Countries.  The 

square     facets     Covering     the          FIG.  187.— Crichton  Castle.     Doorway  and  Window 

walls  above  an  arcaded  cor-  in  North  Gable  of  stables. 

ridor,  with  multangular  columns  and  peculiar  caps,  which  are  the  well- 
known  characteristics  of  Crichton  Castle  (Figs.  182,  185),  may  be  seen  at 
the  Rath-haus  of  Liibeck. 


SECOND  PERIOD  220    —  CRICHTON  CASTLE 

The  carved  work  in  the  staircase  is  also  of  the  mixed  kind  belonging 
to  the  time  of  James  vi. 

Besides  the  great  staircase  above  alluded  to,  another  wide  circular 
staircase  was  added  about  this  time  in  the  south-west  angle  of  the  court- 
yard, instead  of  the  narrow  turnpike  stair  which  had  hitherto  been  the 
only  means  of  access  at  this  point  to  the  upper  floors.  But  this  angle 
staircase  is  now  almost  entirely  demolished. 

There  is  a  building  at  the  distance  and  in  the  position  shown  with 
reference  to  the  castle  (Fig.  186),  which  is  always  called  the  Chapel. 
It  is  63  feet  long  by  33  feet  wide,  and  has  buttresses  on  each  side.  There 
is  a  door  in  the  centre  of  each  end.  Apparently  this  building  has 
originally  been  of  one  story,  and  vaulted  (as  it  still  is),  and  the  buttresses 
seem  to  have  been  added  to  resist  the  thrust  of  the  vault.  At  a  later 
date  the  building  has  been  raised  so  as  to  admit  of  rooms  on  an  upper 
floor,  the  windows  of  which  still  exist. 

There  is  a  peculiar  horseshoe-shaped  ornament  (Fig.  187)  round  a 
small  window  over  the  door  at  the  north  end. 

There  are  no  features  about  the  building  to  enable  one  to  say  posi- 
tively what  it  may  have  been,  but  it  seems  most  likely  to  have  been  the 
stables,  with  rooms  for  the  servants  above. 

There  are  also  some  ruins  still  further  off,  which  may  have  been  farm 
buildings,  but  it  is  now  impossible  to  say. 

A  considerable  excavation  in  the  hill  behind  the  castle  shows  that  the 
stone  used  in  the  building  was  quarried  on  the  spot. 

NOTE. 

It  must  be  distinctly  kept  in  view  (as  already  pointed  out)  that  all 
the  above  extensions  of  the  fourteenth-century  keeps  are  of  considerably 
later  date  than  the  keeps  themselves,  the  description  of  the  extensions 
being  merely  introduced,  in  connection  with  that  of  the  original  keeps, 
for  the  sake  of  convenience,  and  to  avoid  confusion  by  cutting  up  the 
description  of  each  castle  into  sections. 

The  tower-built  castles  above  described  are  especially  characteristic 
of  the  Scotch  Architecture  of  the  fourteenth  century.  In  France  and 
England  the  contemporary  fourteenth-century  castles  are  of  the  grandest 
and  most  extensive  description.  The  great  castle  of  Pierrefonds  in 
France,  and  the  immense  Edwardian  piles  of  Caernarvon,  Caerphilly, 
Conway,  etc.,  in  England,  are  contemporary  with  the  towers  and  keeps 
in  Scotland  which  we  have  just  been  considering,  and  they  well  mark 
the  difference  in  wealth  and  culture  between  this  country  and  its  southern 
neighbours  in  the  fourteenth  century. 

The  keep  plan  of  building  was  universal  in  Scotland  during  the  four- 
teenth century.  It  was  employed,  as  we  have  above  seen,  not  only  in  the 


NOTE  221     -  SECOND  PERIOD 

smaller  towers  of  the  impoverished  nobility,  but  even  the  royal  palaces 
and  castles  were  erected  according  to  the  same  model.  Dundonald 
Castle,  a  favourite  residence  of  Robert  n.  and  Robert  in.,  although  on  a 
larger  and  grander  scale  than  the  common  keeps,  was  still  a  simple 
tower  on  the  same  general  plan.  The  palace  at  Rothesay,  although 
connected  with  the  circular  wall  of  enceinte  of  a  more  ancient  castle,  is 
really  a  keep  of  the  same  type  as  Dundonald. 

With  the  close  of  the  fourteenth  century  a  new  style  of  castle-build- 
ing began  to  be  introduced.  We  may  therefore  regard  the  end  of  the 
fourteenth  century  as  completing  the  Second  Period  of  Scotch  Castellated 
Architecture. 


THE    CASTELLATED    AND    DOMESTIC 
ARCHITECTURE   OF   SCOTLAND. 

THIRD  PERIOD— 1400-1542. 

THE  third  period  of  Scotch  castellated  architecture  commenced  with 
the  fifteenth  century.  About  that  time  a  few  castles  began  to  be  erected 
on  a  different  model  from  that  of  the '  keep-tower.  These  consisted  of 
buildings  surrounding  a  courtyard  or  quadrangle.  The  great  castle  of 
Doune,  built  by  the  Regent  Murdoch,  Duke  of  Albany  (about  1400-1424), 
is  of  this  description.  The  powerful  castle  of  Tantallon,  which  also 
belonged  to  the  Duke  of  Albany,  and  the  rebuilding  of  Dirleton  and 
Caerlaverock  (both  destroyed  by  Edward  i.),  were  likewise  carried  out 
on  this  plan. 

During  the  reigns  of  the  first  five  Jameses  the  larger  castles  and 
royal  palaces  were  all  built  or  enlarged  into  castles  with  courtyards 
or  quadrangles.  Of  these,  fine  examples  existed  in  the  palaces  of  Lin- 
lithgow,  Stirling,  Falkland,  Holyrood,  and  Edinburgh  Castle,  although 
most  of  them  have  now  been  greatly  altered. 

The  same  general  features  are  observable  in  the  earlier  and  later 
examples  of  this  period,  but  the  details,  whether  ornamental  or  useful, 
become  gradually  more  refined  as  time  advances. 

In  the  earlier  castles,  such  as  Doune  and  Tantallon,  one  part  of  the 
buildings  forms  a  keep ;  but  it  is  on  quite  a  different  plan  from  the 
simple  Norman  parallelogram.  It  is  larger  in  extent,  and  contains 
increased  accommodation  on  each  floor,  having  towers  attached,  both  for 
defence,  and  also  to  furnish  additional  apartments.  The  keep  thus  forms 
an  independent  and  commodious  residence.  It  is  practically  detached 
from  the  other  portions  of  the  castle.  It  has  a  separate  entrance,  and 
is  capable  of  separate  defence.  The  other  buildings  surrounding  the 
quadrangle  contain  large  reception  or  banqueting  halls,  the  chapel,  state- 
rooms for  visitors,  the  kitchen,  offices,  etc. 

The  gateway  is  generally  through  part  of  the  building.  At  Doune 
and  Tantallon  it  passes  through  the  keep  under  the  hall.  The  long 
vaulted  passage  thus  formed  is  useful,  inasmuch  as  it  may  be  strongly 


INTRODUCTORY  223  -  THIRD  PERIOD 

defended  with  gates,  portcullis,  etc.,  as  well  as  from  apertures  in  the 
vault. 

These  edifices  have  a  considerable  resemblance  to  similar  castles  in 
France  of  about  the  same  date.  At  Pierrefonds,  for  instance  (ante,  p.  47), 
the  keep  is  a  large  building  or  residence  capable  of  being  detached  from 
the  rest  of  the  castle.  The  entrance  is  under  part  of  the  buildings 
adjoining  the  keep,  and  is  flanked  by  a  large  round  tower  similar  to 
though  on  a  larger  scale  than  that  at  Doune. 

In  the  later  examples  of  these  castles  with  quadrangles  the  defensive 
features  are  gradually  reduced  in  importance,  although  never  abandoned, 
and  the  buildings  assume  somewhat  the  appearance  of  the  contemporary 
mansions  in  England.  At  Linlithgow  and  Stirling  palaces,  for  example, 
the  state  and  domestic  apartments  are  more  fully  developed  than  in  the 
earlier  castles,  and  a  richer  and  more  fanciful  design  takes  the  place  of 
the  grander  though  more  rugged  architecture  of  defence  of  Doune  and 
Tantallon.  In  these  later  edifices,  especially  at  Linlithgow,  may  be 
observed  a  gradual  assimilation  to  the  contemporary  English  style  of 
architecture,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century  (as  at  Stirling 
and  Falkland)  there  are  distinct  traces  of  the  approaching  advent  of  the 
Renaissance.  This  is  very  observable  in  the  palace  at  Stirling,  built 
about  1500,  where  the  classic  ornament  begins  to  be  applied  to  the  old 
forms,  and  where  grotesque  imitations  of  classic  sculpture  are  for  the  first 
time  introduced.  These  novelties  are  said  to  have  been  executed  by 
foreign  workmen,  which  is  not  improbable. 

The  above  style  of  castles  with  quadrangles  marks  a  distinct  period 
in  the  history  of  Scottish  architecture,  commencing  with  the  fifteenth 
century,  and  ending  with  the  death  of  James  v.,  in  1542.  It  thus  exactly 
corresponds  with  the  reigns  of  the  first  five  Jameses,  and  forms  the  third 
period  of  our  Scottish  Castellated  and  Domestic  Architecture.  The 
castles  with  quadrangles  of  this  period  distinguish  it  from  the  preceding 
period,  in  which,  as  we  have  seen,  there  were  no  such  castles. 

They  also  distinguish  it  from  the  succeeding  period,  for  although 
there  were  numerous  castles  with  quadrangles  after  the  above  date,  we 
shall  see  as  we  proceed  that  they  were  marked  by  features  which  dis- 
tinguish them  from  those  of  the  third  period. 

This  period,  like  every  other  period  of  Scotch  architecture,  contains, 
in  addition  to  the  castles  with  quadrangles  above  referred  to,  a  large 
number  of  contemporary  castles  built  on  the  old  keep  plan. 

A  considerable  number  of  buildings  were  also  converted  into  castles 
with  quadrangles  by  additions  made  to  old  keeps  in  the  form  of  buildings 
surrounding  a  courtyard,  in  the  same  way  as  those  of  the  first  period 
which  we  have  already  considered,  such  as  Crichton,  Craigmillar,  Castle 
Campbell,  etc.  The  castles  of  this  period,  however,  whether  on  the 
"courtyard"  plan  or  the  "keep"  plan,  have  all  a  strong  similarity  01 


THIRD  PERIOD  -    224    INTRODUCTORY 

detail,  and  are  quite  distinguishable  from  those  of  the  preceding  and 
succeeding  periods. 

The  keeps  of  this  period  still  continue  to  retain  the  simple  quadri- 
lateral plan.  This  is  sometimes  modified  (as  in  the  previous  period)  by 
the  addition  of  a  wing  at  one  corner,  in  order  to  provide  extended 
accommodation.  As  formerly,  the  ground  floor  is  vaulted  and  contains 
stores.  The  hall  occupies  the  whole  of  the  first  floor,  the  wing,  when 
there  is  one,  containing  the  owner's  private  room.  In  the  exceptional 
case  of  Borthwick  Castle  there  are  two  such  wings,  whereby  greatly 
enlarged  accommodation  is  obtained. 

A  separate  kitchen  is  frequently  to  be  observed,  timidly  introduced 
at  first,  and  more  distinctly  developed  in  later  specimens. 

The  entrance  door  is  usually  on  the  first  floor,  and  the  staircases  are 
almost  always  narrow  newel  ones,  generally  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall. 
When  there  is  a  wing,  the  entrance  door  is  commonly  in  the  re-entering 
angle,  where  it  is  well  situated  for  defence.  In  later  examples  a  turret 
is  introduced  into  the  re-entering  angle  of  the  wing,  containing  the 
entrance  door  on  the  ground  level  and  the  staircase,  which  is  thus 
conveniently  placed  for  giving  access  to  the  rooms  both  in  the  main 
building  and  the  wing.  These  doorways  were  generally  furnished 
with  oaken  doors,  strengthened  with  strong  bars  running  in  grooves 
formed  in  the  walls.  The  entrances  were  also  frequently  provided  in 
addition  with  iron-grated  gates  or  "yetts"  (which  were  subjects  of 
legislation),  and  the  windows  were  secured  with  strong  iron-grated 
stanchions. 

Above  the  hall  there  are  generally  two  upper  stories  with  joisted 
floors,  and  there  is  sometimes  a  vault  over  the  top  story  to  carry  a  stone 
roof.  The  walls  vary  from  5  to  10  feet  in  thickness,  and  wall  chambers 
usually  abound.  In  some  instances  (notably  that  of  Elphinstone)  this 
feature  of  the  design  is  carried  out  in  a  most  elaborate  and  compli- 
cated manner,  and  the  amount  of  accommodation  thereby  provided  is 
remarkable. 

The  lfpit"  or  prison  is  of  frequent  occurrence.  It  is  generally  a 
small  wall  chamber  with  an  air-hole  in  the  outer  wall.  It  is  entered 
only  from  above  by  an  aperture  in  the  vault,  which  is  secured  by  being 
covered  with  a  properly-fitting  stone. 

The  defences  both  of  the  "quadrangle"  and  "keep"  castles  of  the 
third  period  are,  as  of  old,  chiefly  from  the  battlements.  These  vary 
very  much  in  design,  the  greater  number  having  bold  projecting  corbels, 
with  machicolations  between,  as  at  Crichton,  Dunnottar,  and  Spynie, 
while  others  have  only  corbels  without  machicolations,  such  as  Borth- 
wick and  Balvaird.  Others  again  have  neither  corbels  nor  machicolations, 
but  have  the  parapet  carried  up  flush  with  the  outer  face  of  the  wall, 
without  even  a  string-coui'se  to  mark  it,  such  as  Liberton  Tower.  At 


INTRODUCTORY  225    THIRD  PERIOD 

Tantallon,  and  other  instances,  the  parapets  rest  on  a  string-course 
having  the  form  of  continuous  corbels.  Several  examples  occur  of  the 
use  of  hoards  for  the  defence  of  the  walls,  as  at  Craigmillar,  Arbroath 
Abbey,  Preston,  etc.  In  the  later  examples  of  the  period  the  corbels 
are  generally  more  or  less  ornamental,  and  in  some  instances  the 
originally  useful  corbels  begin  to  be  applied  as  mere  ornaments,  as  at 
Craignethan,  Edzell,  and  Leven  Castles,  where  the  lower  of  the  two 
rows  of  corbels  under  the  parapet  carries  nothing,  and  is  inserted  for 
ornament  only. 

The  parapets  have  almost  invariably  rounded  open  bartizans  at  the 
angles,  carried  on  a  series  of  corbels,  and  a  good  stone  gutter  or  parapet 
walk  all  round  the  building.  Those  at  Borthwick  and  Balvaird  are  well 
preserved. 

In  the  later  examples,  as,  for  instance,  at  Ruthven  Castle,  the  bartizans 
are  beginning  to  be  covered  in  with  a  roof,  so  as  to  form  the  angle 
turret,  which  became  so  prominent  a  feature  of  the  later  development  of 
the  Scotch  style  of  Architecture. 

During  this  period  artillery  began  to  be  employed  in  the  attack  and 
defence  of  fortified  places ;  and  we  find  indications  of  the  early  provision 
made  for  its  introduction  into  castles  in  the  large  embrasures  or  port- 
holes so  characteristic  of  the  time. 

There  is  not  usually  much  ornamentation  in  the  interior.  The  hall 
has  invariably  a  large  fireplace,  the  jambs  of  which  are  frequently  carved 
with  shafts  having  caps  and  bases.  At  Doune  Castle  the  fireplace  is 
double,-  and  at  Linlithgow  Palace  it  is  triple,  with  shafted  divisions 
between.  The  lintel  of  the  hall  fireplaces  is  moulded,  and  is  sometimes 
adorned  with  shields  containing  coats  of  arms,  etc.  In  Borthwick  and 
Crichton  Castles,  and  Linlithgow  Palace,  the  fireplaces  and  other  portions 
of  the  buildings  are  unusually  richly  carved  with  fifteenth-century  foliage. 
An  enriched  ambry  or  a  seat  is  sometimes  introduced  in  the  wall  of  the 
hall,  as  at  Borthwick,  Dirleton,  Balvaird,  etc. 

The  domestic  chapel  is  not  common  in  the  castles  of  this  or  the 
previous  period,  those  of  Linlithgow  Palace  and  Craigmillar  Castle 
being  somewhat  exceptional  cases.  There  are,  however,  good  examples 
of  oratories  in  window  recesses  at  Doune  and  Borthwick  Castles,  and 
a  very  fine  private  oratory  occurs  at  Affleck  Castle,  Forfarshire. 

During  this  period  some  castles  of  an  exceptional  character  were 
erected,  such  as  those  of  Hermitage  and  Crookston.  These  are  founded 
on  the  general  idea  of  the  keep,  but  they  have  rectangular  towers 
added  at  each  of  the  four  angles.  Other  castles,  again,  are  of  an 
intermediate  type  between  the  keep  and  the  castles  with  quadrangles, 
the  main  building  being  extended  with  towers  and  wings  so  as  to 
form  an  enlarged  residence,  and  these  buildings  are  carried  out 
with  a  better  style  of  workmanship  than  the  ordinary  keeps.  Of 


THIRD  PERIOD  226    LIBERTON  TOWER 

these,  the  castles  of  Morton,  Ravenscraig,  and  Tullyallan  are  good 
examples. 

The  enlargement  of  ancient  keeps  by  additions  was  also  in  some 
cases  carried  out  in  an  unusual  manner.  Thus,  at  Ruthven  Castle, 
Perth,  and  the  Dean  Castle,  Kilmarnock,  the  additions  were  not  made 
in  the  form  of  buildings  connected  with  the  keep,  and  extending 
round  a  quadrangle,  but  by  the  erection  of  a  separate  tower,  or  other 
buildings,  at  another  part  of  the  enceinte,  and  entirely  detached  from 
the  original  keep. 

These  cases  will  all  be  considered  in  detail  in  connection  with  the 
description  of  the  castles  themselves. 

In  describing  the  individual  castles  of  this  period  it  will  be  most 
convenient  to  begin  with  examples  of  the  simple  form  of  keep,  similar 
to  that  usual  in  the  previous  century.  We  shall  then  give  some 
examples  of  keeps  in  which  the  simple  quadrilateral  form  became 
modified  in  various  ways.  We  shall  see  that  the  L  plan,  or  that  of 
adding  a  wing  to. one  corner,  which  was  introduced  in  the  fourteenth 
century,  is  still  frequently  used,  while  various  further  modifications  of 
the  simple  keep  are  gradually  introduced.  Thus  in  some  cases  two 
wings  are  added  and  in  other  cases  a  projecting  staircase  is  introduced 
in  the  re-entering  angle  of  the  wing.  A  few  special  and  exceptional 
modifications  of  the  keep  plan  will  then  be  given. 

Following  the  same  course  as  in  the  Second  Period,  we  shall  next 
show  how  the  fifteenth-century  keeps  were  enlarged  into  castles  sur- 
rounding courtyards  or  quadrangles,  and  finally  describe  the  castles 
which  were  designed  and  built  on  that  plan  from  the  first,  and  which 
specially  distinguish  this  period  of  Scotch  Domestic  Architecture. 


THIRD    PERIOD— SIMPLE  KEEPS. 

Beginning  with  the  simple  keeps  of  the  fifteenth  century,  we  have  a 
good  example  of  a  plain  quadrilateral  building  in  Liberton  Tower,  near 
Edinburgh. 

LIBERTON  TOWER,  MIDLOTHIAN. 

Liberton  Tower  is  a  fifteenth-century  keep,  which,  from  the  extreme 
plainness  of  its  form,  and  its  generally  frail  and  dilapidated  condition,  is 
frequently  assigned  to  a  much  earlier  period.  The  simple  quadrilateral 
outline  (Fig.  188)  is  quite  usual,  and  the  internal  arrangements  are  some- 
what similar  to  those  of  Lochleven.  The  whole  height  (see  Section)  is 
divided  into  two  by  a  semicircular  vault  in  the  centre,  above  which  is 
situated  the  hall.  The  upper  portion  is  also  vaulted,  with  a  pointed 


LIBERTON  TOWER 


227  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


barrel  vault,  which  carries  the  stone  roof.     Each  vaulted  compartment 
is  divided  into  two  stories,  with  wooden  floors  resting  on  corbels.     The 


Fir,.  188.— Liberton  Tower.    Plans,  Sections,  and  Elevation. 

timbers  of  the  upper  floor  are  still  partly  preserved  (Fig.  1 89),  and  show 
the  mode  of  construction  then  in  use.  The  beams,  on  the  corbels,  are 
6^  inches  by  5  inches,  laid  at  2  feet  6  inches  apart,  and  the  joists  are 
3  inches  by  2  inches,  laid  on  the  flat  and  mortised  into  the  beams. 

The  ground  floor  is  only  6J  feet  high,  and  has  probably  been  used 
for  sheltering  cattle.  It  has  a  separate  outer  door,  and  had  no  com- 
munication with  the  upper  floors  unless,  as  is  most  likely,  there  was  a 
hatch  in  the  floor  above.  The  first  floor  is  in  the  lower  vault,  and 
communicates  with  the  hall  by  a  stair  down  from  the  hall  in  the  north- 
west angle.  This  has  been  the  cellar  and  stores,  and  has  a  hatch  in  the 
centre  of  the  vault.  * 

The  principal  entrance  to  the  tower  (Fig.  190,  N.E.  view)  is  on  the 
level  of  the  hall,  whence  the  above  stair  goes  down,  and  two  other  stairs 


THIRD  PERIOD  228    LIBERTON  TOWER 

lead  up  to  the  upper  flat,  which  would  be  divided  into  two  rooms,  each 


thus  having  a  separate  stair.    The  eastern  room  formed  the  owner's  private 
apartment.     There  is  a  small  opening,  or  spy-hole,  in  the  wall  of  the 


UBERTON  TOWER 


229  — 


THIRD  PERTOD 


Ji  \  Hit  ; 


THIRD  PERIOD  230    LIBERTON  TOWER 

straight  staircase  leading  up  to  this  floor  at  the  east  end  of  the  building, 
from  which  a  watch  could  be  kept  on  the  proceedings  in  the  hall.  There 
is  no  properly  formed  stair  to  the  parapet,  which  must  have  been  reached 
by  a  wooden  inside  stair  leading  to  the  door  in  the  east  gable.  The 
access  to  the  battlements  would  thus  also  be  under  the  owner's  eye. 
The  parapet,  as  at  Craigmillar,  is  carried  up  flush  with  the  walls  (Fig. 
190),  and  has  no  corbels  or  projecting  mouldings.  -  Almost  the  only 
thing  in  the  form  of  ornament  in  the  tower  is  the  sideboard  of  the  hall 
in  the  south  wall  (Fig.  189),  which  has  an  ogee-headed  opening  clearly 
indicative  of  the  fifteenth  century.  In  the  south  elevation,  near  the 
top,  there  are  traces  of  a  human  figure  in  a  panel,  which  may  have 
been  a  patron  saint  or  part  of  a  coat  of  arms. 

The  history  of  this  tower  is  not  recorded,  but  according  to  the 
Rev.  Thomas  White,  in  his  account  of  the  parish  of  Liberton  in  the 
first  volume  of  Transactions  of  the  Antiquarian  Society  of  Scotland,  "  The 
Dalmahoys  of  that  Ilk  possessed  Upper  Liberton  as  early  as  the 
year  1453,  and  continued  in  possession  of  it,  at  least  of  a  part  of  it, 
for  almost  two  hundred  years."  This  tower  was  in  all  probability  built 
by  that  family. 


MEARNS  TOWER,  RENFREWSHIRE. 

Mearns  Tower  (Fig.  191)  is  about  seven  miles  south-west  from  Glasgow, 
and  stands  in  an  upland  district  overlooking  the  valley  of  the  Clyde. 
It  is  situated  on  a  small  knoll  having  a  level  platform  round  the  build- 
ing, which  at  the  west  and  north-west  is  narrow,  and  has  precipitous 
slopes  about  25  feet  high.  The  tower  is  oblong  on  plan,  measuring 

44  feet  from  east  to  west  by  29  feet  6  inches  from  north  to  south,  and 

45  feet  high  to  the  top  of  the  corbels.     It  contains  three  floors,  the  two 
now  remaining  being  vaulted,  as  shown  on  the  section.     The  entrance 
doorway  is  at  the  east  end,  and  leads  directly  into  the  basement  or  lower 
vault,  which  is  lighted  by  two  widely  splayed  slits.     The  existing  outer 
doorway   has  evidently  been  enlarged  in  modern  times.     The   eastern 
wall  is  here  10  feet  in  thickness,  and  the  other  walls  are  about  8  feet 
thick.     From  the  entrance   passage   a   straight  flight  of  steps  leads  to 
the  first  floor,  and  in  continuation  a  "corkscrew"  stair  leads  to  the  top. 
Immediately  over  the  entrance  to  the  basement  is  the  separate  round 
arched  doorway,  forming  the  principal  entrance  to  the  castle  on  the  first 
floor ;  the  height  from  the  ground  to  the  door  sill  is  1 1  feet,  and  was 
reached  by  a  ladder. 

This  doorway  enters  directly  into  the  hall,  which  occupies  the  whole 
of  the  first  floor  as  a  single  apartment,  measuring  27  feet  9  inches  long 
by  16  feet  6  inches  wide,  and  21  feet  high.  This  vault  is  loftier  than 


MEARNS  TOWER 


—    231    — 


THIRD  PERIOI> 


is  usual  in  buildings  of  this  class,  unless  where  they  are  subdivided 
into  two  stories,  which  does  not  seem  to  have  been  the  intention  here, 
as  there  are  no  corbels  in  the  side  walls  for  a  floor,  and  no  windows  to 
light  an  upper  story.  The  object  of  the  height  appears  to  have  been 


VIEW    FROM.  S    [ 


GROUND    FLOOR          FIRST  FLOOR  A  ENTRESOLE          UPPER   FLOOK 


Fro.  191. — Mearns  Tower.     Plans,  Section,  and  View. 

to  introduce  in  the  east  wall  an  entresol,  entering  off  the  corkscrew 
stair,  forming  what  is  usually  called  a  minstrel's  gallery  and  a  wall  closet 
(see  Plans).  A  similar  entresol,  apparently  for  the  same  purpose,  occurs 
at  the  Dean  Castle,  Kilmarnock. 


THIRD  PERIOD  232    -  MEARNS  TOWER 

Adjoining  the  first  floor  entrance  is  a  lighted  wall  closet,  and  at  the 
opposite  end  is  the  fireplace,  with  windows  in  the  side  walls  having  stone 
seats. 

The  upper  floor  is  very  similar  in  arrangement  to  the  first.  From  its 
wall  closet  a  garde-robe  is  projected  on  the  south  front.  This  is  now  very 
ruinous,  only  the  supporting  stone  corbels  remaining  with  the  upper 
courses  of  the  sloping  stone  roof.  The  continuation  of  the  stair  to  the 
battlements  is  gone,  as  well  as  the  "  cape  house  "  on  the  top  of  the  stair 
and  the  parapets. 

There  is  a  set-off  inside  the  walls  at  the  top,  evidently  for  the 
support  of  roof  beams,  but  of  what  form  the  roof  was,  whether  flat  or 
sloping,  we  cannot  precisely  say.  From  the  terms  of  the  licence  to 
be  presently  quoted  there  was  to  be  erected  on  the  roof  warlike 
apparatus  for  its  defence,  so  that  in  all  likelihood  the  roof  was  flat. 
Mr.  Fraser,  in  his  work  on  Caerlaverock,  informs  us  of  the  important  fact 
that  James  n.,  on  the  15th  March  1449,  granted  a  licence  to  Herbert 
Lord  Maxwell  "  to  build  a  castle  or  fortalice  on  the  Barony  of  Mearns  in 
Renfrewshire,  to  surround  and  fortify  it  with  walls  and  ditches,  to 
strengthen  it  by  iron  gates,  and  to  erect  on  the  top  of  it  all  warlike 
apparatus  necessary  for  its  defence."  This  interesting  circumstance  adds 
greatly  to  the  value  of  Mearns  Castle  historically,  making  it  a  standard 
by  which  we  may  estimate  the  date  of  other  similar  structures.  Most 
of  the  buildings  of  this  class  and  period  being  undated,  any  authentic 
information  of  this  sort  is  of  the  utmost  importance.  We  need  have 
no  hesitation  in  assuming  that  the  fortalice  was  built  shortly  after 
the  date  of  the  licence,  as  it  corresponds  in  general  arrangements  and 
in  the  style  of  its  corbels  with  other  castles,  such  as  Borthwick,  of 
which  the  date  is  known.  In  1589  James  vi.  writes  from  Craigmillar 
to  William,  fifth  Lord  Herries,  commanding  him  to  deliver  up  the 
castles  of  Caerlaverock,  Threave,  Morton,  and  the  place  and  fortalice  of 
Mearns. 

About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  Mearns  was  sold  by  the 
Earl  of  Nithsdale  to  Sir  George  Maxwell  of  Nether  Pollok,  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood,  and  shortly  afterwards  it  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  ancestors  of  its  present  possessor,  Sir  Michael  Shaw  Stewart. 
The  castle  has  been  in  use  till  comparatively  recent  times  as  a  place  for 
local  balls  and  festivities,  but  it  is  now  entirely  neglected,  and  is  fast 
falling  into  utter  ruin. 


ELPHINSTONE  CASTLE  233    —  THIRD  PERIOD 


ELPHINSTONE  CASTLE,  MIDLOTHIAN. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  and  best  preserved  of  the  Scottish 
keeps  of  the  fifteenth  century.  Situated  on  the  southern  brow  of  a  hill 
overlooking  Ormiston  and  the  valley  of  the  Tyne,  a  wide  prospect  is 
obtained  from  its  windows  and  battlements.  It  is  a  simple  oblong  on 
plan  (Fig.  192),  50  feet  5  inches  long  by  35  feet  wide,  and  58  feet 
3  inches  in  height  to  the  top  of  the  parapet.  The  tower  contains  a 
basement  floor  covered  with  a  round  vault  (having  _  corbels  for  a  joisted 
intermediate  floor),  a  first  floor  with  a  high  pointed  vault,  and  two 
stories  above,  which  appear  to  have  had  wooden  floors,  thus  making 
five  floors  in  all.  It  is  quite  usual  for  towers  of  this  period  to  have 
chambers  and  closets  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  but  in  this  case  that 
arrangement  is  carried  to  an  extreme  length,  all  the  walls  being  honey- 
combed with  a  perfect  labyrinth  of  small  mural  chambers.  We  have 
endeavoured  to  make  the  following  description  of  this  rather  intricate 
building  as  clear  as  possible  by  complete  plans  and  sections,  to  which  the 
reader  may  refer. 

The  entrance  doorway,  which  is  round-headed,  is  on  the  north  side, 
and  up  a  few  feet  from  the  ground.  In  the  thickness  of  the  north  wall  a 
straight  stair,  with  roof  arched  in  compartments  (see  Section  along  north 
wall),  leads  up,  first  to  the  upper  floor  of  the  lower  vault,  and  then  con- 
tinues up  to  the  level  of  the  great  hall  floor.  To  the  right  of  the 
entrance  to  the  keep  a  few  high  steps  lead  to  a  wall  chamber,  raised 
thus  to  give  room  for  another  chamber  sloping  down  from  the  basement 
floor,  the  door  to  which  is  seen  on  the  Section  looking  west.  These 
were  probably  the  guard-room  and  prison.  A  wooden  trap  leads  down 
a  few  steps  to  the  basement  floor  from  the  raised  entrance.  The  great 
hall  occupies  most  of  the  first  floor,  and  measures  29  feet  in  length  by 
20  feet  in  width,  and  23  feet  high  to  the  top  of  the  vault.  It  is  a  noble 
apartment  lighted  by  two  side  windows,  with  wall  chambers  leading  off 
each  (Fig.  193),  and  by  two  high  windows,  also  in  the  side  walls,  shown 
by  dotted  lines  on  the  plan.  At  the  west  end  is  a  large  fireplace,  sadly 
mutilated ;  adjoining  this  fireplace  a  door,  now  built  up,  led  to  a  small 
private  room,  also  reached  by  a  door  from  the  north  window  recess, 
while  a  narrow  newel  stair  between  the  room  and  window  led  to  a  similar 
room  above,  both  being  contained  within  the  height  of  the  great  hall 
(see  Section  along  north  wall).  There  is  a  very  peculiar  arrangement 
connected  with  this  upper  private  room  (Entresol  Plan).  It  contains 
a  fireplace,  alongside  of  which  a  door  leads  into  a  window  recess  in  the 
west  wall ;  this  window  opens  into  the  chimney-flue  of  the  great  hall 
fireplace,  and  in  the  breast  of  the  flue,  opposite  the  window,  and  at  the 
same  level,  is  a  large  splayed  inner  window  overlooking  the  great  hall 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    234 


ELPHINSTONE  CASTLE 


about  10  feet  above  the  floor  (Sections  looking  west  and  north).  Thus 
the  lord  or  lady,  by  stepping  out  of  their  private  room  to  this  window, 
could  overlook  what  was  going  on  in  the  hall,  subject  to  the  incon- 


FIG.  192. — Elphinstone  Castle.    Plans  and  Sections. 

veiiience  of  the  smoke  (when  there  was  any)  from  the  great  hall  fire. 
Spy-holes  are  frequently  to  be  met  with  in  old  castles,  but  this  one  is  of 
a  unique  kind.  Into  this  very  fireplace  there  is  a  small  spy-hole  from 


ELPHINSTONE  CASTLE 


—    235    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


the  adjoining  staircase  (shown  on  the  Plan).  The  above  window  would 
also  give  some  light  in  the  hall,  not  otherwise  too  bright,  and  the  upper 
part  of  the  chimney  may  have  been  used  for  curing  hams,  etc.,  to  which 
the  door  above  referred  to  would  give  access.  The  kitchen,  about 
13  feet  by  7  feet  (including  the  fireplace),  is  at  the  opposite  end  of 
the  hall,  and  is  provided  with  a  service  window  and  large  wall  closet. 
Within  the  height  of  the  great  hall  (see  Sections  along  the  wall  and 


FIG.  193.— Elphinstone  Castle.    Window  in  Hall. 

through  kitchen)  the  space  above  the  kitchen  is  divided  into  two 
upper  stories,  the  joisting  of  which  still  remains,  although  the  floor 
immediately  above  the  kitchen  may  be  regarded  as  only  a  passage  to 
wall  chambers  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  keep.  This  passage  is 
reached  by  a  circular  stair  in  the  north-east  corner,  while  the  upper 
kitchen  floor  must  have  been  reached  by  a  ladder.  This  stair  leads  to 
the  floor  above  the  hall,  and  to  a  large  intermediate  wall  chamber  6  feet 
4  inches  wide  by  about  24  feet  long,  taken  out  of  the  haunch  of  the  great 


THIRD  PERIOD 


236 


ELPHINSTONE  CASTLE 


hall  arch  (Section  looking  west).  Another  stair  in  the  south-west  corner 
leads  to  both  floors  above  the  hall,  and  also  to  the  battlements,  while 
another  private  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the  north  wall  communicates 
between  these  two  floors.  Both  of  the  upper  floors  are  divided  into  two 
rooms,  all  having  fireplaces,  garde-robes,  and  wall  closets.  Adjoining  the 
apartments  over  the  hall  in  the  north  wall  (plan  of  second  floor)  is  a 
gallery  30  feet  long  by  6  feet  wide  communicating  with  both  rooms. 
This  is  perhaps  the  most  striking  example  of  the  system  of  wall  chambers 
carried  to  excess.  It  will  be  recollected  that  we  drew  attention  to  this 
practice  as  possibly  being  a  tradition  from  the  time  of  the  Celtic  Brochs, 
and  we  believe  that  a  careful  study  of  this  plan,  and  still  more  of  the 
building  itself,  will  tend  to  confirm  this  view. 

The  present  Lord  Elphinstone,  in  M'Neill's  Tranent  and  its  Sur- 
roundings, assigns  the  erection  of  this  castle  to  John  de  Elphinstone, 
who  died  about  the  year  1260;  but  we  cannot  agree  with  his  Lordship 
in  giving  it  such  an  early  date.  In  all  its  architectural  features  it 
resembles  ordinary  fifteenth-century  work,  while  the  corbelling,  cable 


tm>. 


FIG.  194.— Elphinstone  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 

moulding,  and  gargoyles  at  the  parapet  (Fig.  194-),  some  of  which  are 
carved    to    resemble  cannons,   cannot  be   earlier   than   the   end  of  the 


ELPHINSTONE  CASTLE 


—    237    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


century.  As  throwing  some  light  on  the  subject,  we  may  draw  attention 
to  the  armorial  bearings  carved  over  the  hall  fireplace,  and  which  are 
illustrated  and  named  in  their  order  (Fig.  195).  The  Seaton  arms  occur 

SEATON        MArTLAND'DOUGLAS  MENZTES  ELPHINSTONE 

JOHNSTON  MAJTLAND 


FIG.  195. — Elphinstone  Castle.    Arms  over  Fireplace  in  Hall. 

twice,  and  that  family  was  twice  connected  with  the  house.  The 
Johnston  arms  also  occur.  After  the  battle  of  Piperdean,  in  1435,  where 
Sir  Alexander  Elphinstone  was  killed,  his  only  daughter  Agnes  suc- 
ceeded to  the  estate.  She  married  a  Johnston  of  Annandale,  and  it 
was  in  all  probability  after  this  event  that  the  castle  was  built,  and 
hence  the  Johnston  arms,  which  are  also  painted  on  the  arched  roof  of 
one  of  the  hall  closets  with  the  letters  S.  D.,  along  with  a  pierced  heart, 
a  thistle,  and  a  rose.  The  other  arms  probably  indicate  previous  alliances 
with  the  house. 

Traces  of  painting  can  be  seen  throughout  the  great  hall,  but  in  too 
fragmentary  a  state  to  admit  of  description.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  add  that 
the  building  is  well  cared  for,  and  the  roof,  which  is  modern,  is  in  good 
order,  and  is  perfectly  water-tight. 

In  the  seventeenth  century  a  wing  was  added  to  the  north  of  the 
keep,  but  it  has  now  been  removed. 


COMLONGAN  CASTLE,  DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

Comlongan  Castle,  Dumfriesshire,  is  situated  about  midway  between 
Dumfries  and  Annan,  and  lies  about  two  miles  inland  from  the  Solway 
Firth.  It  is  very  similar  to  Elphinstone  Castle,  and  is  clearly  of  about 
the  same  date.  The  building  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  but  no 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—  238 


COMLONGAN  CASTLE 


ENTRESOL     ENTERING 
FROM     HALL     AT     A 


COMLONGAN  CASTLE 


—  239  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


special  care  has  been  taken  for  a  long  time  to  maintain  it,  so  that  cracks 
and  fissures  are  beginning  to  develop  themselves  in  various  parts  of  the 
building,  which  unarrested  will  soon  bring  about  its  ruin.  The  castle 
is  nearly  square  on  plan  (Fig.  196),  measuring  48  feet  10  inches  from 
east  to  west  by  42  feet  7  inches  from  north  to  south.  Its  height 
is  about  59  feet  to  the  top  of  the  battlements  (see  Section),  and 
about  68  feet  to  the  top  of  the  south-east  watch  turret,  which  is  the 
highest  point.  The  basement  has  a  vault  17  feet  5  inches  high, 
divided  with  an  intermediate  wooden  floor.  The  vault  carries  the 
floor  of  the  hall,  and  above  this  there  are  two  stories  which  had  joisted 
floors. 


Fi<;.  197.— Coinlonpan  Castle.     Interior  of  Hall. 


The  entrance  doorway,  which  is  up  five  steps,  is  at  the  north  side, 
through  a  round  arched  doorway  with  an  iron  yett  and  bar-hole.      A 


THIRD  PERIOD  -    240    -  COMLONGAN  CASTLE 

newel  stair  in  the  north-east  corner  leads  straight  to  the  top,  com- 
municating with  all  the  intermediate  floors.  Another  wheel  stair  leads 
from  the  hall  at  the  south-west  corner  down  to  the  loft  in  the  vault. 
There  is  a  well  near  the  centre  of  the  basement  floor. 

The  hall  (Fig.  197)  is  a  very  fine  chamber,  measuring  29  feet  4  inches 
by  21  feet  2  inches,  and  about  14  feet  6  inches  in  height  to  the  under 
side  of  the  beartls.  It  has  a  finely  carved  fireplace  «t  the  west  end,  with 
the  unusual  feature  of  an  oaken  beam  for  its  lintel  10  inches  in  depth 
by  12  inches  thick,  the  length  between  the  supports  being  about  10  feet 
9  inches.  As  the  sketch  shows,  it  is  far  from  being  horizontal. 

Adjoining  the  fireplace  on  the  south  wall  there  is  a  fine  sideboard 
or  ambry  (Fig.  198)  3  feet  6  inches  above  the  floor,  and  about  6  feet  high 
in  itself,  by  4  feet  9  inches  wide  over  the  moulded  shafts.  The  arched 
top  is  wrought  in  two  stones,  and  the  two  halves  do  not  correspond,  which 
produces  a  singular  but  by  no  means  unpleasing  effect.  The  details  are 
of  the  usual  late  Gothic  kind,  frequently  found  in  castles  of  the  latter 
half  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  hall  is  well  lighted  with  three  windows,  having  seats  in  the 
recesses.  The  walls  being  from  9  to  12  feet  in  thickness,  the  recesses 
are  very  deep.  Besides  these  windows  there  are  four  small  windows, 
two  in  each  gable,  placed  high  in  the  wall  near  the  ceiling.  Two  good 
mural  chambers  enter  from  the  hall  level,  and  others  from  the  other 
floors.  Indeed,  throughout  the  castle  the  walls  are  quite  burrowed  with 
small  chambers,  and  in  this  respect  Comlongan  bears  a  considerable 
resemblance  to  Elphinstone.  One  of  these  mural  chambers  enters  from 
the  hall  down  ten  steps.  This  chamber  is  divided  into  a  guard-room  and 
prison,  and  lighted  with  small  seated  windows.  From  the  first  chamber 
a  hatchway  drops  down  to  a  totally  dark  dungeon  10  feet  9  inches  below 
the  level  of  the  floor.  The  dungeon  measures  about  1 8  feet  by  6  feet, 
and  seems  to  have  no  communication  with  the  open  air. 

The  inner  of  these  two  mural  chambers  has  a  garde-robe  opening  off 
it.  A  few  steps  up  the  main  stair  from  the  hall  there  is  another  large 
mural  chamber  with  garde-robe.  A  wall  chamber  entering  off  the  main 
stair  at  the  hall  level  seems  to  have  been  the  kitchen.  It  is  about  14  feet 
long  by  6  feet  3  inches  wide,  and  is  lighted  with  one  small  window.  It 
occupies  a  similar  position,  and  is  of  about  the  same  size  as  the  kitchen 
at  Elphinstone.  Originally  this  chamber  seems  to  have  opened  directly 
into  the  hall  by  an  open  arch  (shown  on  Plan)  10  feet  6  inches  wide 
by  7  feet  6  inches  high.  The  partition  between  the  arch  and  the  hall 
(hatched  on  Plan)  has  not  the  appearance  of  being  original,  and  may 
have  superseded  an  earlier  screen.  In  this  partition  there  is  a  service 
window.  This  kitchen  is  really  nothing  more  than  a  large  fireplace. 
The  flue  has  been  long  closed  up,  but  its  continuation  may  be  seen  at 
the  back  of  the  fireplace  in  the  room  above.  The  hall  is  paved  with  the 


COMLONGAN  CASTLE 


—    241    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


red  pavement  of  the  district,  in  stones  of  about  18  inches  square.     In  a 
panel  let  into  the  wall  over  the  fireplace,  but  considerably  off  the  centre, 


Fio.  198. — Comlongan  Castle.    Ambry  in  Hall. 

the   Royal  arms  are  carved   in   stone,  and  at  each  side   are  two  stone 
corbels,  with  angels  holding  shields  charged  with  the  amis  of  the  family. 

Q 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  242  — 


COMLONGAN  CASTLE 


The  corbels  for  carrying  the  beams  of  the  floor  above  are  also  charged 
with  arms,  which  are  a  good  deal  defaced  and  destroyed. 


FIG.  199. — Comlongan  Castle.    View  from  the  South-Bast. 

The  two  floors  above  need  not  be  particularly  described,  as  they  are 
similar  to  the  hall,  with  deeply  recessed  windows,  mural  chambers,  etc., 
and  will  be  easily  understood  from  the  plans.  We  may  however  refer 
to  the  two  mural  chambers  or  cupboards  side  by  side  in  the  south  wall. 
They  are  continued  up  in  the  wall,  till  lost  in  darkness,  as  a  gradually 
narrowing  flue.  The  roof  of  the  castle,  a  comparatively  new  one,  covers 
in  the  space  above ;  and  if  there  was  a  chimney-stack  it  has  been 
removed.  The  whole  arrangement  naturally  suggests  a  fireplace  which 
has  been  altered.  The  doors  have  all  the  appearance  of  being  original. 


CARDONESS  CASTLE  243    THIRD  PERIOD 

It  should  however  be  noted  that  there  is  110  upper  hall  in  this  castle, 
such  as  there  usually  is  in  such  buildings.  Possibly  the  above  aperture 
was  at  first  intended  for  the  fireplace  of  an  upper  hall,  but  the  builder 
having  changed  his  mind  during  the  construction  of  the  building,  had 
the  hall  divided  into  two  rooms,  each  with  a  separate  fireplace,  and 
caused  the  large  fireplace  to  be  converted  into  two  cupboards,  as  we  now 
see  them.  The  fireplace  at  the  east  end  of  the  second  floor,  already 
referred  to,  has  a  bead  and  hollow  moulding  round  the  jambs  and  lintel, 
.and  (what  is  unusual)  the  same  moulding  is  continued  along  the  edge  of 
the  hearth  as  well,  so  that  it  has  the  appearance  of  a  moulded  picture 
frame.  The  beams  and  joisting  of  the  upper  floors  still  partly  remain, 
and  are  indicated  on  the  plan. 

The  battlements  of  Comlongan  are  most  interesting.  The  staircase 
is  continued  up  as  a  watch  turret  (on  the  right,  Fig.  199),  reached  by  a 
stone  stair  following  the  slope  of  the  roof  behind  the  turret,  and  con- 
tinued up  a  few  steps  higher  (see  Plan  of  Watch-towers).  Another 
watch-tower,  with  chimney  flues  in  the  parapets,  is  attached  to  the 
cape  house  in  the  centre  of  the  view  (Fig.  199),  and  rises  above  it. 
At  each  of  the  corners  of  the  battlements  at  the  east  end  (Fig.  199) 
there  is  a  roofed  cape  house,  with  an  open  battlemented  parapet  between, 
while  the  whole  length  of  the  parapet  at  the  west  end  is  roofed  in,  form- 
ing a  long  gallery  with  a  fireplace,  and  lighted  with  the  embrasures  con- 
verted into  windows  (Fig.  196).  One  cannot  be  certain  whether  this 
gallery  is  original  or  not,  there  being  features  which  tell  both  for  and 
against  that  supposition  ;  but  at  all  events  it  is  not  of  recent  construction. 

The  castle  of  Comlongan  was  built  by  the  Hurrays  of  Cockpool, 
whose  original  residence  was  the  castle  of  Cockpool,  the  ruins  of  which 
are  still  traceable  within  a  short  distance  of  Comlongan.  Their  original 
charter  was  granted  by  Thomas  Randolph,  Earl  of  Moray,  to  his  nephew, 
William  de  Moravia,  in  the  fourteenth  century.  The  castle  still  belongs 
to  the  same  family,  being  now  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Mansfield. 

CARDONESS  CASTLE,  KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE. 

Cardoness  Castle  is  situated  on  the  Fleet,  a  small  stream  which  empties 
into  Wigtown  Bay  about  one  mile  farther  down.  The  castle  (Fig.  200) 
occupies  the  summit  of  a  thickly  wooded  ridge  rising  up  from  the  right 
bank  of  the  Fleet.  The  ground  slopes  rapidly  all  round,  there  being  only  a 
narrow  level  strip  adjoining  the  walls.  Although  it  is  a  building  of  small 
size,  it  has  a  most  imposing  appearance  as  seen  by  the  traveller  approach- 
ing from  the  bay,  and  a  closer  inspection  shows  it  to  be  a  very  fine  keep, 
only  wanting  a  roof  to  render  it  practically  entire.  It  would  be  well 
worthy  of  the  small  expense  of  roofing,  as  it  is  a  very  interesting  building  of 
its  class,  of  excellent  masonry  and  workmanship,  and  ingeniously  planned 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    244    — 


CARDONESS  CASTLK 


aiTangements.  In  the  latter  respect  it  recalls  the  plans  of  Elphinstone 
and  Comlongan  Towers.  The  castle  is  oblong  in  plan,  measuring  over 
the  walls  42  feet  1 1  inches  by  31  feet  11  inches  (Fig.  201).  It  is  53  feet 
high  to  the  top  of  the  walls,  and  71  feet  to  the  top  of  the  gables.  The 
basement  has  a  vault  15  feet  3  inches  high,  containing  an  intermediate 
floor.  The  upper  floors,  which  were  of  wood,  are  all  gone  (see  Section). 


FIG.  200.—  Cardoness  Castle.    General  View. 

The  entrance  door  is  in  the  side  wall  (see  Plan  of  Ground  Floor)., 
with  a  slot-hole  for  the  bar  behind  the  door,  and  leads  into  a  passage  in 
the  thickness  of  the  wall,  entering  from  which  on  the  left  hand  is  a 
small  mural  guard-room,  and  on  the  right  hand  is  the  wheel  stair,  which 
goes  to  the  top  and  the  intermediate  floors.  In  front  are  two  doors 
leading  to  the  two  chambers  into  which  the  under  vault  was  divided. 
The  larger  of  these,  lighted  by  two  narrow  slits,  contains  two  singular 
round  recesses  at  the  angles  of  the  main  walls,  with  massive  diagonal 
sills  about  3  feet  6  inches  above  the  floor. 

This  peculiar  shape  makes  their  purpose  somewhat  obscure.  Pro- 
bably these  circular  recesses  were  formed  as  a  kind  of  inner  turret,  to 
enable  the  loopholes  to  be  used  for  defensive  purposes.  Entering  oft' 
the  stair,  at  about  the  level  of  the  upper  room  or  entresol  in  the  vault, 
are  two  mural  chambers  (see  Plan  of  Entresol).  One  of  these  extends 
over  the  entrance  lobby,  and  has  a  trap  down  to  it,  useful  both  for  defence 
and  for  hauling  up  goods ;  the  other,  in  the  end  wall,  enters  off  the 
passage  to  the  entresol.  It  has  been  an  upper  prison  or  guard-room, 
with  a  garde-robe,  and  has  a  trap  down  to  a  dark  dungeon  beneath. 

The  view  of  the  hall  (Fig.  202)  is  very  striking  in  its  ruined  state, 
with  the  bold  arch  thrown  from  wall  to  wall  for  supporting  an  upper 
partition  which  divides  the  top  floor  into  two  rooms.  The  hall  is  lighted 


CARDONESS  CASTLE 


245    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


with  two  seated  windows,  and  two  others  kept  at  a  high  level  in  order 
to  admit  of  the  mural  chambers  above  described  below  them  (see 
Section).  The  mural  chamber  off  the  side  seated  window  is  in  a  similar 
manner  kept  at  a  high  level,  so  as  to  allow  the  mural  chamber  over  the 
entrance  passage  to  have  suitable  head-room.  Two  other  small  chambers 


FIG.  201.— Cardoness  Castle.    Plans  and  Section. 


enter  off  the  hall,  each  having  a  garde-robe.  The  fireplaces  of  the  hall 
and  the  upper  hall  (both  seen  on  the  sketch,  Fig.  202)  are  good 
examples  of  the  fifteenth-century  type  so  common  in  Scotland,  but 
they  are  above  the  average  in  design  and  workmanship.  Unfortunately 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    246    — 


CARDONESS  CASTLE 


both  are  in  a  slightly  ruinous  state,  but  are  well  worthy  of  having  means 
taken  to  preserve  them.  As  will  be  seen  on  the  plan  of  the  hall,  there 
is  a  curious  opening  from  the  ingoing  of  the  fireplace,  about  12  inches 


FIG.  202.— Cardouess  C'astle.    Interior  of  Hall. 


square,  which  turns  at  right  angles  and  opens  into  the  hall,  somewhat 
like  a  similar  opening  seen  at  Gylem. 

The  upper  floors,  as  already  mentioned,  are  each  divided  into  two 


NEWARK  CASTLE 


—    24?    


THIRD  PERIOD 


apartments.  These  do  not  enter  one  off  the  other  as  usual,  the  one 
farthest  from  the  stair  being  reached  by  a  mural  passage,  as  shown  on 
the  plan  of  the  second  floor. 

Cardoness  belonged  to  the  MacCullochs,  a  family  of  old  standing  in 
Galloway,  and  it  is  generally  supposed  that  the  castle  is  of  about  the 
same  date  as  Threave,  but  its  details  show  it  to  be  of  a  later  period,  pro- 
bably the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

NEWARK  CASTLE,  SELKIRKSHIRE. 

This  interesting  old  keep,  so  full  of  historical  and  romantic  associa- 
tions, is  situated  on  the  top  of  a  steep  wooded  bank  rising  above  the 


i 
- 


T: 


Pio.  203.— Newark  Castle.    View  from  the  North.West, 

river  Yarrow,  about  4-^  miles  up  from  the  town  of  Selkirk.      Mr.  Fraser, 
in   his    work    on  the    Scotts   of  Buccleuch,   states    that    in    a    charter  of 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  248  — 


NEWARK  CASTLE 


Archibald,  Earl  of  Douglas,  dated  1423,  it  is  called  the  "new  Werk,"  in 
distinction  from  an  older  castle  which  has  now  disappeared.  It  may 
therefore  be  regarded  as  belonging  to  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  Newark  was  the  Royal  hunting-seat  in  the  forest  of  Ettrick, 
and  bears  the  Royal  arms  on  the  shield  in  the  west  gable,  of  which  an 
enlarged  sketch  is  given  (Fig.  203).  It  was  attacked  and  taken  by  the 
English  in  1548.  In  1645  one  hundred  prisoners  taken  on  the  field  of 
Philiphaugh,  which  lies  within  a  few  miles  of  it,  were  shot  in  the  court- 
yard, and  in  1650  it  was  occupied  by  Cromwell's  troops.  The  Barons 
of  Buccleuch  were  the  Captains  of  Newark  from  an  early  date.  Anna, 
the  Duchess  of  Monmouth  and  Buccleuch,  and  wife  of  the  famous  Duke 
of  Monmouth,  who  was  beheaded  under  James  vn.,  resided  here  after  his 
death,  and  it  is  during  her  time  that  Scott  here  introduces  the  "  last 
Minstrel,"  and  makes  him  sing  his  mournful  lay. 


FIG.  204.— Newark  Castle.    Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

Newark  is  a  massive  oblong  keep  (Fig.  204),  65  feet  by  40  feet,  with 
walls  10  feet  in  thickness.  The  basement  is  vaulted,  and  sufficiently 
high  to  contain  the  usual  loft  in  the  vault.  Above  this  there  are  four 
stories,  which  had  wooden  floors,  now  entirely  gone.  The  original 
entrance  was  on  the  first  floor ;  the  doorway  still  remains  above  the 
present  modern  entrance  on  the  ground  floor  (Fig.  203),  where,  however, 


NEWARK  CASTLE 


—  249  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


there  may  have  originally  been  a  door  giving  access  to  the  basement. 
The  internal  communication  between  the  first  floor  and  the  basement  is 
by  a  staircase  in  the  north-west  angle  of  the  walls,  partly  circular  and 
pai'tly  straight.  The  first  floor  (Fig.  205)  contains  the  hall  at  the  east 
end,  and  the  kitchen  at  the  west 
end.  The  latter  had  a  separate 
entrance  from  the  newel  stair, 
and  seems  to  have  been  divided 
from  the  hall  by  a  partition,  in- 
dicated by  dotted  lines,  as  at 
Klphinstone  Castle.  It  has  a  great 
fireplace,  with  seat  and  cupboard 
at  one  end,  and  two  mural  closets. 
The  hall  was  lighted  with  two 
large  windows  to  the  south,  set 

Pio.  205.— Newark  Castle.    Plan  of  First  Floor. 

in    deeply  recessed    square   bays. 

The  north  wall  contained  within  its  thickness  a  small  guard-room 
adjoining  the  entrance  to  the  keep  and  the  staircase,  and  two  other 
mural  chambers.  A  second  newel  staircase  in  the  south-east  angle  of 


FIG.  206.— Newark  Castle.    View  from  the  South-East. 


the  walls,  together  with  that  in  the  north-west  angle,  gave  access  to  the 
upper  floors.     These  are  now  inaccessible,  but  evidently  contained  the 


THIRD  PERIOD  250    -  NEWARK  CASTLE 

usual  kind  of  accommodation,  which  in  this  case  must  have  been  extensive. 
The  top  story,  of  course,  comprised  the  parapet  for  defence  (Fig.  206). 
The  corbel  table  is  rudely  executed,  probably  owing  to  the  scarcity  of 
freestone  in  the  district,  while  the  angle  turrets,  instead  of  being  round 
and  projecting  on  well-carved  corbel  courses,  and  being  finished  with 
conical-pointed  roofs,  are  square,  and  carried  up  as  gabled  cape  houses. 

It  seems  most  likely  that  here,  as  at  Comlongan  Castle,  the  top  story 
had  originally  a  simple  parapet  carried  all  round  the  building,  and  that 
the  gabled  angle  turrets  were  added  at  a  later  period.  A  very  distinct 
instance  of  this  process  may  be  seen  at  Benholm  Tower,  Forfarshire. 

The  walls  of  the  barmkin  still  remain  to  a  considerable  extent. 
They  are  of  later  date  than  the  keep,  and  are  pierced  with  shot-holes 
(Figs.  204  and  206).  The  position  of  the  original  entrance  gateway  can 
also  be  traced.  One  of  the  drives  through  the  fine  grounds  of  Bowhill, 
one  of  the  seats  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  passes  through  the  barmkin 
by  means  of  two  apertures  in  the  walls.  The  freestone  dressings  of  the 
windows  have  been  at  some  period  rudely  torn  out,  but  it  is  delightful  to 
find  that  what  still  remains  of  this  historic  pile  is  carefully  guarded  and 
preserved  from  further  ruin. 

AFFLECK  OR  AUCHENLECK  CASTLE,  FORFARSHIRE. 

This  highly  interesting  castle  is  situated  in  the  parish  of  Monikie,  in 
Forfarshire.  The  building  is  in  perfect  preservation,  but  it  is  uninhabited. 
It  is  of  the  common  oblong  keep  form  on  plan  (Fig.  207),  with  a  slight 
projection  at  the  south-east  corner  for  the  staircase,  and  measures  over 
the  walls  37  feet  6  inches  by  26  feet  7  inches.  This  projection  shows 
one  of  the  small  modifications  of  the  simple  keep  plan  which  were  now 
being  introduced.  The  height  to  the  top  of  the  parapet  is  51  feet 
6  inches,  and  8  feet  more  to  the  ridge  of  the  roof.  It  contains  five  floors 
(see  Section),  the  vault  under  the  floor  of  the  hall,  which  is  about  20  feet 
high,  comprising  two  of  them.  The  arched  entrance  doorway  (Fig.  208) 
is  in  the  re-entering  angle,  with  its  iron  yett  still  hanging  behind  the 
wooden  door. 

The  ground  floor,  which  is  down  a  few  steps  from  the  entrance,  is 
divided  into  two  apartments.  The  upper  floors,  each  in  a  single  apart- 
ment, measure  26  feet  8  inches  by  16  feet  2  inches.  The  first,  which  is 
the  only  vaulted  one,  has  no  fireplace,  but  the  window  recesses  are  pro- 
vided with  stone  seats.  The  staircase,  which  commences  at  the  entrance 
passage,  ends  on  the  second  floor  at  the  hall,  which  is  14  feet  5  inches 
high,  and  has  three  windows,  a  large  fireplace  at  the  north  end,  a  garde- 
robe  near  the  door,  and  wall  closets.  In  the  thickness  of  the  east  wall 
a  stair  of  eleven  steps,  2  feet  9  inches  wide,  leads  up  to  an  entresol  over 
the  principal  staircase  (see  Plan  of  Entresol)  measuring  7  feet  8  inches 


AFFLECK  CASTLE 


—    251    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


by  7  feet,  lighted  by  two  small  windows.  This  was  evidently  a  private 
room  or  bedroom.  Off'  this,  up  two  steps,  is  a  garde-robe,  lighted  from 
the  outside,  and  having  a  small  spy-window  into  the  hall,  as  seen  on  the 
section.  We  have  several  examples  of  these  windows,  as  at  Libert  on, 
Elphinstone,  and  elsewhere,  and  in  all  cases  they  were  doubtless  for  the 
use  of  the  lord  or  lady  of  the  house,  to  enable  them  unseen  to  overlook 
what  was  going  on  in  the  hall.  Every  person  going  to  the  upper  floors 


SECOND       FLOOR  FIRST          FLOOR  GROUND     FLOOR 


SECTION 

FIG.  207.—  Affleck  Castle.     Plans,  Section,  and  Details. 

must  of  necessity  go  through  the  hall  and  pass  under  this  window,  so  as 
to  reach  the  other  stair,  which  begins  on  this  level  at  the  opposite  side 
of  the  hall,  and  leads  to  the  top.  The  floor  above  this  has  been  the  with- 
drawing-room.  It  is  similar  in  arrangement  to  the  hall,  only  that  its 
fireplace  is  in  the  east  wall.  Opening  off  this  apartment,  up  one  step, 
there  is  a  beautiful  little  chapel  or  oratory  (see  enlarged  Plan,  Fig.  207, 
and  view,  Fig.  209),  entering  through  a  round  arch  4  feet  9  inches  wide. 
The  chapel,  which  has  a  circular  vault,  measures  7  feet  5  inches  by 
6  feet  10  inches,  and  is  8  feet  6'  inches  high,  and  is  lighted  by  a  small 
cusped  window  on  the  west  side.  On  the  wide  splayed  jamb  of  the 


THIRD  PERIOD  252  AFFLECK  CASTLE 

entrance  there  is  a  stoup  for  holy  water  (see  Fig.  207)  corbelled  out 
from  the  jamb,  with  three  shields  on  the  fully-relieved  sides,  on  one  of 
which  are  three  lozenges.  On  the  wall  alongside  the  window  there  is 
a  piscina  (Fig.  207)  with  pointed  ambry  and  three  dedication  crosses 
over.  Against  the  east  wall  there  are  two  corbels  moulded  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  piscina,  evidently  meant  for  supporting  candles,  the  altar 
space  being  between  the  corbels.  There  is  also  an  ambry  in  this  wall. 


Fio.  208.— Affleck  Castle.    View  from  the  North-East 

The  entrance  to  the  chapel  seems  to  have  been  guarded  by  a  low 
railing,  as  in  the  faces  of  the  jambs  there  is  a  groove  for  a  rail  sliding 
into,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  view  of  the  chapel. 

On  the  battlements  are  two  cape  houses  or  watch  turrets,  one  over 
the  upper  staircase  and  another  over  the  chapel  (Figs.  208  and  210). 
The  parapets  with  their  corbels,  without  machicolations,  and  the  watch 
turrets  and  chimneys,  are  all  in  good  preservation.  The  parapets,  how- 


—  253  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    254 


AFFLECK  CASTLE 


ever,  appear  to  have  been  restored.  They  would  no  doubt  originally  be 
provided  with  embrasures,  as  at  Balvaird,  and  the  projecting  bartizan 
over  the  entrance  door  would  certainly  be  originally  furnished  with 
machicolations.  The  workmanship  at  Affleck  is  of  the  best  kind,  the 
details,  although  simple,  being  well  wrought  out.  In  particular,  there  is 
a  completeness  about  the  little  oratory  which  makes  it  almost  without  a 
parallel  in  Scotland. 


FIG.  210.— Affleck  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 

The  Auchenleck  family  are  said  to  have  possessed  this  estate  from 
very  early  times,  and  in  the  reign  of  James  i.  they  are  designated  as 
"  Auchenlecks  of  that  Ilk." 

The  castle  evidently  dates  from  about  the  end  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  and  continued  to  be  inhabited  till  the  year  1760. 


CHAIGNETHAN  CASTLE  255    THIRD  PERIOD 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE,  LANARKSHIRE. 

This  castle — now  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Home — is  of  peculiar 
interest,  whether  we  regard  its  picturesque  situation,  the  exceptionally 
good  state  of  preservation  of  the  enclosing  walls  and  towers,  or  the 
romantic  charm  which  has  been  imparted  to  its  ruins  as  forming  the 
prototype  of  Sir  Walter's  Tillietudlem.  The  approach  to  the  castle  from 
the  Vale  of  Clyde  at  Crossford,  about  six  miles  below  Lanark,  lies  for 
about  a  mile  through  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Nethan,  with  its  precipi- 
tous and  wooded  banks. 

The  castle  occupies  the  top  of  a  lofty  and  rocky  promontory  formed 
by  a  sharp  curve  in  the  river,  at  the  point  where  the  narrow  pass  widens 
into  an  opener  country  to  the  south.  The  site  is  further  isolated  by  a 
deep  cleft  on  the  north,  through  which  a  small  burn  flows.  The  road  to 
the  castle  from  the  north  crosses  this  stream  by  an  old  but  substantial 
bridge.  It  then  ascends  the  steep  hill  by  zigzags,  and,  on  reaching  the 
level  platform  on  which  the  castle  stands,  it  seems  formerly  to  have 
passed  through  a  gateway  with  towers,  which  defended  the  access.  Of 
this  some  slight  remains  may  still  be  traced.  From  this  point  a  view  of 
the  west  or  entrance  front  of  the  castle  (Fig.  211)  is  obtained.  This 
consists  of  a  battlemented  wall  with  a  square  tower  at  either  extremity, 
and  an  arched  gateway  in  the  centre,  all  provided  with  horizontal  em- 
brasures near  the  ground  for  guns.  The  gateway  leads  into  the  outer 
courtyard  (Fig.  212),  190  feet  by  140  feet,  which  is  surrounded  with  walls 
similar  to  the  front  enclosure  on  the  north,  west,  and  south  sides,  and  by 
a  dry  ditch  or  moat  30  feet  wide  on  the  east,  which  divides  it  from  the 
inner  courtyard  of  the  castle.  The  latter  is  82  feet  by  65  feet,  and  con- 
tains the  central  citadel  or  keep,  which  is  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram 
70  feet  by  54  feet.  This  court  has  also  been  surrounded  with  high  walls 
and  towers,  the  tower  at  the  south-east  being  of  unusual  size. 

The  oldest  part  of  the  castle  is  undoubtedly  the  keep.  It  is  built  on 
a  plan  very  unusual  in  Scotland,  being  a  simple  parallelogram  divided 
into  a  double  keep  by  an  internal  wall  running  from  east  to  west  the 
whole  length  of  the  building.  Another  unusual  circumstance  is  that  the 
principal  floor  is  in  this  case  on  the  ground  level,  instead  of  being, 
according  to  the  ordinary  rule,  on  the  first  floor.  But  this  may  be 
explained  by  the  fact  that  there  is  here  a  vaulted  basement  floor  under 
the  ground  level. 

The  entrance  door  in  the  centre  of  the  west  front  (Fig.  2 1 3)  is  arched 
in  the  usual  manner,  and  is  surmounted  by  a  panel  with  a  shield  contain- 
ing the  Hamilton  arms.  It  has  been  provided  with  double  doors,  and 
has  a  groove  in  the  wall  for  the  ordinary  strong  bar.  This  leads  into  an 
entrance  lobby  of  unusually  large  dimensions,  from  which  access  was 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    256    — 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE 


—  257  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


e 


FIG.  212.— Craignethan  Castle.     Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 
R 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  258  — 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE  -    259    -  THIRD   PERIOD 

obtained  to  the  wide  principal  staircase  in  the  south-west  angle,  and  also 
to  a  stair  under  the  above  leading  to  the  vaults  below.  The  great  hall 
also  enters  from  this  lobby.  The  hall  is  40  feet  3  inches  by  20  feet 
6  inches  wide,  and  has  a  lofty  semicircular  vault  well  constructed  with 
hewn  freestone,  now,  unfortunately,  in  a  very  ruinous  state.  Two  wide 
windows  light  the  hall  on  the  south  side,  and  one  at  the  east  end.  These 
and  the  other  wall  openings  have  bold  rolls  with  raised  fillet  on  the 
angles.  The  fireplace  seems  to  have  been  in  the  central  wall  where  now 
demolished.  The  private  room,  with  fireplace  and  garde-robe,  entered  off 
the  hall  at  the  north-east  angle,  where  there  is  also  access  to  a  private 
newel  stair  to  the  upper  floors.  To  the  north  of  the  entrance  lobby  is  a 
small  apartment  or  guard-room  (now  partly  filled  up),  from  which  there 
must  have  been  originally  a  door  to  the  kitchen,  the  great  fireplace  of 
which  still  remains.  The  newel  stair  from  the  guard-room  to  the  roof 
would  be  used  for  manning  the  battlements. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  building  is  now  a  total  ruin,  and  cannot  be 
inspected  with  safety. 

A  vaulted  basement  extends  under  the  whole  of  the  keep,  divided 
similarly  to  the  principal  floor.  The  cellar  under  the  east  end  of  the 
hall  contains  a  circular-built  well. 

The  keep  has  had  battlements  all  round  and  probably  a  stone  roof 
with  open  bartizans  corbelled  out  at  the  angles  (Fig.  213).  There  is  also 
a  projecting  bartizan  over  the  entrance  door.  The  corbelling  is  of  the 
same  design  as  that  of  Edzell  Castle,  and  shows  the  transition  from  the 
earlier  massive  corbelling  with  machicolations  to  the  later  style  when  the 
corbels  were  entirely  ornamental.  The  corbels  of  the  lower  of  the  two 
rows  have  in  this  case  nothing  to  support  and  are  used  merely  for 
ornament. 

The  bartizans  have  each  a  peculiar  angle  shaft  on  the  outer  face, 
which  mitres  into  the  string-course  at  bottom,  and  probably  supported  a 
shield  with  coat  of  arms  or  a  crest  or  other  ornament  rising  above  the 
parapet.  But  of  these  finials  no  trace  now  remains. 

Judging  from  the  style  of  the  building,  this  keep  seems  to  belong  to 
the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  It  was  no  doubt  originally  sur- 
rounded with  walls  which  extended  as  far  as  the  present  moat,  and  portions 
of  which  are  probably  incorporated  in  the  existing  walls  of  enceinte. 

It  is  generally  related  that  this  castle  was  built  by  Sir  James 
Hamilton  of  Finnart,  who  was  Superintendent  of  Royal  Palaces  and 
Castles  under  James  v.  in  the  first  half  of  the  sixteenth  century,  but  the 
keep  is  undoubtedly  of  older  date.  The  lands  of  Draflfane,  the  ancient 
name  of  Craignethan,  were  acquired  by  James,  Lord  Hamilton,  in  the 
middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  probably  on  the  forfeiture  of  the  Earl 
of  Douglas  in  1455.  It  was  not  till  152.9  that  these  lands  were  settled 
by  the  first  Earl  of  Arran,  Lord  Hamilton's  successor,  on  his  illegitimate 


THIRD  PERIOD  260    CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE 

son,  the  foresaid  James  Hamilton  of  Finnart.  He  is  generally  believed 
to  have  been  himself  an  architect  (a  view  which  his  office  of  Super- 
intendent of  Royal  Palaces  seems  to  support),  and  to  have  designed 
and  directed  the  works  in  the  rebuilding  of  Draffane  or  Craignethan. 
To  him  are  to  be  attributed  the  enclosing  walls  and  towers  round  the 
keep,  including  the  large  south-east  tower.  He  also  appears  to  have 
created  the  outer  courtyard  and  surrounded  it  with  the  walls  and  towers 
which  still  stand. 

As  originally  built,  the  keep  and  surrounding  wall  were  well  detached 
by  the  moat  or  ditch  from  the  adjoining  land,  but  when  the  outer  court- 
yard was  added  it  became  necessary,  in  order  to  obtain  room  for  it,  to 
place  the  west  wall  close  to  a  high  point  of  land,  which  greatly  cramps 
the  approach,  and  which  completely  overlooks  the  interior  of  the  outer 
courtyard.  This  courtyard,  although  very  ornamental,  is  thus  but  of 
small  value  in  point  of  defence,  and  would  never  have  been  so  constructed 
had  not  the  previous  existence  of  the  keep  and  the  nature  of  the  site 
rendered  it  unavoidable.  Hence  also  the  great  care  which  is  bestowed 
on  the  defences  of  the  inner  courtyard.  These  consist  in  the  first  place 
of  the  moat,  30  feet  wide  and  probably  12  feet  deep,  though  now  partly 
filled  up.  It  is  faced  on  each  side  with  dressed  walls,  and  so  far  as  can 
now  be  ascertained,  the  only  access  from  the  outer  to  the  inner  courtyard 
was  by  a  narrow  gateway,  5  feet  wide,  provided  with  a  portcullis,  from 
which  in  all  probability  a  drawbridge  gave  entrance  to  the  tower  (now  in 
ruins)  on  the  inner  side  of  the  moat.  It  will  be  observed  that  this  gate 
is  as  wide  as  the  entrance  to  the  outer  court.  The  intention  evidently 
was  not  to  make  gateways  suitable  for  wheeled  conveyances,  which 
could  scarcely  reach  this  lofty  and  inaccessible  site,  and  were  scarcely 
ever  used  in  those  days,  but  for  foot-passengers  or  horses  only. 

The  west  side  of  the  inner  court  has  been  defended  with  a  very 
strong  wall  or  rampart.  The  foundations,  which  are  now  only  a  few  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  inner  courtyard,  are  fully  16  feet  wide.  This 
thickness  probably  contained  a  wall  on  each  side  with  a  vaulted  passage 
between,  and  was  made  of  this  great  width  in  order  to  receive  heavier 
artillery  on  the  summit.  The  guns  were  probably  mounted  in  upper 
vaulted  chambers  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  and  provided  with  hori- 
zontal loops  similar  to  those  of  the  south-east  tower  (to  be  noticed 
immediately),  or  there  may  have  been  two  tiers  of  guns,  one  over  the 
other,  and  an  open  battlement  above. 

The  enclosing  walls  on  the  north  and  east  sides  are  greatly  ruined^ 
but  that  on  the  south  side  is  still  in  fair  preservation.  It  is  strengthened 
with  a  square  tower  adjoining  the  moat,  and  another  in  the  centre,  both 
provided  with  horizontal  embrasures  for  guns. 

The  south-east  tower  (Fig.  214)  is  of  unusual  size,  being  34  feet  by 
31  feet  9  inches  externally,  and  is  three  stories  in  height.  The  base- 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE 


—    261    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


ment  floor  is  on  the  level  of  the  ground  outside,  while  the  first  floor  is  on 
the  level  of  the  ground  inside  the  walls. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    262    — 


n 


I 


CR.UGNETHAN  CASTLE 


263    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  adjoining  courtyard  to  the  east  of  the  keep  is  also  brought  to  the 
upper  level  by  a  vaulted  basement.  These  vaults  enter  from  a  small 
door  in  the  south  wall  leading  to  a  passage  from  which  the  doors  of  the 
vaults  open.  This  passage  may  also  have  had  communication  with  the 
vaults  under  the  keep. 

The  first  floor  of  the  south-east  tower  contains  a  kitchen  26'  feet 
3  inches  by  19  feet  3  inches,  with  a  lofty  vault  built  with  well-dressed 
freestone.  It  enters  from  the  courtyard,  and  has  three  large  windows  in 
the  outer  walls,  which  are  6  feet  6  inches  thick.  From  chases  which 
remain  in  the  walls  there  would  appear  to  have  been  some  elaborate 
apparatus  for  roasting  animals  whole  in  front  of  the  great  fireplace. 

The  upper  floor  (over  the  vault)  has  been  mounted  with  cannons  (Fig. 
214),  for  which  horizontal  embrasures  are  provided  in  the  south  and  east 
walls,  immediately  under  the  corbels  of  the  parapet.  Embrasures  of  this 
description  are  very  uncommon  at  this  height,  being  generally  situated 
on  the  ground  floor.  In  this  case  they  are  sloped  downwards  so  as  to 
command  the  very  steep  banks  which  descend  from  the  castle  to  the 
river.  Access  to  this  top  floor  and  the  battlements  was  obtained  by  an 
external  stair  on  the  north  side  of  the  tower,  now  demolished. 

The  outer  court  lying  to  the  west  of  the  moat,  being  overlooked  from 
the  adjoining  ground,  was  not  so 
carefully  fortified  as  the  inner  court, 
but  it  was  surrounded  with  a  sub- 
stantial wall  3  feet  6  inches  thick, 
provided  with  embrasures  for  guns  at 
the  ground  level,  and  with  a  conti- 
nuous battlemented  parapet  on  top. 

The  west  front  (Fig.  211),  being 
the  most  exposed,  is  strengthened 
with  towers  at  the  angles,  and  the 
central  gateway  is  also  defended  by 
a  tower. 

The  angle  towers  formed  guard- 
rooms, and  each  had  a  stair  leading 
to  the  battlements.  The  north-west 
tower  (Fig.  21 1)  has  the  upper  story 
fitted  up  as  a  pigeon-house ;  the 
upper  wall  is  thinned  off  so  that 
a  passage  for  the  parapet  walk 
round  the  outside  may  be  obtained. 
All  round  the  interior  of  the  walls, 
at  the  level  of  the  parapet  walk, 
there  is  a  row  of  corbels  to  carry  a  wall  plate.  This  may  either  have 
served  to  receive  the  ends  of  the  rafters  of  the  roofs  of  stables  and  other 


FIG.  216.— Craignethan  Castle.    Old  Oak  Door. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


264    — 


CRAIGNETHAN  CASTLE 


offices  placed  against  the  walls  (similar  to  those  adjoining  the  gateway, 
Fig.  215),  or  they  may  have  been  for  supporting  a  wooden  platform  for 
widening  the  parapet  walk  and  rendering  it  more  serviceable  in  case  of 
a  siege.  The  north  and  south  walls  are  terminated  at  the  moat  with 
large  buttresses  (Fig.  214),  that  of  the  north  wall  being  pierced  with 
a  gun  embrasure  near  the  base.  There  was  also  an  outer  wall  north- 
ward from  the  north  wall  of  enceinte  connected  with  which  the  remains 
of  a  turret  are  traceable  at  the  north-east  angle.  The  lean-to  buildings 


FIG.  217.— Craignethan  Castle.    Doorway  of  House  at  South-West  Angle  of  Courtyard. 

against  the  west  wall  (Fig.  215)  are  apparently  of  the  same  date  as  the 
walls,  and  seem  to  have  been  kitchen  offices,  one  of  them  having  a  large 
fireplace.  The  lintel  over  the  door  has  a  carved  ornament  (Fig.  215), 
and  the  crow-steps  are  of  an  unusually  ornate  design.  This  kitchen  was 
probably  used  in  connection  with  the  accommodation  for  retainers,  which 


SAUCHIE  TOWER  265    THIRD  PERIOD 

may  have  been  erected  in  the  south-west  angle,  where  a  more  modern 
house  now  stands.  Exterior  kitchens  in  courtyards  are  not  infrequent 
in  later  castles.  The  crow-steps  on  the  pigeon-house  tower  are  of  the 
same  form  as  those  on  the  kitchen  buildings  in  the  courtyard. 

The  gable  of  these  buildings  next  the  entrance  archway  (Fig.  215) 
contains  a  panel  and  shield  with  the  arms  of  James  Hamilton  of  Finnart, 
and  beneath  it  a  stone  stoup,  which  was  probably  used  for  conveying 
water  into  the  kitchen  from  the  adjoining  well.  An  old  oak  door  is 
preserved  in  the  new  house,  which  is  apparently  of  the  date  of  the  older 
work  (Fig.  21 6).  It  is  ornamented  with  good  specimens  of  the  linen 
pattern,  which  are  rather  rare  in  Scotland. 

The  house  in  the  south-west  angle  of  the  enclosure  was  erected  by 
Andrew  Hay,  to  whom  the  Duchess  Ann  sold  the  castle  in  1665.  The 
doorway  in  the  round  stair  turret  is  surmounted  with  a  panel  (Fig.  21?) 
containing  the  arms  of  Hay  with  the  above  date.  In  erecting  this  house 
the  old  walls  and  south-west  tower  have  been  made  available,  and  have 
been  incorporated  in  the  new  building.  The  outside  kitchen  is  a  peculiar 
feature  in  this  structure.  This  building  has  been  somewhat  modernised, 
and  is  still  inhabited,  but  all  the  remainder  is  more  or  less  ruinous.  It 
is  sad  to  see  the  rapid  dilapidation  which  is  overtaking  the  keep  and 
other  portions  of  this  most  interesting  and  historic  building.  Only  quite 
recently  the  north-west  angle  bartizan  of  the  keep,  a  large  part  of  the 
vaulting,  and  some  of  the  stairs  fell,  and  unless  some  attention  is  paid  to 
it,  the  whole  of  the  castle  will  soon  become  a  shapeless  ruin. 

SAUCHIE  TOWER,  CLACKMANNANSHIRE. 

Old  Sauchie  Tower,  not  far  from  Alva,  in  Clackmannanshire,  is  a 
well-preserved  specimen  of  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century. 
Externally  it  is  a  simple  parallelogram  (Fig.  218)  38  feet  by  34  feet, 
with  walls  about  6  feet  thick.  The  entrance  door,  which  is  in  the  west 
wall,  is  on  the  ground  floor,  and  communicates  with  all  the  upper  floors 
by  a  circular  staircase  in  the  north-west  angle  of  the  walls.  Adjoining 
the  entrance  there  is  a  small  recess  for  the  guard.  As  usual,  the  ground 
floor  is  vaulted,  but  what  is  not  common,  is  that  the  upper  chamber  in 
the  vault  has  been  used  as  a  hall  or  good  apartment,  having  a  large 
window  at  the  south  end,  with  stone  seats  in  the  recess  (see  Section). 
The  ground  floor  has  been  a  storeroom,  with  a  draw-well  in  the  south 
wall,  and  small  cellar  adjoining  in  the  thickness  of  the  west  wall.  This 
wall  is  made  1 1  feet  thick,  so  as  to  contain  small  apartments  on  the 
ground  floor,  first  floor,  and  second  floor.  On  the  entresol  (as  seen  on 
the  Entresol  Plan  and  Section)  this  small  apartment  forms  the  kitchen, 
with  a  fireplace  in  the  south  wall  under  than  the  room.  The  first  floor 
contains  the  hall,  2()  feet  by  18  feet  6  inches,  with  a  deeply  recessed 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    266    — 


SAUCHIE  TOWER 


window  iii  the  west  wall  provided  with  stone  seats.  A  small  apartment 
enters  from  the  window  recess,  which  was  probably  a  private  parlour ; 
and  it  had  a  small  window  to  overlook  the  hall  and.  see  all  that  went  on 
there.  This  was  a  very  common  arrangement  in  the  solars  of  English 


f         f-Lr 


FIG.  218.— Sauchie  Tower.    Plans,  Sections,  and  Details. 

castles.     The  hall  has  a  fine  fireplace,  8  feet  6  inches  wide,  with  good 
jamb  mouldings  (see  sketch). 


SAUCHIE  TOWER 


—    267 


THIRD  PERIOD 


There  appears  to  have  been  a  small  wooden  screen  at  the  door  of  the 
hall  (to  conceal  the  door  to  the  garde-robe),  but  it  did  not  form  a  screen 
across  the  whole  hall,  as  in  many  of  the  larger  castles,  nor  is  there 
height  for  a  gallery  above  it.  There  is,  however,  a  stone  basin  (see 
sketch),  with  an  ogee-shaped  arch,  and  a  drain  to  the  outside,  at  this 
end  of  the  hall,  probably  used  as  a  wash-hand  basin,  as  at  Borthwick. 
It  has  a  plain  ogee  arch  over  the  recess  for  the  basin. 


FIG.  219.— Sauchie  Tower.    View  from  the  North-West. 

The  second  floor  is  increased  in  size  by  thinning  the  west  wall  (see 
Section).  This  was  the  proprietor's  private  apartment.  Some  of  the  oak 
beams  over  this  floor,  and  the  hall  floor,  as  well  as  the  ground  floor,  still 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    268    — 


SAUCHIE  TOWER 


SAUCHIE  TOWER 


—  269  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD  270    -  SAUCHIE  TOWER 

exist,  but  they  are  fast  decaying  and  falling  down.  The  fourth  story 
contained  bedrooms,  and  the  attic,  on  the  level  of  the  parapet,  was  (as 
at  Clackmannan)  no  doubt  for  the  garrison.  The  corbels  of  the  angle 
turrets  and  battlements  are  well  preserved,  and  are  peculiarly  placed  in 
relation  to  one  another  (Fig.  219).  The  stone  roof  of  the  pentagonal 
stair  turret  is  also  noteworthy.  On  the  outside  of  the  turret  there  are 
stone  steps  to  enable  the  watchman  to  climb  up  to  the  gutter  behind  the 
turret  roof,  which  would  thus  form  a  look-out  post. 

We  also  find  here  an  interesting  fragment  of  the  original  wall  of 
the  enceinte,  with  remains  of  a  circular  tower  and  long  loop  (Fig.  220). 
These  have  now  been  incorporated  in  a  very  picturesque  specimen  of  the 
sort  of  buildings  which  the  proprietors  erected  in  their  courtyards  against 
the  enclosing  walls  in  the  seventeenth  century.  This  building  is  much 
later  than  the  period  we  are  now  treating  of,  but  it  is  good  of  its  kind, 
and  is  here  illustrated  along  with  the  older  buildings. 

From  an  interesting  account  of  this  castle,  written  by  Mr.  Bennett, 
Secretary  of  the  Alloa  Archaeological  Society,  we  learn  that  the  barony 
of  Sauchie  was  granted  by  Robert  Bruce,  in  1324,  to  Henry  de  Annand. 
It  afterwards  was  divided  between  two  coheiresses,  his  descendants, 
who  married  William  Brown  of  Colston,  and  James  Schaw  of  Greenock. 
The  Schaws  ultimately  acquired  the  whole  property.  The  tower  was  in 
all  probability  built  by  James  Schaw  of  Sauchie  between  1430  and  1440. 
The  mansion  on  the  west  wall  (Figs.  222,  223)  was  erected  by  one  of  his 
descendants  in  1631.  The  tympanum  over  the  entrance  door  contains 
the  Schaw  arms  and  motto,  "  I  mein  weill,"  together  with  the  above 
date.  On  each  side  stands  a  figure  with  a  scroll  containing  the  legend — 

BY   PROMTS   MADE   RESTORED   YE   BE 
TO   HAVE   A   BLESSED   ETERNATTY. 

On  the  left-hand  dormer  window  is  the  motto,  "  EN  BIEN  FAISANT,"  and 
on  that  on  the  right,  "  JE  ME  CONTENTE."  "  The  two  phrases,"  says  Mr. 
Bennett,  "  may  be  taken  as  forming  one  sentence  and  freely  translated , 
'  In  well-doing  I  satisfy  myself,'  a  paraphrase  of  the  Schaw  motto." 

KINNAIRD  TOWER,   PERTHSHIRE. 

Kinnaird  Tower  is  situated  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie,  about  three  miles 
from  Errol  Railway  Station.  It  is  perched  on  the  summit  of  a  grassy 
knoll,  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  Carse  hills,  in  a  situation  of  great 
beauty  and  security.  It  is  isolated  from  the  heights  behind  by  a  deep 
dell,  through  which  a  little  burn  runs,  and,  commanding  the  situation  on 
all  other  sides,  the  fortalice  at  the  time  of  its  erection  must  have  been 
a  place  of  great  strength  and  security. 

The  building  is  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation,  having  been  thoroughly 
renovated  a  few  years  ago  by  the  late  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threipland,  Bart. 


KINNAIRD  TOWER 


—    271    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


When  it  came  into  his  possession  it  was  a  roofless  ruin ;  but  appreciating 
its  value,  Sir  Patrick  had  it  repaired,  and  converted  it  into  an  interesting 
local  museum,  in  which  capacity  we  trust  it  will  long  remain  a  monument 
of  his  enlightened  taste. 


FIG.  222.—  Kinnaird  Tower.    Plans. 

The  building,  which  stands  on  a  terrace,  is  reached  by  a  flight  of 
eight  or  ten  steps,  and  consists  of  an  oblong  keep  38  feet  6  inches  east 
to  west  by  27  feet  2  inches  north  to  south  (Fig.  222).  It  is  60  feet  high 
from  the  terrace  to  the  top  of  the  parapet,  and  about  7  feet  more  to  the 
ridge  of  the  roof,  while  from  the  additional  height  of  the  terrace,  and 
the  sudden  fall  of  the  ground  all  round,  the  castle  has  a  most  command- 
ing appearance.  There  has  been  a  courtyard  on  the  west  side  of  the 
building ;  the  remains  of  its  enclosing  wall  will  be  seen  projecting  on  the 
ground  floor  plan,  at  the  north-west  corner.  It  has  extended  westwards 
towards  the  roadway  shown  on  view  (Fig.  223).  A  similar  broken  end 
of  the  wall  will  be  observed  as  a  continuation  of  the  projection  at  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  keep.  In  the  same  view  is  the  door  leading 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  272  — 


KINNAIRD  TOWER 


out  from  the  staircase  of  the  tower  on  to  the  parapet  walk  of  the  enclos- 
ing wall,  at  about  15  feet  above  the  ground  level.     This  has  been  fitted 


Pio.  223.—  Kinnaird  Tower.    View  from  the  South-West. 

with  double  doors,  the  outer  one  evidently  folding  over  like  a  draw- 
bridge.    The   sockets  in  which   it  wrought,  and  the  iron  ring  through 


KINNAIRD  TOWER  -    273    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

which  the  lowering  and  raising  rope  or  chain  passed  being  still  in  posi- 
tion. Opening  off  the  terrace  the  entrance  door  to  the  tower  is  in  the 
centre  of  the  south  front,  and  is  strongly  protected  with  an  iron  "  yett " 
formed  with  a  circular  top  to  fit  the  doorway,  and  constructed  in  the 
usual  way,  having  the  upright  and  horizontal  bars  reversing  in  the 
opposite  quarters.  The  stair  starts  on  the  left  hand  on  entering.  It  is 
formed  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  and  continues  as  a  straight  flight 
till  it  joins  the  wheel  stair  leading  to  the  upper  floors.  The  ground  floor 
has  the  peculiarity  of  having  been  only  partly  vaulted  for  a  space  of 
from  5  feet  to  6  feet  at  each  end,  while  the  centre  portion  between 
(about  16  feet  ()  inches  long)  has  been  of  timber,  as  is  apparent  from  the 
corbels  for  resting  the  beams,  which  are  still  in  position.  All  the  upper 
floors  of  the  tower  have  also  been  of  timber  supported  on  similar  corbels, 
while  two  of  the  small  mural  chambers  in  the  south  wall  are  arched  in 
stone,  the  stone  arches  being  carried  through  the  wall  so  as  to  show  on 
the  outer  face,  as  seen  on  sketch  (Fig.  223). 

In  the  ground  floor,  where  shown  on  plan,  there  is  a  pit  cut  out  of 
the  solid  rock.  It  is  18  feet  deep  by  about  4  feet  8  inches  in  diameter. 
It  is  believed  to  have  been  used  as  a  dungeon,  and  not  as  a  well.  This 
may  have  been  so,  as  it  is  quite  dry,  and  is  tapped  by  the  ravine  behind, 
and  by  the  ground  descending  rapidly  to  the  front.  There  is  a  small 
dungeon  in  the  south-west  wing  under  the  stair,  at  the  depth  of  a  few 
feet  below  the  floor  and  the  outside  terrace.  Throughout  the  ground 
floor  the  rock  crops  up  in  various  places. 

There  are  garde-robes  in  the  walls  of  all  the  upper  floors,  the  soil 
from  those  at  the  north  being  thrown  clear  from  the  walls  by  well-pro- 
jected sloping  stones. 

The  small  projecting  buttress  at  the  south-west  angle  is  a  remarkable 
feature.  It  has  apparently  been  intended  partly  to  contain  the  staircase, 
and  also  to  be  carried  up  as  a  watch-tower.  It  is  also  utilised  for  wall 
chambers  on  each  floor.  The  upper  chamber  in  the  south-west  turret  is 
shut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  house  by  an  iron  "  yett,"  suggesting  that  it 
may  have  been  a  sort  of  prison. 

Adjoining  the  tower  (Fig.  224)  there  is  a  two-storied  house.  From 
its  dormer  window  (Fig.  225)  we  learn  that  it  was  built  in  1610.  It 

PT 
contains  the  letters  u  MQ.     This  building  on  the  ground  floor  contained 

the  kitchen,  14  feet  6  inches  by  13  feet  6  inches,  with  a  high-arched 
fireplace,  13  feet  6  inches  by  6  feet.  The  floor  above  is  reached  by 
a  modern  stair,  the  house  being  inhabited  by  the  keeper  of  the  castle. 
There  is  a  small  service  window  at  the  end  of  the  kitchen  next  the  tower, 
opposite  the  terrace  steps  (see  Plan).  This  kitchen  is  interesting,  as 
showing  the  progress  of  ideas  in  domestic  comfort  and  convenience. 
It  is  probably  about  a  century  later  than  the  tower  itself,  and  doubtless 


THIRD  PERIOD  —  — 

during  all  that  period  life  went  011  in  the  tower,  as  in  many  others 


FIG.  224.— Kinnaird  Tower.    View  from  the  South-East. 


BURLEIGH  CASTLE 


—    275    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


throughout  the  country,  subject  to  the  discomfort  and  inconvenience  of 
extremely  limited  arrangements. 

In  1674  Patrick  Threipland  purchased  the  estate  of  Kinnaird,  which 
immediately  adjoins  Fingask,  a  property  which  he  acquired  two  years 
before.  Kinnaird  previously  belonged  to  the  branch  of  the  Livingstone 
family,  raised  by  Charles  n.  to  the  Earldom  of  Newburgh. 


BURLEIGH  CASTLE,  KINROSS-SHIRE. 

This  ancient  seat  of  the  Bal fours,  which  stands  close  to  Milnathort, 
is  now  reduced  to  the  old  keep,  and  the  gate  and  gatehouse  of  the  court- 
yard. All  the  other  buildings,  which  no  doubt  formerly  formed  a  quad- 
rangle, are  now  completely  swept  away. 


FIG.  225.— Burleigh  Castle.     View  from  the  South-West. 

The  family  of  Balfour  came  into  possession  in   1446,  and  the  keep 
appears  to  belong  to  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century. 


THIRD   PERIOD 


276    — 


BURLEIGH  CASTLE 


The  arrangement  of  the  plan  and  the  style  of  the  corbels  and 
parapet  (Fig.  225)  are  of  that  date. 

The  keep  is  a  simple  oblong  tower,  and  the  internal  arrangements 
are  very  primitive.  The  ground  floor  (Fig.  226)  contains  a  vaulted  cellar 


FIG.  226. — Burleigh  Castle.    Ground  Plan. 

with  entrance  door  to  the  keep,  and  a  spiral  staircase  in  the  north-east 
corner.  The  hall  occupies  the  first  floor  (Fig.  227),  with  windows  on 
three  sides,  and  stone  seats  in  the  recesses,  and  a  door  in  the  north  side, 
which  might  be  used  without  the  risk  of  surprise,  as  might  happen  if  the 
lower  door  was  opened. 


PIG.  227.— Burleigh  Castle.    Plan  of  Upper  Floors. 

The  upper  floor  is  similar  to  the  hall,  and  there  was  another  room  in 
the  roof.  The  first  and  second  floors  have  garde-robes  in  the  north-west 
corner,  and  a  shoot  door  to  the  moat,  traces  of  which  may  be  seen  close 
along  the  west  side  of  the  castle  (Fig.  225). 


BURLEIGH  CASTLE 


—  277  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  existing  portion  of  the  west  wall  of  the  courtyard,  and  the  round 
gate  tower  at  what  was  the  south-west  angle  of  the  courtyard  (Figs.  225, 
228),  are  very  interesting.  From  the  inscription  on  the  skew-put 
(Fig.  227),  the  date  of  the  tower  is  1582.  The  same  stone  carries  a 
shield  with  the  arms  of  Balfour  of  Balgarvie,  with  the  letters  IB  and 
MB,  probably  for  Sir  James  Balfour  of  Mountquhanie,  who  married 
Margaret  Balfour,  heiress  of  Burleigh.  On  the  other  skew-put  (Fig.  227) 
is  the  red  rose  which  is  the  distinguishing  mark  of  this  family  amongst 
the  Balfours. 


FIG.  228.— Burleigh  Castle.    Gatehouse  from  the  North-West. 

The  basement  contains  a  vaulted  cellar,  from  which  the  curious 
horizontal  embrasures  for  guns  could  be  utilised.  The  door,  although 
now  outside  the  courtyard  wall,  was  originally  inside  it.  The  turret,  so 
picturesquely  inserted  in  the  angle,  contains  the  staircase  to  the  upper 
floors.  The  first  floor  contains  a  room  brought  nearly  to  the  square 
internally,  while  the  upper  floor  is  corbelled  out  in  the  rather  extrava- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  278 


DUFFUS  CASTLE 


—  279  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


gant  but  effective  manner  characteristic  of  the  above  date,  so  as  to 
make  it  square  externally  as  well  as  internally.  This  enables  it  to 
be  roofed  with  gables,  and  these  have  the  rare  peculiarity  of  being 
finished  with  flat  skews,  and  not  with  crow-steps,  as  was  the  almost 
invariable  practice  at  the  time.  The  shot-holes  under  the  windows 
of  the  upper  floors  have  the  usual  widely  splayed  ingoing,  but  it  is 
divided  with  fillets  to  prevent  bullets  from  being  guided  into  the 
interior  by  the  slope  of  the  aperture. 


DUFFUS  CASTLE,  ELGINSHIRE. 

This  castle  occupies  a  remarkable  site.  It  stands  on  the  top  of  an 
isolated  gravel  mound  in  the  centre  of  a  flat  plain,  about  two  miles  north 
from  Elgin,  and  is  still  surrounded  with  a  wide  ditch  on  the  level  ground 
beyond  the  base  of  the  hill,  enclosing  about  nine  acres  of  ground.  There 
is  nothing  to  indicate  when  this  ditch  was  made,  but,  from  the  extent  of 
ground  enclosed,  and  from  the  nature  of  the  site  generally,  it  seems  not 
unlikely  that  this  was  originally  a  fortress  of  the  ancient  type  before  the 
existing  stone-and-lime  castle  was  built. 

A  castle  is  said  to  have  been 
erected  here  in  the  time  of  David  n., 
but  the  present  building  is  probably 
about  a  century  later. 

In  the  centre  of  the  space  enclosed 
with  the  fosse  there  is  a  natural 
mound  of  some  extent. 

The  general  plan  (Fig.  230)  shows 
that  this  raised  ground  was  surrounded 
at  the  top  of  the  slope  with  a  high 
wall  of  enceinte,  some  portions  of 
which  still  remain,  and  may  possibly 
be  older  than  the  keep.  The  latter 
occupies  the  u  motte,"  or  highest  point 
of  the  site,  which  is  probably  in  whole  or  part  an  artificial  mound,  as  the 
foundations  on  the  north  side  have  slipped,  and  large  masses  of  the  north 
wall  of  the  keep  have  slid,  almost  in  one  piece,  down  the  slope  (Fig.  229). 
The  motte,  as  was  usual  in  .ancient  fortifications,  is  placed  on  the  line  of 
the  enceinte. 

The  plan  of  the  keep  (Fig.  231)  is  somewhat  unusual,  the  ordinary 
quadrilateral  figure  being  broken  up  with  several  projections,  and  the 
east  wall,  which  is  within  the  wall  of  enceinte,  has  a  carefully  dressed 
base  with  a  triple  splay. 


Fio.  230.— Duffus  Castle.    Plan  of  Site. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  280  — 


DUFFUS  CASTLE 


The  windows  have  well-formed  recesses,  and  the  jambs  have  double 

splays.      The    small    square   windows   of 
the  basement  recall  similar  openings  at 
IBT  Rait  Castle,  and  the  small  pointed  win- 

^f~~  dows  are  also  of  a  similar  character  in 

•^          both  buildings. 

It  is  now  impossible  to  decide  what 
the  internal  arrangements  were,  but  it 
is  probable  that  the  stair  ascended  in 
the  passage  to  the  left  of  the  entrance 
door,  the  other  wall  recesses  being  occu- 
pied with  guard-room,  passages,  garde- 
robes,  etc. 

The  castle  belonged  originally  to  the 
De  Moravia  family,  and  afterwards  passed 

,        ,-,         f       .-,          />    rj    .-,       •,       j          •>        •, 

to  the   family  of  Sutherland,  who  bore 
the  title  of  Lord  Duffus  from  1650  till  1843. 


PIG.  231.  —  Duffus  Castle.    Plan  of  Keep. 


REDCASTLE,  FORFARSHIRE. 

Redcastle  occupies  a  very  ancient  site,  overlooking  the  German 
Ocean,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lunan  Water,  a  few  miles  south  from 
Montrose.  A  castle  was  erected  here  by  William  the  Lion  as  a  hunting- 
seat,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  fragment  of  the  ancient  and  massive  wall 


5°  6- 


Fio.'  232.— Redcastle.    Ground  Plan. 


of  enceinte  still  existing  (Fig.  232)  may  be  a  part  of  the  original  fortress. 
The  keep  has  been  of  the  ordinary  quadrilateral  figure,  the  foundations 


REDCASTLE 


—    281    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


of  the  whole  being  still  traceable,  but  only  the  north  gable  and  parts  of 
the  side  walls  now  remain.  These  walls  are  of  nearly  the  original  height, 
and  have  been  crowned  with  a  parapet  and  angle  bartizans  (Fig.  233), 
the  double  corbels  of  the  former  and  the  projecting  corbelling  to 
support  the  latter  being  still  entire.  The  walls  are  faced  with  good  red 
freestone  ashlar. 


FIG.  233.— Redcastle.    View  from  the  North-West. 


The  above  features  indicate  that  this  keep  belongs  to  the  fifteenth 
century. 


DUNOLLY  CASTLE,  ARGYLLSHIRE. 

Dunolly  Castle  is  grandly  situated  on  the  top  of  a  precipitous  rock 
some  70  or  80  feet  high,  overlooking  the  sea,  about  a  mile  north  from 
Oban.  It  consists  of  a  keep,  built  on  and  forming  a  part  of  the  walls  of 
enceinte  of  the  castle.  The  courtyard,  which  is  about  90  feet  from  north 
to  south  by  about  88  feet  from  east  to  west,  over  the  walls,  is  nearly 
square  on  plan  (Fig.  234),  and  the  keep,  which  is  in  the  north-east  angle, 
is  set  diagonally  to  the  walls  of  the  courtyard.  Only  the  east  and 
north  curtain  walls  remain  throughout  their  whole  length,  while  along 


THIRD  PERIOD 


DUNOLLY  CASTLE 


the  south  and  west  the  face  of  the  cliff  determines  the  area  of  the  court- 
yard. On  both  these  fronts  the  rock  was  a  sufficient  protection  from 
assault,  walls  being  only  necessary  to  screen  the  courtyard.  The  exist- 
ence of  walls  along  these  fronts  is  now  indicated  by  grassy  mounds,  except 
at  the  north-west  angle,  where  there  are  remains  of  what  seem  to  have 
been  later  buildings.  Outside  the  two  existing  curtain  walls  to  the 
north  and  east,  the  summit  of  the  rock  is  fairly  level  for  an  average 
distance  of  about  twenty  yards,  beyond  which  the  ground  falls  steeply. 
The  approach  to  the  castle  was  from  the  north.  The  castle  is  of  great 
strength,  the  walls  varying  from  9  to  1 1  feet  in  thickness.  The  entrance 
is  in  the  east  curtain,  through  a  doorway  about  5  feet  wide,  provided  with 
a  bar-hole.  There  is  another  zigzag  entrance  through  the  north  curtain. 


FIG.  234.— Dunolly  Castle.    Plans. 

The  keep  measures  39  feet  by  37  feet  outside,  and  contains  a  vaulted 
chamber  on  the  ground  floor  about  14  feet  high,  lighted  by  two  narrow 
slits.  This  is  the  only  vaulted  floor  in  the  keep,  all  the  upper  floors 
having  been  of  timber,  the  corbels  for  the  beams  of  which  still  remain. 
The  entrance  doorway  to  the  keep  is  on  the  ground  floor.  In  the  right- 
hand  ingoing  of  the  doorway  a  straight  stair,  2  feet  3  inches  wide,  formed 
in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  leads  to  the  first  floor,  landing  near  the 
centre  of  the  south  wall.  This  floor,  which  was  not  the  principal  one, 
was  also  reached  from  the  courtyard  by  a  ladder  (Fig.  235),  the  door  being 
nearly  above  the  one  below.  This  doorway  has  the  unusual  arrangement 


DUNOLLY  CASTLE 


—  283  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


of  a  bar-hole  inside,  while,  curiously  enough,  the  door  below  is  not  so 
provided.  The  first  floor,  measuring  21  feet  9  inches  by  19  feet  6  inches, 
is  lighted  by  two  windows,  and  contains  a  garde-robe  and  fireplace. 


FIG.  235.— Dunolly  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 

The  second  or  hall  floor  is  reached  by  a  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the 
wall,  starting  from  the  ingoing  of  the  outer  entrance  doorway  similarly 
to  the  stair  below,  and  from  the  top  of  this  stair  a  "  corkscrew  "  in  the 
south-west  angle  leads  to  the  top.  The  hall,  entered  at  the  south-west 
corner  (see  Plan),  is  similar  to  the  floor  below,  only  that  its  windows  are 
wider,  and  contain  stone  seats,  and  it  is  of  greater  height,  being  12  feet 
as  against  9  feet.  The  upper  floor  over  the  hall  measures  about  8  feet 
from  the  corbels  for  supporting  its  floor  to  the  parapet  walk.  The  height 
from  the  ground  to  the  parapet  walk  is  thus  about  45  feet  in  all,  and, 
allowing  5  feet  for  the  parapet,  brings  the  height  of  the  walls  to  about 
50  feet. 

Like  the  neighbouring  castle  of  Dunstaffnage,  Dunolly  has  a  tradi- 
tion carrying  the  date  of  its  erection  much  further  back  than  sober 
history  can  follow.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  original  seat  of  the 
Macdougalls,  Lords  of  Lorn,  and  may  have  been  the  site  of  a  primitive 
fortalice.  There  is,  however,  no  reasonable  grounds  for  dating  it  earlier 
than  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century,  although  the  site,  which  is 
a  markedly  strong  one,  may  have  been  occupied  for  defence  at  a  very 
early  period. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  284  — 


BENHOLME  TOWER 


BENHOLME  TOWER,  KINCARDINESHIRE, 

A  fifteenth-century  keep,  situated  on  the  high  ground  above  the  sea 
a  few  miles  north  from  Montrose.  It  is  still  entire,  and  is  attached  to  a 
modern  mansion.  The  tower  is  crowned  with  a  parapet  and  angle 
bartizans  (Fig.  236),  having  the  corbels  of  the  usual  form  of  this  period. 


FIG.  23(i. — Benholme  Tower.    View  from  the  South-West. 

A  square  cape  house,  or  watch-turret,  has  been  erected  at  a  later  date 
upon  the  top  of  one  of  the  bartizans.  This  indicates  in  a  more  primitive 
form  the  various  additions  which  were  sometimes  made  on  the  parapets, 
by  raising  them  and  covering  them  in  with  roofs,  as  at  Comlongan  and 
Newark  Castles.  The  hall  (Fig.  237)  is  unaltered,  and  contains  all  the 
ordinary  arrangements  —  windows  with  deep  square  recesses,  wall 
chambers,  garde-robe,  etc.  The  ornamental  ambry  (Fig.  237)  or  side- 


DRUMMOND  CASTLE 


—    285    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


board  at  the  upper  or  fireplace  end  of  the  hall  is  a  characteristic  feature 
of  the  time. 


V 


Fia.  237. — Benholme  Tower.    Plan  and  Details. 


DORMERS  OVER 
ENTRANCE 


DRUMMOND  CASTLE,  PERTHSHIRE. 

This  castle  is  built  on  a  rocky  eminence  about  three  miles  from 
Crieflf.  It  is  situated  in 
an  extensive  and  beauti- 
ful park,  and  commands 
a  fine  view  over  Strath- 
earn. 

Sir  John  Drummond 
purchased  this  property 
in  1487  and  built  the 

original  castle.      It   con-   r PLAN  OF  SECOND  FLOOR 

sisted  of  an  oblong  keep 
(Fig.  238),  43  feet  by 
'M  feet,  set  on  the  high- 
est point  of  the  rock. 

The  entrance  was  on 
the  first  floor  (to  which 
an  outside  stone  stair 
now  leads),  whence  a 
narrow  stair  in  the  thick- 
ness of  the  wall  descends 
to  the  vaulted  basement, 
and  a  newel  staircase  in  a 
projecting  turret  ascends 

to  the  upper  floors.  FIG.  238.— Drummond  Castle.    Plans. 

The  first  floor  contained  the  common  hall,  and  the  second  floor  the 
principal  hall  of  the  castle,  with  windows  furnished  with  stone   seats. 


FIRST  FLOOR 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    286    — 


DRUMMOND  CASTLE 


Above  this  there  were  originally  one  or  two  stories,  but  the  upper  part 
of  the  keep  is  now  modernised. 


FIG.  239. — Drummond  Castle.    View  from  the  West. 

The  family  acquired  the  title  of  Earl  of  Perth  in  1605,  and  the  wing 
which  adjoins  the  old  keep  on  the  south  was  built  soon  after.  The 
dormers  (Fig.  238)  contain  the  Drummond  arms  with  the  Earl's  initials, 
and  the  dates  1630  and  1636. 


FIG.  240. — Drummond  Castle.     Inner  Courtyard. 

On  the  ground  floor  of  this  wing  is  the  arched  gateway  to  the  castle 
(still  provided  with  its  double  iron  gate)  and  a  porter's  room. 

The  upper  floors  gave  extended  accommodation  connected  with  the 
keep,  but  have  now  been  modernised  and  converted  into  an  armoury, 
containing  many  curious  Highland  relics. 

An  extensive  range  of  buildings  was  also  erected  on  the  north  side  of 
the  keep  (shown  by  dotted  lines  on  Plan),  probably  at  the  same  period, 


DRUMMOND  CASTLE 


—   287 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—   288 


ROSYTH  CASTLE 


DRUMMOND  CASTLE 


—  289 


THIRD   PERIOD 


but  these  are  now  so  ruinous  that  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  their  various 
uses.  They  no  doubt  contained  vaulted  kitchen  and  offices  on  the  ground 
floor,  and  the  reception-rooms  common  at  the  time  on  the  upper  floors. 

The  castle  is  said  to  have  suffered  greatly  at  the  hands  of  Cromwell 
in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was  strengthened  in  1715, 
and  garrisoned  by  Royal  troops.  To  prevent  this  again  happening,  the 
Dowager  Duchess  of  Perth  is  stated  to  have  caused  the  walls  to  be 
levelled  with  the  ground  in  1745. 

The  old  castle  being  ruinous,  a  modern  mansion  was  erected  to  the 
eastward  about  1689.  A  view  of  the  courtyard  (Fig.  240)  is  given,  from 
which  it  is  apparent  that  it  has  been  somewhat  modernised.  The  north 
side  of  this  mansion  overlooks  a  terrace  on  the  top  of  the  rock  above 
the  approach.  The  terrace  (Fig.  241)  is  supported  with  large  and  massive 
buttresses,  which  are  partly  old,  and  contribute  greatly  to  the  picturesque 
effect  of  the  pile.  The  beautiful  terraced  gardens  on  the  south  side  of 
the  castle  are  of  world-wide  fame. 

The  estate  now  belongs  to  Lady  Willoughby  d'Eresby. 

ROSYTH  CASTLE,  FIFESHIRE. 

Rosyth  Castle  is  situated  on  a  low-lying,  flat  peninsula  on  the  north 
margin  of  the  Firth 
of  Forth,  opposite 
Queensferry,  and  is 
surrounded  at  high 
tides  by  water.  The 
peninsula  towards  the 
Firth  presents  a  rocky 
face  a  few  feet  above 
the  water,  gradually 
merging  into  sandy 
shores  as  it  approaches 
the  land. 

The  castle  (Fig. 
243)  consists  of  a  keep 
and  buildings  of  a  later 
age,  the  latter  being 
now  very  ruinous.  The 
keep  is  in  tolerable 
preservation,  and  is  ob- 
long on  plan  (Fig.  243), 
measuring  48  feet  6 
inches  by  41  feet  3  GROUND 

inches  over  the  walls,  Fio.  243.— Rosyth  Castle.    Plans. 

with  a  staircase  at  the  south-east  corner,   17  feet  in  breadth  over  the 

T 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    290    — 


ROSYTH  CASTLE 


FIG.  244.— Rosyth  Castle.     Section  of  Keep  and 
Elevation  of  West  Window  of  Hall. 


walls,  and  projecting  5  feet.  The  height  from  the  ground  to  the  top 
of  the  battlements  is  57  feet  6  inches,  and  about  68  feet  to  the  ridge 
of  the  gables.  It  contains  four  stories  (Fig.  244),  the  basement  and  the 
first  floor  or  hall  being  vaulted.  The  walls  throughout  are  of  consider- 
able thickness,  varying  from  6  feet  to  10  feet  6  inches. 

The  entrance  doorway,  with 
elliptic  arch,  is  on  the  south 
side  towards  the  Firth,  adjoin- 
ing the  staircase  tower  (Fig. 
245),  and  leads  directly  by  a 
passage  through  the  wall  to  the 
ground  floor,  which  is  two  or 
three  steps  down.  From  this 
passage  the  corkscrew  stair,  un- 
like the  arrangement  found  in 
most  other  keeps,  goes  to  the 
top.  The  lower  vault  is  sub- 
divided into  two  stories,  the  up- 
permost of  the  two  floors  being 
reached  by  a  stair  down  from 
the  hall  on  the  first  floor. 
The  hall  (Fig.  246),  which  is  27  feet  long  by  20  feet  wide,  and 
20  feet  high,  is  vaulted.  It  is  lighted  by  three  windows,  the  large  ones 
at  each  end,  which  have  mullions  and  transoms,  being  insertions.  The 
original  end  windows,  which  can  still  be  partly  traced,  were  small,  and 
high  up  from  the  floor.  The  lower  compartments  of  the  inserted  windows 
(Fig.  244)  were  closed  with  shutters,  the  upper  compartments  having 
been  glazed.  On  the  outside  of  the  under  transom  of  the  west  window 
is  the  inscription,  much  wasted,  E.  I.,  an  anchor,  S.  M.  N.,  ANNO  1635  or 
55.  The  E.  is  doubtful,  the  rest  fairly  legible.  The  fireplace  is  in  the 
south  wall,  and  has  had  a  flat  arch,  moulded  on  edge,  and  the  moulding 
is  continued  down  the  jambs.  Adjoining  the  fireplace  there  is  a  mural 
chamber.  Half-way  up  to  the  second  floor  a  garde-robe  is  formed  in 
the  east  wall,  the  small  window  of  which  has  a  curious  upright  division 
in  the  ingoing,  as  shown  on  the  plan,  probably  for  the  purpose  of 
enabling  one  loop  to  light  both  the  garde-robe  and  the  adjoining 
passage,  which  contains  a  stone  basin  and  drain.  The  upper  hall,  which 
is  of  the  same  size  as  that  just  described  (Plan,  Fig.  243),  has  the  fire- 
place in  the  west  end.  It  contains  two  mural  chambers  and  a  garde- 
robe,  and  is  entered  through  a  porch  from  the  stair.  The  top  story 
in  the  roof  is  quite  ruinous. 

The  additions  to  the  castle  extend  westwards  and  southwards  from 
the  keep,  and  formed  a  courtyard  (Fig.  243).  Of  these  buildings  only  the 
north  and  part  of  the  west  walls  now  remain,  in  a  very  ruinous  condition, 


ROSYTH  CASTLE 


291    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    292    - 


ROSYTH  CASTLE 


the  remainder  being  traceable  here  and  there,  as  shown  by  dotted  lines. 
The  extensions  being  so  ruinous,  we  have  included  this  castle  amongst 
the  simple  keeps,  rather  than  the  castles  with  courtyards. 


V 


PIG.  246. — Rosyth  Castle.    Interior  of  Hall. 

The  entrance  to  the  courtyard  is  on  the  landward  or  northern  side 
through  an  elliptic  archway  6  feet  wide,  having  a  slightly  projecting 
porch  with  a  stone  roof  (Fig.  247).  Above  the  porch  are  two  panels,  the 
arms  on  the  undermost  being  quite  decayed  ;  but  the  one  above,  in  an 
ornamental  frame,  is  well  preserved.  This  panel  contains  a  shield  sur- 
rounded by  a  wreath  of  Scotch  thistles  and  a  crown  above.  At  the  base 
is  a  crouching  unicorn,  occupying  the  full  width  of  the  panel,  which 
contains  the  date  156l,  and  the  letters  M.  R.  (Maria  Regina),  with  a 
crown  above  the  latter.  It  was  in  August  of  that  year  that  Queen  Mary 
sailed  into  the  Forth  on  her  return  from  France,  and  landed  on  the 
opposite  shore  at  Leith.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  effort  will  be  made 


ROSYTH  CASTLE 


—    293    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


to  secure  the  preservation  of  this  memorial  of  that  event,  as  this  part  of 
the  castle  is  fast  going  to  destruction.  On  the  level  of  this  panel,  adjoin- 
ing the  keep,  there  are  the  corbels  of  a  projecting  turret  staircase,  of 
which  only  the  merest  fragment  remains.  This  staircase  has  entered 
from  the  keep  at  the  two  main  floors,  and  formed  a  connection  between 
the  keep  and  the  additional  buildings.  The  corbelling  of  another  turret 
may  also  be  seen  at  the  north-west  corner  of  this  wall. 


Fio.  247.— Rosyth  Castle.     Entrance  Porch  to  Courtyard. 

Built  into  the  walls  of  a  farm-steading  adjoining  are  some  carved 
window  pediments  from  the  castle.  One  with  a  scroll  contains  the  name 
of  Stewart. 

The  dovecot  at  Rosyth  (Fig.  248)  is  oblong  in  plan,  with  a  fine  stone 
roof  and  gabled  ends,  having  crow-steps  with  gablets,  a  form  by  no  means 
common  in  Scotland.  There  is  a  remarkable  scroll  carved  on  the  lintel 
of  the  doorway. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Stewarts  of  Rosyth  was  James  Stewart  of  Duris- 
deer,  brother-germaii  to  Walter,  the  Great  Steward  of  Scotland,  father 
of  King  Robert  n. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    294    — 


ROSYTH  CASTLE 


There  are  no  features  about  this  castle  which  definitely  fix  the  date 

r 


of  its  erection.     There  is  the  same  small  break  to  contain  the  staircase 


LEVEN  CASTLE 


—    295    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


here  as  at  Edzell  and  Affleck,  and  the  plan  of  the  building  also  corre- 
sponds with  these  keeps.  We  may  therefore  assume  that  its  date  is 
similar,  or  about  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 


LEVEN  CASTLE,  RENFREWSHIRE. 

Situated  on  the  steep  bank  of  a  stream  near  Gourock  on  the  Clyde, 
this  castle  (Fig.  249)  is  built  on  a  plan  very  unusual  at  this  period, 
viz.,  that  of  a  double  tower.  This  form  of  plan  was  however  adopted 
in  some  cases  at  a  later  period.  Leven  Castle  seems  to  have  been 
originally  a  simple  keep  of  the  usual  plan  of  the  fourteenth  or  fifteenth 


LEVEN  CASTLE 

NCAR 

GOUROCK 
RENFREWSHIRE 


FIG.  249.— Leven  Castle.     Plan. 

century,  the  wing  to  the  south-east  being  probably  a  later  addition. 
The  ground  floor  contains  two  vaulted  cellars,  one  of  them  having  a 
private  stair  down  from  the  hall.  The  entrance  door  was  on  the  ground 
floor,  with  a  narrow  straight  stair  to  the  first-floor  landing,  which  is 
continued  as  a  newel  stair  in  the  south-west  angle  to  the  upper  floors. 
The  hall  windows  have  square  recesses  furnished  with  stone  seats.  From 
the  style  of  the  corbel  table  (Fig.  250)  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  south- 
east wing  was  added  about  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
when  the  old  keep  seems  to  have  been  remodelled,  and  the  same  cornice 
continued  all  round  the  building.  It  is  of  the  ornamental  pattern,  in 
which  mock  corbels  are  introduced  as  ornaments.  At  this  period  addi- 
tional accommodation  has  been  desired,  particularly  a  kitchen,  which 
has  led  to  this  peculiar  form  of  wing  being  built.  The  larger  newel 
staircase  between  the  two  towers  has  apparently  also  been  introduced  at 
the  same  time. 

This  castle  may  possibly  have  been  all  built  at  one  time,  but  we  are 
inclined  to  think  that  the  above  account  of  it  is  more  likely  to  be  correct. 
In  the  later  double-tower  keeps,  such  as  Burgie,  one  of  the  divisions  is 
carried  up  as  a  watch-tower,  which  is  not  the  case  here.  The  numerous 
stairs  from  the  basement  are  also  very  unusual  features.  The  straight 
stair  was  all  that  was  necessary,  and  is  evidently  original,  together  with 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    296    — 


LEVEN  CASTLE 


the  well-guarded  lobby  at  the  entrance,  these  being  features  common  to 
most  of  the  keeps  of  the  period.  This  leads  us  to  infer  that  the  straight 
stair  was  the  original  one,  and  that  the  newel  stair  connecting  the  two 
towers  was  a  subsequent  addition.  The  hollow  in  the  wall  of  the  wing, 
where  access  from  the  stair  is  obtained  on  the  different  floors,  has  also  the 
makeshift  appearance  of  an  addition.  The  vault  seen  in  the  foreground 
(Fig.  250)  has  probably  been  connected  with  outbuildings  in  the  barmkin. 


FIG.  250. — Leven  Castle.    View  from  the  South- West. 

Before  1547  this  castle  .belonged  to  the  Mortons.  At  that  date  it 
passed  to  the  family  of  the  Sempills,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the 
remodelling  was  carried  out  about  that  time.  It  is  now  the  property  of 
the  Shaw  Stewarts. 


INVERKIP  CASTLE,  RENFREWSHIRE, 

The  original  seat  of  the  Stewarts,  now  represented  by  Sir  Michael  R. 
Shaw  Stewart,  is  situated  on  the  edge  of  a  cliff  near  Inverkip,  on  the 
Firth  of  Clyde.  There  was  a  castle  here  in  the  days  of  Bruce,  which  is 
referred  to  by  Barbour,  but  the  present  building  (Fig.  251)  is  evidently 
of  later  date,  probably  about  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The 
style  of  corbelling  at  the  parapet  was  not  introduced  till  about  that 


INVERKIP  CASTLE 


—  297  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


time  (see  Edzell  Castle).     The  entrance  to  the  hall  was,  as  usual,  on  the 
first  floor,  to  which  a  modern  stone  stair  has  now  been  built. 


FIG.  251. — Inverkip  Castle.    View  from  the  North- West. 


CRAIGNEIL  CASTLE,  COLMONELL,  AYRSHIRE. 

A  rectangular  tower,  42  feet  by  30  feet,  situated  on  the  top  of  a 
rocky  height  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river  Stinchar,  opposite  the 
village  of  Colmonell.  The  hill 
being  partly  composed  of  lime- 
stone, has  been  quarried  out  as 
far  as  the  base  of  the  castle,  an 
operation  which  has  greatly  in- 
creased the  picturesqueness  of 
its  situation  (Fig.  253). 

This  tower  may  belong  to  the 
fourteenth  or  fifteenth    century. 
The  walls  are  6  feet  thick.     The 
entrance  doorway  is  on  the  ground 
level     at    the    south-east    angle, 
where  a  newel  staircase  led  to  the 
upper  floors  (Fig.  252).     A  pecu- 
liarity here  is  that  the  basement  has  not  been  vaulted.     There  was  a 
large  hall  on  the  first  floor,  but  the  principal   hall  was  on  the  second 
floor,  the  roof  of  which  is  vaulted,  and  where  remains  of  the  great  fire- 
place may  still  be  traced. 


Fio.  252. — Craigneil  Castle.    Plan  ami  Section. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  298  - 


CRAIGNEIL  CASTLE 


Craigneil  is  said  to  derive  its  name  from  Nigel  Bruce,  King  Robert's 
brother,  but  this  tradition  is  very  doubtful. 


M 
Irak! 


^mM^-#::':A 
^^^^m^ 


Pio.  253.— Craigneil  Castle.    View  from  the  North-West. 

This  castle  is  now  the  property  of  William  M'Connel,  Esq.  of  Knock- 
dolian. 


KILKERRAN  CASTLE,  AYRSHIRE. 

This  is  a  fragment  (Fig.  254)  of  the  original  castle  of  the  Fergussons 
of  Kilkerran,  now  represented  by  Sir  James  Fergusson,  the  sixth  baronet. 
The  estate  was  granted  to  the  family  in  the  fourteenth  century,  and, 
judging  from  the  admirable  style  of  workmanship,  and  the  form  of  the 
simple  parapet  and  corbel  table,  this  keep  was  probably  erected  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  It  stands  in  a  retired  upland  glen  about  one  mile 


KILKERRAN  CASTLE  299    THIRD  PERIOD 

from  New  Dailly,  on  the  Girvan  Water.     It  has  been  a  good  specimen  of 


FIG.  254.  — K  ilkerran  Castle.    View  from  ll:p  North-West. 

the  keeps  of  the  period,  but  it  is  unfortunately  fast  crumbling  away. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  300  — 


VVHITTINGHAM  TOWER 


WHITTINGHAM  TOWER,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

This  tower,  which  is  in  a  state  of  perfect  preservation,  is  situated 
about  two  miles  from  East  Linton,  in  East  Lothian.  It  stands  near  the 
edge  of  a  steep  bank,  running  along  by  the  end  of  the  platform  for 
cannons,  seen  on  the  ground  plan  (Fig.  255).  The  tower  is  an  oblong, 


PLATFORM  FOR          GUNS 


FIRST       FLOOR 
Fio.  255. — Whittingham  Tower.    Plans  and  Section. 

measuring  31  feet  by  23  feet  6  inches,  and  is  39  feet  high  to  the  top  of 
the  parapet.  A  square  wing,  containing  the  staircase,  is  projected 
towards  the  east  from  one  of  the  narrow  sides  of  the  keep,  which  is  con- 
trary to  the  ordinary  practice,  the  wings  of  the  |_  plan  being  generally 
placed  on  one  of  the  larger  faces  of  the  keep.  The  picturesque  entrance 
doorway  (Fig.  256),  with  large  bead  and  hollow  mouldings,  having  a  shield 
with  the  Douglas  arms  carved  on  the  lintel,  leads  to  the  vaulted  ground 
floor,  13  feet  6  inches  high.  This  was  subdivided,  the  upper  room 
having  originally  entered  from  the  staircase,  but  it  has  been  altered,  and 
the  door  built  up.  The  first  floor,  containing  the  principal  apartment, 
about  18  feet  by  15  feet,  and  8  feet  9  inches  high,  is  well  lighted  with 
two  deeply  recessed  windows.  This  was  originally  the  hall,  and  is 
interesting  as  still  retaining,  screened  off  at  the  entrance,  the  place 
anciently  known  as  the  "  screens "  for  the  service  of  the  dining-room. 


\VIIITTINGHAM  TOWER 


—    301 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Entering  off  one  of  the  "  screens  "  is  a  small  mural  closet.  The  interior 
of  this  apartment  has  been  renovated  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and 
contains  some  good  plaster  and  wood  work  of  that  period.  The  richly 
panelled  ceiling  of  plaster-work  (Fig.  257)  is  of  similar  design  to  those 
of  Winton  House,  Moray  House,  and  other  seventeenth-century  buildings. 
The  door  architraves,  with  egg  and  dart  enrichment,  are  probably  con- 
temporary with  the  ceiling,  and  are  certainly  much  later  than  the  tower. 
The  staircase  continues  to  the  top,  and  is  surmounted  with  a  cape  house. 


FIG.  256. — Whittinghain  Tower.     Entrance  Doorway. 

The  battlements  are  interesting,  and  are  quite  entire,  with  a  walk  all 
round  about  3  feet  wide,  but  intersected  by  a  wall  where  the  staircase 
joins  the  main  tower,  through  which  wall  there  is  a  narrow  passage  about 
2  feet  high.  The  parapets  are  high,  and  have  a  moulded  coping  with 
a  double  bead  continued  all  round  the  embrasures.  There  is  an  apart- 
ment in  the  roof  entering  from  the  parapet  walk.  The  windows  of  the 
tower,  so  far  as  visible  under  a  prodigious  growth  of  ivy,  are  designed 
like  those  of  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  century  Tudor  buildings  in 
England,  of  which  we  have  also  an  example  in  the  chapel  windows  of 
Craigmillar,  with  a  wide  splay  and  label  mouldings.  Extending  south- 


TU1RD  PERIOD 


302    — 


WHITTINGHAM  TOWER 


wards  from  the  tower  towards  the  steep  bank  there  is  a  mound  of  earth 
about  10  feet  high  by  about  80  feet  long,  having  a  retaining  wall  along 
the  west  side  and  south  end,  with  a  slope  towards  the  east.  This  is  of 
later  date  than  the  tower,  and  was  doubtless  erected  for  guns.  The 


FIG.  257.— Whittingham  Tower.    Interior  of  Dining-Room. 

mound  stops  short  of  the  tower,  and  the  space  between  is  occupied  with 
vaulted  chambers  of  seventeenth-century  work,  shown  hatched  on  plan. 
Two  open  staircases  from  opposite  sides  lead  up  to  the  mound,  and  there 
seem  to  have  been  apartments  over  the  above  chambers  entering  from 
the  mound  platform ;  but  the  whole  of  this  addition  is  now  very  ruinous 
and  indistinct.  This  tower  (Fig.  258)  is  of  superior  design  to  many  of 
the  keeps  of  the  period,,  the  windows,  parapet,  etc.,  being  somewhat 
ornate,  and  carefully  finished.  It  corresponds,  however,  in  details  with 
many  of  the  larger  castles  of  the  reigns  of  James  iv.  or  v.,  at  which  period 
it  seems  to  have  been  built.  It  is  satisfactory  to  find  that  Whittingham 
Tower  is  well  taken  care  of,  for,  as  the  scene  of  some  important  events 
in  Scottish  history,  it  is  well  worthy  of  preservation.  It  was  here,  in 


BALQUHAIN  (\\STLE 


—    303    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


.January  1566-7,  that  the  Earl  of  Morton  came  to  visit  his  cousin  Patrick 
Douglas,  and  was  met  by  Bothwell,  whose  castle  of  Hailes,  on  the  other 
side  of  Traprain  Law,  is  within  a  short  distance  of  Whittingham,  and  by 
Secretary  Lethington,  whose  castle  of  the  same  name  is  likewise  in  the 


FIG.  258.— Whittingham  Tower.    View  from  the  North- West 

neighbourhood,  when  the  foul  conspiracy  for  the  murder  of  Darnley  was 
first  hatched  and  decided  on.  "  And,"  says  Tytler,  referring  to  subse- 
quent events,  "  it  was  only  a  year  and  a  half  before  that  in  this  fatal 
house,  the  conference  .had  been  held  between  Lethington,  Bothwell,  and 
Morton,  in  which  the  King's  murder  was  determined.  Bothwell  was  now 
a  fugitive  and  an  outlaw ;  but  his  associates  in  guilt,  the  same  Letbington 
and  Morton,  now  received  Moray  at  Whittingham^  and  cordially  sym- 
pathised with  him  when  he  expressed  his  horror  for  the  crime,  and  his 
resolution  to  avenge  it." 

BALQUHAIN  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

This  ruinous  keep  (Fig.  259)  stands  in  the  parish  of  Chapel  of  Garioch, 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  church,  and  two  miles  from  Inveramsay  Junc- 
tion, on  the  North  of  Scotland  Railway.  It  was  originally  a  quadrangular 
keep  (Fig.  260),  probably  of  the  fifteenth  century,  which  was  destroyed 
in  1526  in  the  feuds  between  the  Leslies  (the  proprietors)  and  their 
neighbours  the  Forbeses.  The  lower  part  of  the  walls  is  extremely  thick, 
and  has  the  deep  recesses  and  the  narrow  loops  then  in  use.  The  castle 
was  rebuilt  in  1 530  by  Sir  William  Leslie,  seventh  Baron  of  Balquhain, 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    304    — 


BALQUHAIN  CASTLE 


probably  on  much  the  same  lines  as  the  older  keep.  Unfortunately  so 
little  of  it  now  remains  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  ascertain  the  dis- 
position of  the  interior ;  but  its  massive  and  weather-stained  grey  walls 


FIG.  259.— Balquhain  Castle.     View  from  the  South-East. 

have  a  commanding  and  impressive  effect.  The  walls  enclosing  the 
barmkin,  which  occupied  the  highest  part  of  a  knoll,  and  some  of  the 
out-buildings,  can  still  be  traced  (see  Fig.  260). 

Balquhain  was  the  abode  of  Queen  Mary  the  night  before  the  battle 
of  Corrichie,  in  1562,  and  it  stands  within  a  short  distance  of  the  more 


Fi«.  260. — Balquhain  Castle.    Plan. 

famous  battle-field  of  Harlaw  (1414).     The  castle  was  burnt  by  the  Duke 
of  Cumberland  in  1746. 


DARNAWAY  CASTLE,  MORAYSHIRE. 

Of  this  ancient  seat  of  the  Earls  of  Moray  little  now  remains ;  but 
fortunately,  whilst  almost  all  the  masonry  is   new,  the  ancient  oaken 


DARNAWAY  CASTLK 


—    305 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Fi.:.  L'Ol.-Darnaway  Castle.     Interior  of  Hall. 

u 


THIRD  PERIOD  306    DARNAWAY  CASTLE 

roof  (Fig.  26l)  of  the  hall  has  been  preserved,  and  is  a  specimen  almost 
unique  in  this  class  of  work  in  Scotland.  The  open  timber  roofs  of  the 
Parliament  Houses  at  Stirling  and  Linlithgow  have  entirely  disappeared, 
as  well  as  those  of  Doune,  Dirleton,  Tantallon,  and  all  the  larger  castles 
of  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries.  The  fine  roof  of  Darnaway,  the 
smaller  one  of  the  House  of  the  Knights  of  St.  John  in  Linlithgow,1  and 
that  of  the  Parliament  House,  Edinburgh,  are  almost  all  that  remain  to 
give  an  idea  of  what  these  others  must  have  been. 

Darnaway  Castle  is  situated  on  a  rising  ground  in  the  midst  of  an 
extensive  forest  not  far  from  the  river  Findhorn,  and  about  three  miles 
from  Brodie  Railway  Station. 

A  castle  was  originally  built  here  by  Thomas  Randolph,  Earl  of 
Moray,  who  was  Regent  during  the  minority  of  David  n.,  and  the  pre- 
sent building  is  traditionally  said  to  be  Randolph's  castle.  It  appears 
however  from  the  Exchequer  Accounts  that  the  existing  ancient  hall  was 
begun  by  Archibald  Douglas,  Earl  of  Moray,  about  1450.  The  Earl 
being  forfeited,  the  King  allowed  the  building  to  be  proceeded  with  in 
the  style  of  grandeur  and  solidity  which  Douglas  had  contemplated  (see 
the  Accounts  for  1456-58).  In  1810  a  large  new  castle  was  erected  in 
front  of  the  ancient  hall,  and  connected  with  it,  so  that  the  hall  forms  part 
of  the  existing  mansion.  The  walls  have  however  been  greatly  altered. 
The  old  Statistical  Account  describes  it  before  the  alterations  as  an  ancient 
pile  89  feet  long  and  35  feet  wide,  having  a  balcony  in  the  outer  end,  with 
a  music  gallery  above,  from  side  to  side.  There  was  a  large  chimney  in 
the  opposite  end,  and  another  spacious  fireplace  on  one  of  its  sides. 

The  modern  fireplace  in  the  north  side  of  the  hall  probably  occupies- 
the  position  of  the  latter,  but  the  other  fireplace  and  the  balcony  and 
gallery  have  been  swept  away. 

All  that  now  remains  of  the  ancient  hall  is  the  open  timber  roof.  It  is 
well  preserved,  and  is  of  fine  dark  oak.  From  its  style  it  seems  to  belong  to 
the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  In  constructive  design  it  somewhat 
resembles  the  roof  of  the  hall  of  Edinburgh  Castle,  which  was  probably 
erected  by  James  v.  The  design  is  in  this  respect  rather  weak.  The 
principals  of  the  roof  are  very  varied  in  design,  but  they  have  all  the  fault^ 
like  those  at  Edinburgh,  of  not  having  a  proper  tie.  They  evidently  belong 
to  a  late  period  of  Gothic  art ;  the  variety  of  the  forms  of  the  rafters  is  in 
itself  an  evidence  of  this.*  The  simplicity  and  purity  of  the  earlier  forms, 
of  which  so  many  specimens  exist  in  England,  is  here  conspicuously  absent. 

It  is  only  in  its  general  effect,  not  in  detail,  that  this  roof  can  suggest 
the  probable  appearance  of  those  of  a  simpler  and  earlier  style,  of  which 
we  have  a  solitary  example  in  the  House  of  the  Knights  of  St.  John.1 

We  have  however  in  the  Parliament  House  and  the  Tron  Church  iit 
Edinburgh  good  specimens  of  open  timber  roofs  of  a  still  later  date. 
1  Demolished  since  the  above  was  written  ! 


BADENHEATH 


—    307    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


BADENHEATH,  DUMBARTONSHIRE. 

Badenheath  is  situated  not  far  from  Moulinburn,  in  a  detached  part 
of  Dumbartonshire,  about  nine  miles  east  from  Glasgow.  It  is  now  a 
mere  fragment,  being  the  southern  half  of  an  oblong  keep  (Fig.  262), 


FIG.  262. — Badenheatli.     Plans  and  View. 

probably  of  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century.  It  has  been  built  of  fine 
regularly  coursed  masonry,  which  has  proved  too  strong  a  temptation  to 
the  needy  builders  of  later  times.  This  is  much  to  be  regretted,  as  from 
the  style  of  work  remaining,  Badenheath  has  apparently  been  a  fine 
example  of  a  peel  tower.  The  entrance  doorway  (with  its  bar-hole), 
fortunately  preserved,  is,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  sketch  (Fig.  263),  of  a 
remarkable  and  unusual  design.  The  hall  mantelpiece,  which  is  also 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    308    — 


BADENHEATH 


entire,  is  finely  moulded,  of  the  style  so  frequently  used  in  Scotland,  as  at 
Ruthven,  Cardoness,  Craigmillar,  and  other  castles,  while  the  little  that  is 
left  of  the  windows,  both  inside  and  outside,  with  the  corner  turrets, 
corbelling,  and  stone  cornice  inside,  show  that  this  must  have  been  a 
superior  tower  of  its  class.  It  measures  42  feet  by  30  feet  6  inches  over 
the  walls,  which  are  from  6  feet  to  7  feet  thick,  and  four  stories  high. 


Fio.  263. — Badenheath.     Entrance  Doorway. 

Adjoining  the  entrance  doorway  in  the  west  wall,  the  wheel  stair  led  to  the 
first  floor,  where  it  terminated  in  the  usual  manner.  In  the  south  gable  of 
the  hall  is  the  fireplace,  already  referred  to,  and  adjoining  it  another  wheel 
stair  led  to  the  upper  floor  and  to  the  top.  The  southern  room  on  the 
ground  floor  remains  entire  with  its  vaulted  roof,  and  is  lighted  by  three 
long  narrow  slits.  In  one  corner  will  be  seen  on  plan  a  small  mural 
chamber  on  the  floor  level,  6  feet  long  by  3  feet  9  inches  wide,  and  from 
3  feet  to  4-  feet  high,  which  was  probably  a  sleeping-place. 


CAIKNBULG  CASTLK 


—  309  — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


CAIRNBULG  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

Cairnbulg  Castle,  about  two  miles  distant  from  Fraserburgh,  in  a 
southern  direction,  towers  above  the  waste  of  sandhills  and  bogs  (now 
mostly  reclaimed)  with  which  it  is  surrounded.  Close  by  is  the  deep 
sluggish  water  of  Philorth,  which  doubtless  proved  useful  as  a  defence 
to  the  castle  from  the  west,  and  for  supplying  water  to  flood  the  moat 
which  at  one  time  evidently  surrounded  the  mound  on  which  it  stands. 

The  castle  consists  of  buildings  of  two  periods.  There  is  first  the 
large  oblong  keep,  which  probably  dates  at  the  earliest  from  the  end  of 
the  fifteenth  century,  and  the  buildings  of  a  later  date,  which  have  been 
so  contrived  as  to  convert  Cairnbulg  into  a  castle  with  diagonally  opposite 
towers,  the  old  keep  being  made  available  as  one  of  these  towers. 

The  keep  is  oblong  on  plan,  with  a 
projection  for  the  wheel  staircase  at  the 
south-east  end  (Fig.  264).  It  measures  41 
feet  in  length  by  29  feet  8  inches  along 
the  west  end,  and  along  the  east  end  and 
staircase  projection  it  measures  40  feet,  with 
walls  from  6  feet  to  7  feet  thick.  The 
entrance  doorway  (now  built  up)  was  from 
the  ground  level  on  the  east  side  of  the 
staircase  turret.  The  ground  floor,  as  also 
the  first  floor,  are  vaulted  with  pointed 
vaults.  There  is  no  access  to  the  portions 
of  the  building  above  the  first  floor,  the 
place  being  in  great  ruin  and  the  staircase 
gone.  The  hall,  which  is  on  the  first  floor, 
measures  25  feet  4  inches  by  16  feet  7  inches,  and  is  well  lighted  by 
four  windows.  The  entrance  to  the  hall  is  in  the  recess  of  the  large  end 
window.  The  other  three  windows  are  provided  with  stone  seats,  and 
off  the  one  in  the  south-west  corner  there  is  a  mural  chamber  about  10 
feet  by  6  feet.  In  the  opposite  corner  of  the  hall  another  mural  chamber, 
5  feet  by  2  feet  9  inches,  has  a  stone  sink  opening  to  the  outside.  The 
fireplace  is  in  the  west  gable,  opposite  the  entrance.  It  is  quite  plain, 
having  merely  a  bead  moulding  round  the  jambs  and  lintel.  We  are 
unable  to  say  where  the  original  kitchen  was. 

In  the  original  castle  there  was  evidently  a  curtain  wall  extending 
southwards  from  the  face  of  the  staircase  wall  for  about  30  feet,  and  then 
running  eastwards  at  right  angles.  On  this  wall  have  been  built  the 
later  additions  to  the  castle.  The  curtain  wall  was  from  4  to  5  feet 
thick,  and  of  great  height,  as  seems  to  be  indicated  by  a  fragment  of  a 
row  of  small  corbels  seen  high  up  on  the  east  front  (Fig.  265). 

The  building  of  the  second  period,  shown  hatched  on  plan,  measures 


PIG.  264.— Cairnbulg  Castle.     Plan. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    310    — 


CAIRNBULG  CASTLE 


CAIRNBULG  CASTLE  -    311     -  THIRD   PKRIOD 

from  east  to  west  77  feet  2  inches  by  29  feet  in  width,  with  a  round  tower 
about  27  feet  in  diameter  projecting  at  the  south-east  corner.  This  tower 
has  been  four  stories  high,  with  probably  an  attic,  but  it  is,  like  the  keep, 
in  a  state  of  great  ruin.  The  whole  of  the  ground  floor  of  the  extended 
buildings,  containing  the  kitchen,  is  vaulted,  with  rooms  leading  off  a 
passage  along  the  north  side.  The  communication  between  the  old 
and  new  house  has  been  by  a  passage  at  the  wheel  stair,  as  shown  on  the 
plan.  At  the  west  end  of  the  new  house  there  seems  to  have  been  an 
anteroom,  with  a  great  window  facing  the  west,  inserted  into  the  old 
curtain  (see  Fig.  265),  and  leading  off  this  was  the  great  hall  or  principal 
apartment  in  the  house,  about  59  feet  long  by  21  feet  2  inches  wide. 
This  room  had  probably  two  fireplaces.  One  is  still  remaining  in  the 
north  wall  near  the  east  end,  and  the  other  in  the  wall  at  the  west  end 
is,  in  all  likelihood,  represented  by  the  splayed  recess,  of  which  one  side 
is  seen  on  the  plan. 

Entering  from  the  east  end  of  this  grand  hall  was  a  private  room  in 
the  round  tower,  16  feet  diameter,  lighted  by  four  windows,  having  a 
fireplace  and  two  square  recesses  in  the  walls.  The  plaster  still  remain- 
ing on  the  walls  of  this  room  is  covered  with  painted  ornament.  From  the 
entrance  passage  to  this  room  a  passage  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  leads 
to  a  garde-robe,  and  also  to  a  narrow  service  stair  leading  down  to  the 
kitchen. 

The  access  to  all  the  upper  floors  is  by  the  old  staircase  of  the  keep, 
which  had  steps  of  a  width  of  about  4  feet  6  inches.  The  top  of  the 
staircase,  as  usual,  contains  a  room  at  a  great  height  above  the  ground. 
This  upper  room  is  possibly  an  addition,  as  at  a  lower  level  on  the  south 
side  there  are  two  projecting  corbels,  probably  the  remains  of  the  corbels 
which  supported  a  parapet  walk  at  this  level.  Similar  corbels,  indicating 
a  change  in  design,  may  be  observed  at  Craigmillar  and  Glamis,  the 
alteration  at  the  former  being  almost  identical  with  what  took  place  here. 

This  noble  keep  is  unfortunately  in  a  very  rent  and  torn  condition. 
The  parapet,  with  its  open  corbelled  bartizans  and  embrasures,  is 
evidently  of  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The  corbel  table  of  the 
south-east  tower  (Fig.  266),  which  is  much  later  in  date,  has  been 
executed  in  imitation  of  the  older  one. 

In  the  year  1375  Cairnbulg,  along  with  the  barony  of  Philorth,  passed 
into  the  possession  of  Sir  Alexander  Fraser  of  Corrie,  on  his  marriage  with 
Jean  Ross,  the  youngest  daughter  and  coheiress  of  the  Earl  of  Ross. 
There  seems  to  be  no  information  as  to  when  the  keep  was  built,  but  it 
must  have  been  at  a  considerably  later  period,  probably  about  a  hundred 
years  after. 

Part  of  the  enclosing  walls  of  the  courtyard  remain  along  the  east 
side,  with  a  fine  arched  entrance  gateway  (Fig.  266). 

The  later  additions  were  built  by  Sir  Alexander  Fraser  about  the  year 


THIRD  PERIOD 


312    — 


CAIRNBULG  CASTLE 


313  — 


THIRD   PKHIOI) 


1545.  This  is  the  same  Sir  Alexander  who  is  suggested  by  us  as  having 
built  the  Wine  Tower  at  Fraserburgh.  In  1619  his  grandson  and  suc- 
cessor, Sir  Alexander  Fraser,  who  built  the  castle  at  Kinnaird  Head, 
Fraserburgh,  sold  the  lands  and  castle  of  Cairnbulg.  Was  this  to  enable 
him  to  raise  the  funds  necessary  for  the  pursuance  of  his  scheme  in 
founding  the  town  and  harbour  of  Fraserburgh  1  If  so,  and  it  seems  not 
unlikely,  the  inhabitants  of  that  rising  town  should  regard  the  venerable 
walls  of  Cairnbulg  with  feelings  of  no  ordinary  interest. 

The  castle  seems  to  have  remained  inhabited  for  a  considerable  time 
after  this,  as  we  gather  from  the  following  tombstone  inscription  in  the 
neighbouring  churchyard  of  Kirkton  (Fraserburgh) : — "  Here  lyeth  the 
Body  of  George  Marten,  Lawful  Son  to  James  Marten,  Presently  Resid- 
ing at  the  House  of  Cairnbulye,  who  died  January  the  8th  the  year  1781." 


FARME,  LANARKSHIRE. 

An  ancient  square  keep  on  the  Clyde,  near  Rutherglen,  now  incor- 
porated with  a  modern  mansion  (Fig.  267).  It  has  the  appearance  of 
having  been  built  in  the  fifteenth  century,  and  is  a  good  instance  of  the 


FIG.  267.— Farme  Keep. 


persistence  of  the  simple  keep  style  of  building.  The  estate  has 
belonged  to  the  Stewarts,  the  Crawfords,  and  others,  but  it  is  not  known 
by  whom  the  castle  was  built.  It  now  belongs  to  Allan  Farie,  Esq. 


THIRD  PERIOD  -    314-    -  AUCHINDOUN  CASTLE 

THIRD  PERIOD— KEEPS  WITH  ONE  OR  TWO  WINGS. 

We  shall  now  give  some  examples  of  keeps  built  during  the  Third  Period 
011  the  L  plan,  i.e,  with  a  wing  at  one  end,  or  with  two  wings. 

It  will  be  observed  that  although  these  retain  the  general  features  of 
the  plans  of  similar  keeps  erected  in  the  fourteenth  century,  they  gene- 
rally exhibit  more  refinement  and  ornament  in  details.  Some  modifica- 
tions of  the  plan,  such  as  the  insertion  of  a  tower  in  the  re-entering 
angle  of  the  L  to  contain  the  staircase,  are  introduced  during  this  period. 

AUCHINDOUN  CASTLE,  BANFFSHIRE. 

This  massive  ruin  is  situated  on  the  top  of  a  conical  hill  which  rises 
in  the  centre  of  an  amphitheatre  of  bare  and  barren  mountains  in  Mort- 
lach  parish,  Banffshire.  It  is  about  three  miles  from  Dufftown,  and  lies 
on  the  way  from  Elgin  into  Aberdeenshire.  A  more  desolate  and  lonely 
site  for  a  dwelling  can  scarcely  be  imagined ;  but  it  seems  from  the 
earliest  times  to  have  been  selected  as  suitable  for  a  place  of  strength. 
The  hill  on  which  the  present  castle  stands  is  surrounded  with  the 
remains  of  several  wide  and  deep  ditches,  which  have  evidently  been  the 
defences  of  an  early  hill  fortress.  The  steep  banks  sloping  on  three 
sides  to  the  glen  of  the  Fiddich,  about  200  feet  below,  formed  a  good 
position  for  these  primitive  fortifications,  and  the  hill  was  cut  off  from 
the  adjoining  ground  on  the  fourth  side  by  a  wide  fosse. 

The  castle  is  said  to  date  from  the  eleventh  century,  but  the  present 
building  does  not  appear  to  be  older  than  the  fifteenth  century.  It  is 
reputed  to  have  been  rebuilt  by  Cochrane,  the  favourite  of  James  in., 
and  so  far  as  its  style  goes,  it  might  belong  to  that  period.  The  castle 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  Gordons  from  the  Ogilvies  in  1535,  and 
it  is  possible  that  it  may  then  have  undergone  alterations,  and  the 
additions  round  the  walls  of  the  courtyard  may  then  have  been  made. 

It  is  now  a  very  massive  and  imposing  ruin,  and  has  not  been  occupied 
for  the  last  two  hundred  years. 

This  castle  (Fig.  268),  although  built  on  the  L  plan,  has  not  the 
entrance,  as  is  usual,  in  the  re-entering  angle.  The  south  or  entrance  front 
is  demolished,  but  the  door  has  evidently  been  near  the  staircase  at  the 
south-west  angle.  There  is  another  staircase  at  the  north-west  angle,  but 
it  is  smaller,  and  appears  to  have  led  to  a  postern  doorway.  The  ground 
floor  would  enter  from  the  level  of  the  entrance  doorway.  It  contains  one 
large  apartment,  with  elliptic  barrel  vault,  and  is  lighted  by  one  narrow 
loop  at  the  north  end.  There  is  a  stone  sink  in  the  west  side,  with 
drain,  which  would  seem  to  indicate  that  this  was  the  kitchen,  but  there 
is  no  fireplace.  It  may  have  been  the  cellar,  in  connection  with  which 
the  sink  would  be  useful.  The  other  room  on  the  ground  floor  in  the 


AUCHINDOUN  CASTLE 


—    315 


THIRD  PEKIOD 


wing 
been 


has  been  entered  by  a  stair  down  from  the  hall,  and  may  have 
the  private  cellar.     The  walls  are  8  to  10  feet  in  thickness. 


C  B  UUNO      (-'LAN 

Fio.  268.— Auchindoun  Castle.    Plans  and  Details. 


The  first  floor  is  occupied  with  the  hall,  30  feet  6  inches  long  and 
19  feet  wide  (Fig.  268).  It  has  a  large  fireplace  at  the  north  end,  and 
two  windows  in  the  east  and  west  sides,  near  the  fireplace,  with  stone 
seats  in  the  recess.  The  east  window  has  a  cupboard,  and  the  west 
window  a  door  to  the  postern  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall.  At  the 
entrance  from  the  principal  stair  there  is  a  small  guard-room  in  the 
thickness  of  the  wall. 

The  room  in  the  wing  on  this  floor  has  been  the  private  room,  with 
garde-robe,  windows  with  seats,  etc. 

The  most  remarkable  thing  about  the  hall  is  the  vaulting.  This  is 
not  of  the  usual  barrel  form,  such  as  we  find  at  Borthwick  and  Craig- 
millar,  but  has  been  groined  and  ribbed  in  two  bays.  The  springings  of 
the  arches  still  remain  (see  sketch,  Fig.  268),  showing  that  they  were  of 
good  form,  and  were  supported  on  corbels.  The  central  springing  is 
carefully  managed,  and  the  mouldings  are  good,  but  the  angle  groin  has 
not  been  so  successfully  set  out,  and  an  intermediate  cap  has  had  to  be 
introduced  to  enable  a  fresh  start  to  be  made. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    316    — 


AUCHINDOUN  CASTLE 


/'rij^^^ff^^ 


PRESTON  TOWER  -    317    THIRD   PERIOD 

The  floor  above  the  hall  has  evidently  been  an  upper  hall  with  large 
windows,  but  it  is  now  inaccessible.  In  the  wing  there  were  two  stories 
in  the  height  of  the  hall,  and  other  rooms  above.  It  is  not  clear  whether 
these  had  a  separate  stair  from  the  hall,  or  whether  they  were  approached 
by  passages  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls  leading  from  the  staircase  in 
the  south-west  angle.  The  latter  was  the  plan  adopted  at  Crookston, 
and  probably  here  also. 

The  whole  character  of  the  building,  including  its  massive  walls,  with 
closets,  stairs,  and  passages  in  their  thickness,  the  vaulted  hall,  with 
its  stone-seated  windows  and  great  fireplace,  all  seem  to  point  to  its 
being  of  about  the  same  period  as  Borthwick,  or  towards  the  middle  of 
the  fifteenth  century. 

The  castle  has  been  surrounded  with  a  high  wall  enclosing  a  court- 
yard, along  the  east  and  south  sides  of  which  there  have  been  extensive 
ranges  of  buildings.  The  original  plan  seems  to  have  contemplated 
buildings  along  the  south  wall,  where  the  entrance  gateway,  with  its 
remarkable  arch  (sketch,  Fig.  268),  is  situated.  These  no  doubt  con- 
tained a  guard-room,  stables,  etc. 

The  range  along  the  east  wall,  however,  appears  to  be  of  more  recent 
date,  and  to  have  been  pushed  out  beyond  the  original  wall.  From  the 
large  fireplaces,  ovens,  etc.,  still  remaining,  these  buildings  have  evidently 
contained  the  kitchen  offices.  The  round  tower  at  the  north-west  angle, 
with  shot-holes  enfilading  the  walls,  is  also  an  addition  of  late  date. 

PRESTON  TOWER,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

Preston  Tower,  for  many  ages  the  property  of  the  Hamilton  family, 
to  whom  it  still  belongs,  has  some  peculiar  features.  The  ground  floor 
is  unconnected  with  the  rest  of  the  building  save  by  a  trap  in  the  vault. 
The  main  entrance  to  the  tower  is  by  a  circular-headed  doorway  (now 
cut  square)  on  the  first  floor  (Fig.  270),  and  the  defences  of  this  door  seem 
to  have  been  of  a  rather  remarkable  kind.  There  are  corbels  over  the 
door,  and  also  round  the  corner  on  the  south  side  of  the  tower,  which, 
together  with  the  apertures  for  joists  at  the  floor  level,  appear  to  indicate 
that  there  has  been  a  projecting  wooden  hoarding,  with  lean-to  roof, 
round  this  part  of  the  tower.  The  moveable  stair  for  access  would  be 
lowered  from  this  hoarding,  which  would  also  form  a  passage  with  a  door, 
to  give  additional  security  to  the  entrance.  A  recess  for  this  door,  when 
open,  is  visible  at  the  south-east  angle  of  the  building  (Fig.  270).  The 
stair  to  the  upper  floors  enters  from  the  recess  (Fig.  271)  of  the  door  in 
the  south  wall  entering  from  this  outside  passage,  so  that  access  to  the  stair 
could  be  got  directly  from  the  passage  without  passing  through  the  hall. 

The  two  immense  corbels  at  the  parapet  immediately  over  the  main 
doorway  were  also  no  doubt  intended  to  carry  a  wooden  platform,  which 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    318    — 


PRESTON  TOWER 


would  project  beyond  the  hoarding  at  the  door,  and  thus  give  additional 
protection  at  this  point.  The  parapet  above  the  corbels  being  of  late 
work,  unfortunately  nothing  remains  but  these  corbels  to  indicate  the 


Fio.  270. — Preston  Tower.    View  from  the  South-East. 

nature  of  the  hoarding  which  was  supported  by  them.  The  general  plan 
(Fig.  271)  is  of  the  usual  kind.  The  basement  contained  stores,  with 
loft  in  the  vault.  The  first  floor,  which  is  also  vaulted,  contained  the 


PRESTON  TOWER 


-  319  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


hall,  with  its  usual  arrangements,  and  an  additional  story  in  the  vault. 
The  private  room  is  in  the  wing.  The  arrangement  of  what  appear  to 
have  been  the  guard-room  and  dungeon  of  this  tower  is  peculiar,  and,  so 
far  as  we  know,  unique.  Under  the  floor  of  the  passage  leading  from 
the  hall  to  the  private  room,  there  is  a  straight  stair  down  to  the  flat 
below  the  private  room  (see  Section).  This  stair  must  have  been  entered 
from  a  hatch  in  the  passage  floor,  as  it  still  is.  There  is  also  a  smaller 
hatch  in  the  floor  of  the  private  room  leading  to  the  room  below.  From 


FIG.  271.— Preston  Tower.    Plans  and  Section. 

this  lower  room  there  is  a  larger  hatch  to  a  similar  room  on  the  basement 
floor,  which  had  no  other  means  of  access,  the  existing  door  on  the  base- 
ment floor  leading  to  the  cell  in  the  wing  being  modern.  This  basement 
cell  has  apertures  in  the  vault,  apparently  for  ventilation,  and  a  curious 
shaft  or  tube,  7  inches  in  diameter,  recessed  in  one  corner.  Various 
theories  have  been  started  with  regard  to  the  use  of  these  cellars ;  but 
it  seems  most  in  accordance  with  the  customs  of  the  time  to  regard  the 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—    320     — 


PRESTON  TOWER 


first  cellar  as  a  guard-room,  and  the  second  or  deepest  pit  as  the  dungeon. 
The  drain  above  referred  to,  and  the  openings  for  ventilation,  favour  this 
view.  At  Dirleton  Castle  there  is  a  similar  arrangement  of  guard-room 
and  dungeon  under  the  owner's  private  room. 

There  was  a  fair  amount  of  private  accommodation  in  the  original 
upper  flats,  but  it  was  found  desirable  to  extend  it  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  when  the  whole  building  was  raised  by  a  couple  of  stories  built 
above  the  parapet. 

There  was  thus  a  new  house  built  on  the  top  of  the  old  one,  in  a 
totally  different  style  of  architecture.  Hence  the  peculiar  telescopic 
effect  of  the  elevation. 

The  arrangements  of  the  plan,  and  the  details  of  the  corbels,  etc., 
show  that  this  castle  belongs  to  the  fifteenth  century. 


CASTLE  HUNTLY,  PERTHSHIRE. 

This  castle  occupies  a  prominent  site  in  the  middle  of  the  Carse  of 
Gowrie,  being  situated  on  a  mass  of  rock  which  rises  on  the  west  side 


Fio.  272.— Castle  Huntly.     Plans. 

abruptly  from  the  plain,  and  slopes  gradually  down  towards  the  east. 


CASTLE  HUNTLY 


—    321    


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  castle  is  thus  a  striking  object  in  the  level  carse,  although  exter- 
nally it  has  been  greatly  modernised. 


FIG.  273.— Castle  Huntly.     View  from  the  North -West. 

The  original  castle  dates  from  about  1452,  when  a  Royal  licence  is 
said  to  have  been  granted  for  its  erection  to  Andrew,  second  Lord  Gray 
of  Foulis.  This  statement  of  the  writer  in  the  old  Statistical  Account  is 


THIRD  PERIOD  322    CASTLE  HUNTLY 

called  in  question,  but  however  that  may  be,  the  castle  seems  to  belong 
to  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  It  has  however  been  so 
much  altered  and  added  to  that  it  is  now  somewhat  difficult  to  deter- 
mine its  pristine  features. 

The  original  plan  is  of  the  L  form,  with  entrance  on  the  first  floor 
(Fig.  272)  in  the  re-entering  angle,  where  the  original  beaded  doorway 
still  exists.  The  ground,  with  a  passage  round  the  west  side  of  the  main 
body  of  the  keep  is  now  made  up  to  the  level  of  the  doorway,  although 
originally  the  door  was  most  likely  at  least  one  story  above  the  ground. 
The  door  enters  into  a  vestibule  or  guard-room  in  the  west  wing,  beneath 
which,  and  entered  by  a  trap  in  the  floor,  is  the  vaulted  dungeon,  with  a 
small  loop  to  the  open  air  high  above  the  ground,  as  seen  in  Fig.  273. 
The  buildings  which  now  fill  up  the  space  at  the  re-entering  angle  are 
cellars,  etc.,  added  at  a  later  date.  A  pointed  doorway  leads  from  the 
guard-room  into  the  cellars  in  the  main  building,  and  also  to  the  newel 
staircase  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall.  The  walls  of  the  keep  are  all  about 
10  feet  thick.  The  staircase  is  carried  up  to  the  roof.,  and  gives  access  to 
every  floor.  The  third  Earl  of  Kinghorn  is  said  to  have  excavated  this 
staircase  out  of  the  solid  wall.  It  appears  however  to  be  original,  at  least 
for  the  first  two  stories,  but  on  the  third  floor  there  is  a  circular  well  in 
which  a  stair  may  formerly  have  existed  for  the  service  of  the  upper 
floors.  The  second  floor  contains  a  lower  hall,  with  a  room  in  the  wing,  and 
the  third  floor  contains  the  upper  or  principal  hall,  with  a  private  room 
in  the  wing.  These  floors  are  now  cut  up  with  partitions,  and  entirely 
modernised,  but  the  old  garde-robes  and  wall  chambers  can  still  be  traced. 

In  1615  the  estate  was  acquired  by  Patrick  Lyon,  first  Earl  of  King- 
horn,  and  in  the  latter  half  of  the  century  the  castle  was  much  added  to 
and  "  improved  "  by  his  grandson,  the  third  Earl  of  Kinghorn  and  first  Earl 
of  Strathmore,  who  also  "  improved  "  the  castle  of  Glamis.  He  likewise 
erected  gateways  in  the  Renaissance  style  (one  of  which  still  exists),  and 
adorned  the  grounds  with  statues,  in  the  same  manner  as  he  did  at 
Glamis. 

In  the  end  of  last  century  the  estate  was  sold  to  George  Paterson, 
Esq.,  who  added  a  modern  mansion  to  the  east  side  of  the  old  keep,  and 
renovated  the  exterior  with  the  modern  sham  turrets  and  battlements 
which  it  now  exhibits. 

GIGHT,  OR  FORMANTINE  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

This  castle,  now  a  shapeless  ruin,  was  formerly  celebrated  for  its  great 
strength,  to  which  the  thickness  of  its  crumbling  walls  still  bears  witness. 

It  occupies  a  strong  and  commanding  site  on  the  summit  of  the 
'f  Braes  o'  Gight,"  which  rise  precipitously  from  the  river  Ythan,  about 
three  miles  from  Fyvie. 


GIGHT,  OR  FORMANTINE  CASTLE         323 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  estate  became  the  property,  in  1479,  of  William  Gordon,  third 
son  of  the  second  Earl  of  Huntly,  and  the  castle  is  supposed  to  have 
been  built  by  him. 

The  House  of  Gight  descended  in  his  family  till  it  belonged  to 
Catherine  Gordon,  the  mother  of  Lord  Byron.  It  was  purchased  from 
her  by  Lord  Aberdeen  in  1787. 


Fio.  274. — Gight,  or  Formantine  Castle.    Plans. 

The  plan  of  the  ground  floor  is  well  preserved,  and  is  somewhat 
remarkable  (Fig.  274).  It  is  on  the  L  plan,  but  the  door  enters  in  the 
centre  of  one  limb,  and  has  a  long  passage  running  right  through  the 
building  to  the  staircase,  which  is  in  the  centre  of  the  back  wall.  The 
same  arrangement  may  be  observed  at  Craig  Castle.  From  a  bend  in  the 
passage  a  shot-hole  commands  the  entrance  door.  In  the  vault  of  the 
lobby  adjoining  the  door  there  is  a  small  compartment  of  ribbed  and 
groined  vaulting,  which  is  a  feature  peculiar  to  several  castles  in  Aberdeen- 
shire.  The  kitchen  has  the  usual  large  fireplace,  and  a  service  window  to 
the  stair.  The  other  apartments,  which  are  vaulted,  were  bakehouse  and 
cellars,  one  having  the  private  stair  down  from  the  hall.  The  hall,  which 
occupies  the  principal  portion  of  the  building  on  the  first  floor,  was 
a  spacious  apartment,  37  feet  by  21  feet.  It  is  entered  in  a  peculiar 
manner  by  a  straight  stair,  through  one  of  the  window  recesses,  the 
stair  to  the  cellar,  which  was  also  continued  up  to  the  upper  floors, 
also  entering  from  a  similar  door  in  the  opposite  side  of  the  window 
recess.  A  small  vaulted  room  is  obtained  between  the  hall  and  the 
private  room,  and  the  walls  of  the  latter  are  riddled  with  wall 
chambers  in  the  manner  common  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

From  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  and  the  number  of  wall  chambers 
and  other  features,  this  castle  evidently  belongs  to  the  fifteenth  century, 
although  probably  it  was  remodelled  at  a  later  date.  The  remains  of 
the  tympanum  of  a  dormer  window  still  existing  (see  sketch)  seem  to 
point  to  this. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    324    — 


NIDDRIE  CASTLE 


NIDDRIE  CASTLE,  LINLITHGOWSHIRE. 

Niddrie  Castle  is  familiar  to  the  thousands  who  travel  by  rail  between 
Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  from  the  glimpse  obtained  as  the  train  emerges 
for  a  moment  from  the  long  rocky  defile  some  three  miles  east  of  Lin- 
lithgow.  The  castle  stands  on  a  hillock,  once  skirted  by  a  burn  along 
the  north-west,  as  shown  on  the  sketch  (Fig.  275).  This,  which  must 
have  been  a  considerable  protection  on  the  side  of  the  entrance,  has 
been  diverted  to  suit  railway  purposes. 


.  •?***? 


Fio.  275. — Niddrie  Castle.    View  from  the  North-West. 

The  building  is  of  the  L  plan  (Fig.  276),  and  is  quite  empty,  ruinous, 
and  roofless.  The  door  at  the  re-entering  angle  is  protected  in  front  by 
a  wall  of  probably  later  construction  than  the  castle.  It  opens  into  a 
lobby  giving  access  to  the  main  building,  which  measures  inside  30  feet 
9  inches  by  18  feet  3  inches,  and  leading  off  this  is  a  dark  vaulted 


NIDDRIE  CASTLE 


—    325    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


chamber  or  dungeon  in  the  wing,  measuring  1 1  feet  by  9  feet  9  inches. 
This  dungeon  is  two  stories  high,  and  vaulted.  The  upper  floor  was  of 
timber,  resting  on  corbels,  and  entered  from  the  wheel  stair.  It  was 


JZarmers 


GROUND     FLOOR 


Fio.  276.— Niddrie  Castle.    Plan. 


lighted  with  a  long  narrow  slit,  having  a  shot-hole  beneath.  The  walls  are 
on  an  average  9  feet  thick.  A  corkscrew  stair  adjoining  the  door  leads 
to  the  top,  but  the  steps  are  nearly  all  gone,  and  the  floors,  which  were 
all  of  timber,  are  wanting.  The  stone  corbels  for  supporting  the  floors 


Fia.  277.— Niddrie  Castle.     Window  of  Upper  Story. 

still  remain.  The  great  hall,  on  the  first  floor,  had  a  large  fireplace  at 
the  west  end,  but  it  is  entirely  gone.  When  increased  accommodation 
was  wanted  at  Niddrie,  security  from  attack  was  evidently  of  greater 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    326    — 


NIDDRIE  CASTLE 


consequence  than  convenient  arrangement  of  plan,  so,  instead  of  extend- 
ing the  walls,  the  proprietor  rather  added  a  story  or  two  to  the  already 
lofty  keep.  The  building  had  originally  a  parapet  walk  round  the  top, 
the  corbel  table  of  which  still  remains,  and  the  roof  probably  rose  at 
once  above  this,  as  at  Elphinstone,  Whittingham,  and  many  other 
places.  The  parapet  was  now  raised  as  the  wall  of  an  additional  story, 
and  thus  a  feature  was  created  which  afterwards  became  the  usual  form 
of  the  upper  floors  of  later  designs.  Some  of  the  windows  of  this 
raised  portion  are  deeply  recessed  and  splayed  outwards,  as  shown  on 
Fig.  277.  They  resemble  in  these  respects  the  east  windows  of  Linlith- 
gow  Palace,  built  about  1500.  They  seem  to  have  had  pointed  arched 
pediments  of  a  curious  and  unusual  design. 

Niddrie,  or  Niddrie  Seaton,  to  give  the  full  designation  by  which  it 
was  anciently  known,  was  built  by  George,  fourth  Lord  Seaton,  who  fell 
at  Flodden  in  1513.  The  castle  and  lands  remained  in  the  same  family 
till  the  time  of  Charles  i.,  when  they  passed  into  the  possession  of  the 
Hopes  of  Hopetoun,  the  ancestors  of  the  present  Earl  of  Hopetoun. 


CRAIG  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

Situated  in  a  romantic  and  strong  position  on  the  rocky  bank  of  a 
remote  glen  in  the  parish  of  Auchendoir,  Craig  Castle  has  for  centuries 


FIG.  278.— Craig  Castle. 

been  the  residence  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Gordons  of  Craig.     The 


CRAIG  CASTLE 


32?    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


present  castle  was  begun  by  Patrick  Gordon  in  1510,  and  completed  by 
his  son  William  in  In  18,  as  recorded,  along  with  their  coats  of  arms,  on 
the  walls  (Fig.  278). 

The  castle  is  designed  on  the  L  plan,  but  the  entrance  door  is  not 
as  usual  in  the  inner  angle,  but  a  little  way  off  the  angle,  and  with  the 
coats  of  arms  and  deep  embrasures  adjoining  it  has  a  striking  effect 
(Fig.  278).  It  opens  into  a  passage  which  goes  right  through  the  building 
to  a  newel  staircase  leading  to  the  upper  floors,  in  the  same  way  as  at 
Gight  Castle.  The  basement  contains  three  vaulted  cellars,  one  of  which 
has  a  stair  to  the  hall,  and  one  was  probably  the  kitchen.  The  hall,  with 
private  room,  as  usual,  occupied  the  whole  of  the  first  floor.  The  building 
has  been  much  altered  internally,  but  the  widely  splayed  port-holes  in  use 
at  that  time  are  still  visible  externally  on  the  different  floors  (Fig.  279)- 


Fio.  279.—  Craig  Castle.     View  from  the  North-East. 


The  arrangements  of  the  upper  part  of  the  building  are  peculiar.  A 
roofed-in  passage  goes  all  round  the  castle  at  the  top  of  the  walls,  and 
thus  provides  a  covered  parapet  for  defence  (Fig.  279).  The  rooms  on 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—  328  — 


CRAIG  CASTLE 


this  floor  are  lighted  by  borrowed  lights  in  the  inner  wall  of  the  passage. 
This  arrangement  seems  to  have  been  original,  as  the  corbels  for  the 
wall  plate  of  the  roof  of  the  passage,  and  the  water  table  above,  are 
carried  all  round  the  top  floor.  Portions  of  the  inner  walls  of  the  parapet 
or  passage  are  carried  up  as  gables,  and  have  the  appearance  of  rising 
through  the  roof. 

The  top  story  is  unfinished,  and  has  been  altered  by  the  introduction 
of  chimneys,  etc.,  which  block  the  covered  passage  at  intervals.  The  roofs 
have  the  rather  unusual  finish  of  gabled  crow-steps  on  the  skews.  These 
are  more  frequently  found  in  connection  with  ecclesiastical  work, 
although  sometimes  met  with  in  castles,  as  at  Edinburgh  Castle,  Farnell 
Castle,  etc. 

The  old  church  of  Auchendoir  is  close  to  Craig  Castle.  It  has  a  good 
doorway  and  other  first  pointed  features. 

DUNDAS  CASTLE,  LINLITHGOWSHIRE. 

Dundas  Castle,  near  the  village  of  Dalmeny,  and  about  eight  miles 
west  from  Edinburgh,  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  so  far  as  its 
masonry  is  concerned,  but  having  been  about  the  beginning  of  this 
century  fitted  up  as  a  distillery,  its  interior  arrangements  are  in 


Fro.  280.— Dundas  Castle.     Plans. 


various  places  concealed  by   the  brick   erections  connected  therewith. 
The  castle  stands  on   the  summit   of  a  rocky  hill,_and  externally  it  pre- 


DDNDAS  CASTLE 


-  329  — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


sents  the  appearance  of  being  all  of  one  age.  It  is  only  after  making 
a  plan,  and  carefully  studying  the  building,  that  it  is  found  to  be  of  two 
periods.  The  original  building  is  on  the  L  plan  (Fig.  280),  with  two  rooms, 
one  in  each  compartment,  on  the  various  floors.  It  is  four  stories  in  height, 
all  the  floors  in  the  wing  being  vaulted,  while  in  the  main  building  the  base- 
ment and  top  floors  only  are  vaulted  (section,  Fig.  281).  In  the  addition 


THIRD     FLOOR 


PIG.  281. — Dundas  Castle.    Plan  of  Third  Floor  and  Section. 

(to  be  afterwards  described)  three  of  the  four  floors  are  vaulted.  The 
entrance  door,  which  is  round  arched,  is  in  the  re-entering  angle.  In 
order  to  increase  the  head-room,  the  haunches  of  the  arch  have  in  recent 
times  been  cut  out  to  the  square,  and  the  width  of  the  passage  to  the  stair 
has  been  increased  to  the  extent  of  cutting  away  the  masonry  containing 
the  rest  or  mortice  for  the  sliding  bar.  The  original  strong  iron  yett  still 
hangs  in  the  doorway.  A  circular  stair  in  the  angle  leads  to  the  first  floor, 
and  terminates  there.  This  stair  has  been  altered  from  a  corkscrew  to  a 
straight  flight  for  the  upper  ten  or  twelve  steps,  in  the  manner  shown  on 
plan.  The  hall  on  the  first  floor  is  28  feet  8  inches  long  by  19  feet  9  inches 
wide.  The  fireplace  (Fig.  282)  is  of  an  unusual  design,  with  its  putt-stones 
for  resisting  the  arch  thrusts.  This  feature  was  not  uncommon  in  earlier 


THIRD  PERIOD 


330    — 


DUN  PAS  CASTLE 


examples,  when  the  putt-stones  were  sometimes  elegantly  carved  as 
sconces  to  receive  lamps,  etc.  Adjoining  the  hall  is  a  private  room, 
which  was  previously  of  the  same  size  as  the  room  above,  but  has  been 
considerably  reduced  in  size  by  the  alteration  of  the  stair  just  described. 
This  room  and  the  great  hall  formerly  entered  directly  from  the  circular 
stair,  and  not  as  at  present.  In  the  various  floors  there  are  garde-robes 
in  the  west  wall.  In  order  to  reach  the  stair  leading  to  the  upper  floors 
the  great  hall  has  to  be  crossed.  This  staircase  is  circular,  placed  in  the 
angle,  and  continues  up  to  the  roof,  where  it  lands  in  a  large  round 
turret  with  a  groined  ceiling  inside.  Above  this  vault,  and  reached  by 
a  ladder  from  the  main  roof,  is  the  post  for  a  beacon  light  and  watch 
tower  surrounded  by  a  stone  parapet  (section  Fig.  281).  The  beacon 
light  could  be  seen  at  Blackness  Castle,  Rosyth  Castle,  Fordel  Castle 
(where  an  iron  beacon  still  remains),  Dunfermline,  Donnybristle,  and 
various  other  castles  along  the  Forth. 


PIG.  282. — Dumlas  Castle.    Fireplace  in  Hall. 

The  addition  to  the  castle  consisted  of  a  wing  at  the  north-west 
corner.  Its  peculiar  and  irregular  shape  seems  to  have  been  a  necessity  of 
the  rocky  site ;  its  sharp  corners,  as  will  be  observed  (Figs.  283,  284),  are 
splayed  off  towards  the  top.  The  various  floors  are  reached  from  the 
staircase  last  described.  How  the  ground  floor  was  reached  cannot  at 
present  be  determined,  owing  to  building  and  other  alterations  connected 
with^the  distillery  ;  the  circular  well  of  the  staircase  seems  to  be  con- 


DUNDAS  CASTLE 


—    331    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


tinued  down  to  the  ground,  and  probably  in  this  way  an  access  was 
obtained.  The  kitchen  is  on  the  first  floor  of  the  new  wing,  and  contains 
the  usual  stone  sink.  The  fireplace  has  been  entirely  removed. 

The  roof  is  at  present  a  flat  platform  covered  with  cement ;  in  its 
original  state  it  was  in  all  likelihood  constructed  of  stone  flags  resting  on 
the  vault,  somewhat  like  the  roof  of  Craigniillar,  with  an  inclination  just 
steep  enough  to  let  the  water  run  off.  It  will  be  observed  from  the 
section  that  the  parapets  rise  above  the  crown  of  the  arches  of  the  roof, 
so  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  steep  roofs,  as  in  the  case  of  Borthwick 
and  others,  where  the  parapets  are  placed  at  the  springing  of  the  arches. 
The  machicolations  between  the  corbels  have  been  all  filled  up  during 
the  recent  repairs.  There  is  a  small  low  penthouse  near  the  centre  of 
the  roof,  probably  used  as  a  guard-room  (Plan  of  Roof,  Fig.  280). 


FIG.  283.— Dundas  Castle.    View  from  the  North-East. 

The  family  of  Dundas  of  that  Ilk  were  in  possession  of  this  barony 
since  about  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century  down  to  a  few  years 
ago.  The  present  castle  was  probably  erected  during  the  first  half  of 
the  fifteenth  century,  when,  about  1416,  a  fortalice  seems  to  have  been 
erected  under  a  warrant  from  Robert,  Duke  of  Albany.  The  additional 
wing  being  so  exactly  in  the  same  style,  as  to  height  and  all  other  features, 
we  may  conclude  that  it  was  built  not  long  afterwards,  and  that  the  sub- 
sequent warrant  which  was  granted  by  James  i.  in  1424  refers  to  it. 

We  have  in  Dundas  Castle  a  good  example  of  the  |_  plan,  and 
also  a  good  illustration  of  the  efforts  which  were  made  in  the  fifteenth 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    332    — 


DUNDAS  CASTLE 


century  to  extend  the  accommodation.  No  sooner  apparently  was 
the  castle  built  than  it  was  found  to  be  too  small,  and  the  awkwardly 
shaped  north-west  wing  had  to  be  added  to  provide  a  kitchen,  as  well 
as  additional  chambers.  That  this  is  an  addition  is  evident  from  the 
way  in  which  the  doors  leading  to  it  from  the  staircase  have  been  slapped 
in  the  original  wall. 


FIG.  284.-  Dundas  Castle.     View  from  the  South-West. 

A  fine  piece  of  Renaissance  work,  comprising  a  fountain  and  a  sun- 
dial, stands  in  the  pleasure-ground  adjoining  the  castle  (Figs.  285,  286). 
This  originally  formed  the  centre  of  a  parterre  enclosed  with  walls  of 
hewn  stone,  having  a  baiiqueting-house  at  each  corner ;  but  nothing  of 
all  this,  except  the  fountain,  now  remains.  It  is  a  beautiful  work  of  art, 
both  as  regards  workmanship  and  design.  The  great  mass  of  the  surface 
carving  is  in  low  relief,  with  masks  projecting  boldly  at  intervals.  The 
cornice  on  the  top  does  not  seem  to  be  the  original  one ;  at  all  events, 
it  has  a  crude  outline,  entirely  unlike  the  spirited  details  of  the  other 
parts  of  the  monument.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  central  portion  of 
the  cornice  is  projected  on  elaborately  carved  trusses  on  three  sides. 


DUNDAS  CASTLE 


—    333    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


while  against  the  fourth  side  the  stair  arch  abuts.  On  the  trusses, 
to  quote  the  minute  description  by  W.  W.  Fyfe,  in  his  work  Summer 
Life  on  Land  and  Water  at  South  Queensferry,  "  are  heads,  male  and 
female  ;  on  the  third  an  exquisite  alto-relievo  of  two  cherubs,  bearing  a 
delicate  floral  wreath,  and  underneath  the  cypher  of  Sir  Walter  Dundas 
in  interlaced  letters.  The  corner  compartments  are  also  ornamented 
with  sculptures  of  the  Dundas  crest,  a  lion's  head  wreathed  with  oak 
leaves,  the  Dundas  cognisance,  a  lion  gules  (on  which  the  remains  of 
the  red  paint  are  perceptible),  the  shield  of  the  knight,  quartered  with 
that  of  his  lady,  Dame  Ann  Menteith,  whose  cypher  is  also  given ;  and, 
separately,  the  salamander  of  the  house  of  Dundas,  noticed  as  a 


FOUNTAIN    AND   DIAL 

i2l 

-      / 

1        - 

|  STEPS 

WATER 

FK;.  2S5. — Dundas  Castle.    Plan  of  Fountain. 

peculiarity  in  George  Mackenzie's  Heraldry,  who,  speaking  of  compart- 
ments in  armorial  bearings,  says  that  besides  the  Royal  Arms  they  were 
only  allowed  in  those  of  Douglas  and  Perth,  but  that  some  families 
were  permitted  achievements,  of  which  he  adduces  as  an  instance  this 
'salamander  in  flames,  proper'  in  the  arms  of  the  Laird  of  Dundas." 
On  each  of  the  four  faces  are  two  panels  in  the  frieze,  with  Latin  inscrip- 
tion, thus  translated  by  Mr.  Fyfe  : — 

"  See,  read,  think,  and  attend. 

Through  rocks  and  crags  by  pipes  we  lead  these  streams 

That  the  parched  garden  may  be  moistened  by  the  spring  water. 

Forbear  to  do  harm  therefore  to  the  fountain  and  garden  which  thou  see'st. 

Nor  yet  should'st  thou  incline  to  injure  the  signs  of  the  dial. 

View  and  with  grateful  eyes  enjoy  these  hours  and  the  garden, 

And  to  the  flowers  may  eager  thirst  be  allayed  by  the  fountain. 

In  the  year  of  human  Salvation  1623." 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  334  — 


DUN  DAS  CASTLE 


Beneath,  in   a  line  with  the    capitals,  are  further  inscriptions,  thus 
rendered  in  the  same  work  : — 


FIG.  286.— Dnndas  Castle.    View  of  Fountain. 


"Sir  Walter  Dundas,  in  the  year  of   our  Lord   1623    and  6lst    of 
his  own  age,  erected  and  adorned,  as  an  ornament  of  his  county  and 


liALVAIRD  CASTLE  -    335    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

family,  sacred  to  the  memory  of  himself,  and  as  a  future  memorial  of  his 
posterity,  as  also  an  amusing  recreation  for  friends,  guests,  and  visitors, 
this  fountain  in  the  form  of  a  castle,  this  dial  with  its  retinue  of  goddesses, 
and  this  garden  with  its  buildings,  walls,  and  quadrangular  walks, 
surrounded  with  stones  piled  on  high,  rocks  having  been  on  all  sides 
deeply  cut  out,  which  inconveniently  covered  the  ground. 

"  Whosoever  thou  art  who  comest  hither,  we,  so  many  half-fiendish 
spectres,  are  placed  here  lately  by  order,  expressly  for  bugbears  to 
the  bad,  so  that  the  hideous  show  their  visages,  lest  any  meddling, 
evil-disposed  person,  should  put  forth  his  hand  on  the  dial  or  garden. 
We  warn  robbers  to  depart,  burglars  to  desist,  nothing  here  is 
prey  for  plunderers  !  For  the  pleasure  and  enjoyment  of  spectators 
are  all  these  placed  here ;  but  we,  who  rather  laugh  with  joyous 
front,  to  a  free  sight  we  bid  frankly  the  kind  and  welcome  friends 
of  the  host.  Boldly  use  every  freedom  with  the  Master,  the  dial,  the 
garden,  and  with  the  garden-beds  and  couches — him  for  friendship  and 
conversation,  them  for  the  recreation  of  the  mind  and  thought.  With 
ordinary  things  to  content  us  here,  is  to  be  even  with  others — we  envy 
not  their  better  things." 

The  width  of  the  fountain  at  the  base  is    .  .          G  ft.  1 1    in. 

Greatest  width  at  water  troughs,       .          .  .          8  ft.     3    in. 

Height  from  ground  to  top  of  do.,     .          .  .          2  ft.     3    in. 

Do.                to  top  of  cornice,       .  .          (>  ft.  11^  in. 

Height  of  dial  and  shaft  from  top  of  cornice,  .          5  ft.     2    in. 

Total  height  of  fountain,            .          .          .  .12ft.     liin. 

The  plan  of  the  foundation  is  taken  immediately  above  the  water 
troughs. 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE,  FIFESHIRE. 

Balvaird  Castle,  in  Fifeshire,  stands  at  the  top  of  Glen  Farg,  on  the 
boundaries  of  Perthshire  and  Fifeshire,  and  from  its  lofty  site  it  commands 
a  fine  view  over  the  valley  of  the  Eden  and  the  Lomonds  of  Fife.  It  is  a 
fifteenth-century  keep,  and  presents  a  fine  and  rather  advanced  specimen 
as  regards  its  planning  and  arrangements.  It  is  of  the  common  L  plan 
(Fig.  287),  but  the  entrance  and  staircase,  instead  of  being  inserted  in 
the  thickness  of  the  wall,  have  a  special  turret  provided  for  them  in  the 
re-entering  angle.  A  wider  and  better  staircase  is  thus  obtained  than 
under  the  old  plan  of  carrying  the  staircase  up  in  the  thickness  of  the 
wall. 

The  ground  floor  is  vaulted,  and  contains  the  usual  stores,  with  sleep- 
ing loft  above.  The  joists  of  the  sleeping  loft,  with  an  ashlar  wall 
supporting  them,  are  still  preserved.  Descending  from  a  wall  chamber 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    336    - 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE 


in  the  north-east  corner  of  this  entresol  floor  is  the  usual  pit  for  prisoners. 
The  kitchen  is  on  the  ground  floor  in  the  wing. 


FIG.  287.— Balvaird  Castle.     Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 


The  hall  is  on  the  first  floor  (Fig.  288),  with  private  room  adjoining, 
in  the  wing.  The  fireplace  is  well  preserved,  and  is  a  good  specimen  of 
fifteenth-century  work  (Fig.  289).  There  are  three  large  windows  with 
seats,  and  a  fine  ambry  or  sideboard  (Fig.  289),  ornamented  with  the 
late  Gothic  carved  work  of  the  period,  very  similar  to  that  at  Borthwick, 
and  with  the  letters  of  the  sacred  monogram  Jesu  Maria. 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE 


337  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


There  is  also  a  small  wall  chamber  with  its  original  door  adjoining 
the  fireplace.  The  garde-robes  are  placed  so  that  the  flues  all  descend 
together  in  one  vent.  The  soil  from  the  garde-robes  fell  into  a  small 
chamber  on  the  ground  floor,  and  was  removed  by  pulling  out  a  move- 
able  stone  at  the  ground  level  outside. 


FIG.  288.—  Balvaird  Castle.    Plan  of  First  Floor. 

This  circumstance  of  a  stone  being  removeable  from  the  castle  wall, 
and  in  communication  with  a  flue,  derives  confirmation  from  the  lines  in 
the  ballad  of  "  Edom  o'  Gordon,"  where  the  besieged  matron  cries  from 
the  battlements  to  her  traitorous  servant,  who  seems  to  have  shown  the 
besiegers  how  the  keep  might  be  set  on  fire  : — 

"  Wae  worth,  wae  worth  ye,  Jock,  ma  man, 

I  paid  ye  weel  your  fee, 
Why  pu'  ye  out  the  grund-wa-stane, 
Lets  in  th  e  reek  to  me  ? 

Wae  worth,  wae  worth  ye,  Jock,  ma  man, 

I  paid  ye  weel  your  hire, 
Why  pu'  ye  out  the  grund-wa-stane, 

To  me  lets  in  the  fire  ?  " 

and  it  explains  the  meaning  of  the  twice-recurring  line  in  the  ballad, 
"Why  pu'  ye  out  the  grund-wa'-stane  ?"  as  referring  to  a  known  move- 
able  stone   with  a  specific  name,  the  pulling  out  of  which  would  give 
access  to  the  smoke  from  burning  branches  piled  against  the  castle  wall. 
There   is   an   unusual   arrangement   of  stone   spouts  from    the    roof, 

v 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    338    — 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE 


whereby  these  garde-robes  could  be  washed  out  with  rain-water  (sketch, 
Fig.  '288). 


FIG.  289.— Balvaird  Castle.    Fireplace,  Anibry,  etc. 

This  points  to  an  improvement  in  civilisation,  and,  looking  to  the 
elegance  of  the  work,  both  external  and  internal,  we  must  recognise  in 
this  castle  a  great  advancement  in  architecture.  Here,  as  at  Sauchie,  we 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE  —    339    —  THIRD  PERIOD 

observe  the  change  from  the  original  and  simply  useful  forms  of  the 


machicolations  and  corbels  to  a  more  ornamental  design  (Figs.  290,  29), 


THIRD  PERIOD  340    BALVAIRD  CASTLE 

292).     This  shows  the  commencement  of  the  change  in  the  character- 


^esi®^ 

'>^P"    ^^ 


• 

,31 


m 


istics  which  distinguish  this  earlier  period  from  the  later  amongst  our 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE  —    341    THIRD  PERIOD 

Scotch  towers.     The  watch-turret  over  the  staircase  (Fig.  290),  and  the 


ornamental  chimney  copes,  are  also  distinctive  features.     These  and  the 
parapets   are   here   in  much  better  preservation  than  usual,  and  render 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  342  — 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE 


FIG.  293.— Balvaird  Castle.    Plan  of  Hoof. 


this  castle  peculiarly  interesting.  Fig.  293  shows  the  complete  arrange- 
ments of  the  parapets  and  parapet  walks  for  defence,  and  a  small  sketch 
in  Fig.  289  shows  the  ornamental  finials  with  which  the  gables  were 
terminated. 

There  is  a  story  above  the  hall  with  a  timber  floor,  the  beams  of  which 

still  remain,  supported  on  stone  corbels, 
and  hanging  from  the  beams  are  the 
remains  of  the  bracketing  of  the  pend- 
ent plaster  ceiling,  while  portions  of  the 
ornamental  plaster-work  still  remain  on 
the  walls,  or  strew  the  floor.  Of  some 
scattered  parts  of  these  sketches  are 
given  (Fig.  289),  showing  by  their  style 
that  they  belong  to  the  date  of  the 
later  additions  to  the  castle. 

In  the  wing  there  are  four  stories 
above  the  kitchen ;  only  the  joists  of 
the  second  story  now  remain,  their 
under  sides  being  beautifully  carved 
with  rosettes  in  a  hollow  (Fig.  289). 

In  156?  considerable  additions  were 
made  to  this  castle.  Another  court 

was  formed  containing  stables  and  other  offices,  some  of  which  still  remain. 
Opposite  the  gate  of  the  outer  court  is  the  arched  gateway  to  the  inner 
court  or  quadrangle,  with  the  date  of  the  work  (1567)  carved  in  a  panel 
above  the  arch  (sketch,  Fig.  289).  There  is  a  vaulted  guard-room  on  one 
side,  and  a  series  of  apartments  on  the  other.  Over  the  entrance  passage 
is  a  large  room,  with  access  from  the  keep,  said  to  have  been  the  chapel. 
There  were  also  buildings  on  the  west  side  of  the  quadrangle,  but  these 
sixteenth-century  erections  are  all  greatly  ruined,  and  their  use  can 
scarcely  be  recognised.  These  additions  would  no  doubt  convert  this 
keep  into  a  castle  surrounding  a  courtyard ;  but  as  the  keep  is  so  well 
preserved,  and  is  such  a  good  specimen  of  its  kind,  we  have  thought  it 
better  to  disregard  the  subsequent  additions,  and  class  it  along  with  the 
keeps  with  wings. 

An  enclosure  to  the  south  has  evidently  been  a  pleasure  garden,  and 
there  is  a  large  walled  garden  or  orchard  adjoining  the  castle  on  the 
east,  all  pointing  to  the  more  peaceful  and  settled  condition  of  the 
country,  and  the  amelioration  of  manners  in  the  early  days  of  Queen 
Mary's  reign. 

Over  the  plain,  full-centred  arch  of  the  entrance  doorway  to  the 
keep  are  the  remains  of  several  armorial  bearings  (Fig.  294).  The  arms 
are  supposed  to  be  those  of  Margaret  Barclay  and  her  husband,  Sir 
Andrew  Murray,  and  if  this  be  the  case,  the  building  must  be  as  old  as 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE 


—    343    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


/  '  W 


the  reign  of  James  iv.,  1487  till  1513.     A  recumbent  statue  lying  in  the 

castle  was  brought  from  the  old  church  of  Arngask  when  the  latter  was 

demolished,  and  it  is  supposed  to 

have  been  the  monument  of  Lady 

Margaret  Barclay,  who  married  Sir 

Andrew  Murray,  youngest  son  of  Sir 

William  Murray   of  Tulliebardine, 

and  who,  as  the  surviving  child  of 

James  Barclay  of  Kippo,  to  whom 

the  barony  of  Balvaird  and  Arngask 

previously  belonged,  brought  with 

her  in  marriage  these  baronies. 

Baron  Balvaird  is  a  title  in  the 
peerage  of  Scotland,  conferred,  17th 
November  1641,  on  the  Reverend 
Andrew  Murray,  minister  of  Abdie 
from  l6l 8,  a  second  son  of  David 
Murray  of  Balgonie,  and  Agnes 
his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Moncreiff 
of  Moncreiff.  In  1631,  on  the  death 
of  Sir  David  Murray  of  Gospertie, 
first  Viscount  of  Stormont,  the 
minister  of  Abdie  succeeded  to  the 
baronies  of  Arngask  and  Kippo. 


He  was  knighted  at  the  coronation 
of  Charles  i.  in  Scotland,  1633, 
and  three  years  afterwards  he  had 
a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Pitlochie. 
In  1638  he  was  a  member  of  the 

General  Assembly  held  at  Glasgow,      Fl°-  294— Balvaird  Castle.    Entrance  to  Keep. 

of  which  Henderson  was  Moderator,  and  for  the  part  he  took  in  affairs 
he  was  favourably  represented  to  the  King  by  the  Commissioner,  the 
Marquis  of  Hamilton,  and  in  the  same  year  he  was  deprived  of  Abdie  by 
the  Church  for  his  moderate  views. 

Charles  afterwards  raised  him  to  the  peerage,  with  the  title  of  Lord 
Balvaird,  doubtless  to  the  great  contempt  and  hatred  of  his  clerical 
brethren,  as  he  was  prohibited  by  the  Assembly  from  bearing  improper 
titles. 

On  the  death  of  Viscount  Stormont  in  1642  Lord  Balvaird  succeeded 
to  the  lands,  lordship,  and  barony  of  Stormont,  while  the  title  of  Viscount 
Stormont  went  to  the  second  Earl  of  Annandale.  Lord  Balvaird  died  on 
24th  September  1644.  By  his  wife,  Lady  Elizabeth  Carnegy,  fifth 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Southesk,  he  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
His  eldest  son,  second  Lord  Balvaird,  succeeded  to  the  titles  of  Viscount 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    344    — 


BALVAIRD  CASTLE 


Stormont  and  Lord  Scone,  and  the  title  of  Lord  Balvaird  became  there- 
after merged  in  that  of  Viscount  Stormont. 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE,  MIDLOTHIAN. 

By  far  the  finest  of  our  castles  built  on  the  model  of  the  keep  is 
Borthwick  in  Midlothian,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south-east  of 
Gorebridge.  This  keep,  together  with  its  courtyard  and  outworks,  are 
fortunately  all  in  good  preservation,  and  have  been  little  added  to  or 
altered  (Fig.  295).  The  date  of  Borthwick  Castle  is  known,  as  the  licence 
to  build  it  was  granted  by  James  i.,  in  1430,  to  Sir  William  Borthwick, 
afterwards  Lord  Borthwick.  The  site  of  this  castle,  like  that  of  so  many 
others,  is  a  tongue  of  land  jutting  out  into  the  middle  of  a  valley,  at  the 
junction  of  two  streams,  towards  which  the  ground  slopes  precipitously. 


FIG.  295.— Borthwick  Castle.    General  Plan. 

The  general  plan  of  the  main  block  of  the  keep  is,  as  usual,  a 
parallelogram,  containing  the  great  hall ;  but  in  this  case,  instead  of  one 
projecting  wing  to  give  additional  accommodation,  as  in  several  instances 
above  referred  to,  there  are  two  such  projecting  wings. 

The  outer  walls  enclose  a  courtyard  of  irregular  form,  about  240  feet 
in  length  by  120  feet  in  average  breadth.  These  walls  stand  at  the  top 
of  steep  banks,  at  the  bottom  of  which  there  is  a  ditch.  The  angles  and 
curtains  are  defended  with  towers  and  bastions,  that  flanking  the  gate- 
way being  circular,  and  of  great  strength  ;  it  is  35  feet  in  diameter,  and 
the  walls  are  12  feet  thick,  leaving  a  chamber  in  the  centre  only 
1 1  feet  wide. 

The  gatehouse  has  had  a  drawbridge  and  outer  gate,  as  well  as  a 
portcullis  in  the  inner  archway. 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE 


—    345    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


There  is  also  a  tower,  or  outhouse,  at  the  south  side  of  the  courtyard, 
built  so  as  to  strengthen  that  flank,  which  was  probably  occupied  by  part 
of  the  garrison,  or  by  the  followers  of  visitors. 

These  towers,  and  some  of  the  walls,  contain  large  horizontal  port-holes 
for  guns,  which  may  in  some  instances  have  been  insertions,  but  it  is  more 
likely  that  the  portions  containing  these  embrasures  are  of  later  date.  One 
of  the  port-holes  in  the  basement  of  the  gate-tower  is  remarkable;  it  com- 
mands the  slope  of  the  hill  approaching  the  castle,  and  the  port-hole, 
instead  of  being  built  horizontally  in  the  wall,  as  usual,  is  set  at  the  same 
angle  as  the  side  of  the  hill,  so  as  to  sweep  the  whole  hillside  (Fig.  296). 


FIG.  296. — Borthwick  Castle.    View  from  the  South- West. 


The  north  end  of  the  courtyard  has  been  cut  off  from  the  main  court 
by  a  wall,  and  probably  contained  the  stables  and  other  outbuildings. 

To  reach  the  entrance  door  of  the  keep  from  the  gateway  the  visitor 
had  to  pass  round  two  sides  of  the  keep  and  then  to  ascend  a  staircase 


THIRD  PERIOD  —    346    -  BORTHWICK  CASTLE 

leading  to  the  parapet   of  the   outer  wall,  from  which  the  keep  was 


FIG.  297.— Borthwick  Castle.    Plans  of  First  and  Second  Floors. 

entered  by  a  bridge  on  the  level  of  the  first  floor.     The  bridge  is  now 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE 


—  347  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


destroyed,  but  the  stones  wrought  for  the  springing  of  the  arch  still 
remain  in  the  castle  wall. 

Beneath  this  is  the  doorway  to  the  basement  floor,  which  is  a  few 
steps  down  from  the  court  (see  section  D  E,  Fig.  300). 

The  main  portion  of  the  basement  is  divided  into  three  store-rooms, 
each  with  a  single  loop  for  light,  and  that  next  the  entrance  has  a  stair 
to  the  first  floor.  In  the  south  wing  there  is  a  draw-well  (section,  Fig. 
299)  and  a  separate  stair  to  the  first  floor.  In  the  north  wing  was  the 
dungeon  (section  C  B,  Fig.  300),  apparently  divided  into  two  floors,  with 
a  garde-robe  entering  off  the  upper  floor,  and  a  small  ventilation  opening 
set  high  in  the  wall. 

The  apartments  on  the  basement  floor  are  all  vaulted,  and  there  was 
a  loft  in  the  vault  over  each.  In  the  case  of  the  well  room,  the  vault  is 
low,  and  there  is  an  entresol  room  above  (Fig.  299).  The  walls  are  12 
to  14  feet  thick,  and  the  only  openings  in  the  basement  are  small  loops 
for  light  and  ventilation. 


FIG.  298. — Borthwick  Castle.    View  of  Chapel  and  of  Basin  in  Screens. 

On  the  first  floor  (Fig.  297)  the  whole  of  the  main  building  is  occupied 
with  the  great  hall,  50  feet  8  inches  by  23  feet  6  inches.     The  main 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    348    — 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE 


entrance  from  the  bridge  is  protected  by  the  guard-room  in  the  thickness 
of  the  wall.  The  stair  from  the  basement  also  landed  in  this  guard- 
room, so  that  all  communication,  in  or  out,  up  or  down,  was  well  watched. 
The  kitchen  occupies  the  north  wing,  and  the  private  parlour  the  south 
wing,  on  this  floor. 

The  kitchen  has  an  immense  fireplace,  with  three  windows  opening 
into  it,  and  the  usual  stone  sink  and  drain.  There  is  a  small  pantry 
between  the  kitchen  and  the  hall,  and  at  the  north  end  of  the  hall  there 
has  evidently  been  a  passage  cut  off  by  a  screen,  as  there  is  a  window 
provided  in  the  east  wall  for  lighting  it.  There  is  also  a  service  window 
from  the  kitchen  into  this  passage,  which  in  England  would  be  called  the 
"screens."  This  is  amongst  the  earliest  examples  of  this  arrangement, 
which  afterwards  became  a  common  feature.  From  the  "  screens  "  the 
common  stair  in  the  north-east  angle  conducts  to  the  upper  flats  and  the 
roof.  Over  the  "  screens  "  was  no  doubt  situated  the  minstrels'  gallery. 

In  the  screens  is  a  very  handsome  wash-hand  basin  (Fig.  298),  with 
carved  and  ornamental  canopy,  and  drain  to  the  outside.  An  ornamental 
basin  of  this  kind  in  the  screens  is  a  common  feature  in  English  halls, 
but  is  not  so  common  in  Scotland. 


PIG.  299. — Borthwiek  Castle.    Transverse  Section  through  Hall. 

The  hall  is  29  feet  high  to  the  apex  of  its  pointed  barrel  vault 
(Figs.  299,  300),  which  has  evidently  been  all  open  to  the  hall  without 
any  loft  in  the  vault. 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE 


349  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  windows  are  rather  few  and  small.  At  the  south  end  there  is  a 
large  and  sculptured  fireplace  9  feet  wide  (Fig.  301),  with  caps  and  cornice, 
enriched  with  mouldings  and  ornaments  of  the  period  (Fig.  302),  and  a 
lofty  pointed  hood  ;  there  is  also  a  sideboard,  or  seat,  with  enriched  canopy 


SICTWN     «     C     B  V*-*£/y  "— ' '""F-  SECTION       «.     T>  .  E. 

FIG.  300. — Borthwick  Castle.    Transverse  and  Longitudinal  Sections. 

of  fifteenth-century  work.  A  triangular-headed  door  leads  from  the  hall 
to  the  private  parlour  in  the  south  wing,  and  the  door  has  had  a  wooden 
porch  to  shut  off  the  stair-landing  (see  Plan  of  First  Floor,  Fig.  297). 

There  is  a  privy  closet  adjoining  this  parlour,  the  arrangements  of 
which  show  more  attention  to  sanitary  requirements  than  these  old 
builders  often  receive  credit  for. 

The  well  being  immediately  below  this  room,  it  has  been  found 
advisable  not  to  carry  down  the  flues  from  the  garde-robes  in  the  thick- 
ness of  the  wall,  or  to  discharge  them  to  the  exterior  in  the  usual 
manner,  but  to  remove  the  materials  in  a  special  way  so  as  to  avoid 
contamination  ;  instead  of  a  flue  from  this  privy  closet,  therefore,  a 
moveable  receptacle  was  used.  In  the  same  way  provision  is  made  for 
removing  similar  receptacles  from  the  garde-robes  in  the  floors  above 
this,  by  an  aperture  in  the  ceiling,  through  which  they  could  be  lowered 
and  carried  away  (see  Plan). 

The  stair  leading  from  the  screens  was  no  doubt  the  common  stair 
used  by  the  domestics  and  soldiers  ;  it  also  gave  access  to  the  musicians' 
gallery  over  the  screens,  and  to  a  passage  in  the  wall  leading  to  another 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    350    — 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE 


stair,  communicating  with  the  tier  of  rooms  over  the  kitchen  in  the 
north  wing  (except  one,  to  be  afterwards  mentioned),  and  to  the  roof. 
Another  stair  in  the  angle  of  the  south  wing  and  hall  led  to  the  upper 
floors  over  the  south  wing,  and  also  to  the  roof. 


FIG.  301.— Borthwick  Castle.    Interior  of  Hall. 


There  are  three  stories  over  the  hall,  the  upper  story  only  being 
vaulted  in  order  to  carry  the  stone  roof,  the  other  floors  being  of  wood. 
The  floor  over  the  hall  was  occupied  with  the  drawing-room  and  the 
chapel.  The  former  is  well  lighted  and  has  a  good  fireplace,  and  com- 
municates directly  with  a  handsome  room  in  the  north  wing  (section  C  B, 


BORTHWICK  CASTLE 


—    351    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Fig.  300),  with  a  hooded  fireplace,  which  was  evidently  meant  for  a 
principal  or  guest's  bedroom  or  boudoir.  This  is  the  room  which., 
as  we  noticed,  the  stair  in  the  north  wing  passes  but  does  not 
communicate  with.  The  section  C  B  also  shows  the  remarkable  manner 
in  which  the  wall  of  this  room,  and  the  two  rooms  below  it,  are  affected 
by  the  slope  of  the  inner  wall  of  the  kitchen  chimney.  The  chapel  was 


FIG.  302.— Berth  wick  Castle.    Enrichments  of  Fireplace. 

probably  also  used  as  a  sitting-room,  the  oratory  (Fig.  298)  being  confined 
to  the  recess  of  the  east  window,  in  which  are  situated  the  piscina  and 
locker.  The  two  upper  floors  were  no  doubt  bedrooms,  that  in  the  loft 
of  the  vault  being  probably  used  by  the  garrison  who  manned  the  roof. 
The  defences  of  the  keep  are,  as  usual,  at  the  roof  (Fig.  303).  The 
parapet  is  carried  on  bold  corbels  with  open  machicolations  on  all  sides 
except  the  east  where 
the  parapet  is  continued 
straight  up  from  the  face  of 
the  wall.  This  is  a  subject 
which  has  given  rise  to 
some  ingenious  theories, 
but  although  at  first  sight 
somewhat  puzzling,  its  ex- 
planation is  very  simple 
and  natural. 

This  side  of  the  keep 
has  been  battered  by  artil- 
lery, generally  supposed  to 
have  been  by  Cromwell  in 
1650,  and  it  still  bears  dis- 
tinct marks  of  such  action. 
The  east  parapet,  with  its 
corbels  and  angle  bartizans,  were  then  destroyed,  and,  in  restoring  the 
parapet,  it  has  been  carried  up  flush  with  the  face  of  the  wall.  This 
is  quite  evident  on  a  careful  examination  on  the  spot.  Parts  of  the 
circular  bartizans  at  the  angles  and  some  of  the  corbels,  and  the  holes 
where  the  others  have  been  inserted  all  round,  are  still  to  be  seen. 


FIG.  303.— Borthwick  Castle.     Plan  of 
Roof  and  Battlements. 


THIRD  PERIOD  352    BORTHWICK  CASTLE 

The  stone  gutters  on  the  top  of  the  walls  are  wide,  and  afford  ample 
space  for  the  operations  of  a  numerous  garrison.  Some  traces  are  still 
visible  of  the  painting  with  which  the  vault  of  the  great  hall  was 
decorated,  but  they  are  fast  disappearing. 


AVONDALE  CASTLE,  LANARKSHIRE. 

This  building,  now  reduced  to  one  round  tower  and  fragments  of  the 
walls,  occupies  a  lofty  isolated  mound,  with  steep  rocky  slopes  on  all 
sides,  and  nearly  surrounded  by  the  Powmillan  Burn,  a  tributary  of  the 
Avon. 

The  castle  overlooks  the  town  of  Strathavon  in  Lanarkshire,  about 
seven  miles  south  of  Hamilton.  The  town  is  evidently  a  place  of  some 
antiquity,  and  its  ancient  houses,  its  steep  and  narrow  streets  joined 
with  bridges  over  the  burn,  the  whole  surmounted  with  the  ruins  of  the 
castle,  all  combine  to  form  a  prospect  more  than  usually  picturesque. 

Avondale  Castle  seems  to  have  been  built  by  Andrew  Stewart,  an 
illegitimate  grandson  of  the  second  Duke  of  Albany,  who  obtained  the 
barony  in  1456,  and  became  Lord  Avondale  in  1457. 


FIG.  304.— Avondale  Castle.    Plan. 

The  building  has  apparently  been  designed  on  the  plan  (Fig.  304)  of 
a  parallelogram,  with  two  towers  at  diagonally  opposite  corners.  One  of 
these  towers  still  remains  at  the  north-west  angle  overlooking  the  town 
(Fig.  305).  It  is  circular  on  plan,  and  contains  large  port-holes  for 
guns,  with  the  broad  external  splay  usual  in  the  end  of  the  fifteenth 
century. 

A  fragment  of  the  cornice,  which  can  still  be  traced  on  the  small 
surviving  portion  of  the  south  wall  of  the  main  building  (sketch,  Fig. 
304),  is  also  characteristic  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  north  wall  exists,  but  it  has  been  greatly 
altered,  and  now  contains  few  original  features.  The  castle  was  occupied 
till  1717  by  the  Duchess  of  Hamilton,  whose  memory  is  still  lovingly 
cherished  by  the  people  of  Strathavon.  After  her  Grace's  death  the 


STRUTHERS  CASTLE  -    353    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

valuable  old  furniture  was  dispersed,  and  the  castle  allowed  to  fall  into 


Fia.  305.— Avondale  Castle.    View  from  the  North-East. 


ruin,  a  process  which  has  evidently  been  greatly  hastened  by  the  hand 
of  man. 

STRUTHERS  CASTLE,  FIFESHIRE. 

Struthers  Castle  is  situated  about  three  miles  south  from  Cupar  in 
Fife,  and  midway  between  Scotstarvet  Tower  and  the  ruins  of  Craighall. 
Although  formerly  a  place  of  great  size  and  strength,  and  inhabited  by 
its  noble  owners  till  last  century,  it  is  now  a  mere  fragmentary  wreck. 
Neither  the  strength  of  its  walls  nor  the  associations  thrown  over  it  by 
the  genius  of  Sir  David  Lindsay,  have  availed  to  save  Struthers  from 
becoming  a  prey  to  the  most  ruthless  spoliation,  so  that  little  more  than 
a  bare  outline  of  its  plan  is  all  that  can  now  be  traced.  The  main 
portion  has  been  of  the  L  form  (Fig.  306),  with  a  wing  projecting 
eastwards  from  the  centre  of  the  eastern  limb.  The  gable  of  this  wing, 
with  the  beginning  of  the  return  walls,  is  entire. 

This  gable  is  flanked  by  two  huge  buttresses  (Fig  307),  measuring 
about  9  feet  broad,  tapering  upwards,  and  rounded  at  the  top  by 
•corbelling,  so  as  to  support  a  turret.  These  are  remarkable  features,  and 

z 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—   354  — 


STRUTHERS  CASTLE 


they  are  of  admirable  design  and  workmanship.     With  the  exception  of 
those  on  the  north  side  of  Bothwell  Castle,  shown  in  Figs.  77  and  78,  we 


FIG.  306.— Struthers  Castle.     Plan. 

cannot  recall  anything  like  them  in  any  other  Scotch  building.  They 
resemble  in  their  method  of  tapering  the  buttresses  at  the  east  end  of 
the  Grey  Friars'  Church  at  Stirling,  and  other  late 
fifteenth  or  sixteenth  century  churches  in  Scotland. 
Struthers  is  in  all  likelihood  of  that  age.  The 
south  gable  of  the  southern  limb  of  the  L  is  also- 
entire  (Fig.  308),  with  part  of  the  east  return  wall  and 
the  base  of  a  single  buttress,  which  stands  at  right 
angles  to  the  gable,  whereas  the  two  above  described 
are  built  in  continuation  of  the  east  gable.  A  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  west  wall  remains,  with  four 
large  lofty  round-headed  windows  (Fig.  308).  These 
are  insertions  corresponding  in  style  to  the  seven- 
teenth-century work  at  Craighall  House,  above 
mentioned  as  in  the  vicinity.  At  the  west  end  of 
the  other  limb  are  the  remains  of  a  circular  vault, 
and  standing  clear  and  detached  is  another  buttress, 
about  7  feet  4  inches  square,  and  about  20  feet  high. 
Adjoining  this  is  the  well.  The  foundations  of 
walls  extending  westwards  and  southwards  from 
this  can  still  be  made  out,  evidently  enclosing  a 
FIG.  307.— Struthers  Castle,  courtyard  (as  shown  on  Plan),  with  an  oblong  build- 
Buttress  of  East  Gable.  -ng  t()  the  ^^  indicated  in  outline. 

The  total  length  of  the  buildings  from  east  to  west,  over  the  walls,  is 
about  146  feet,  by  87  feet  from  north  to  south,  each  range  of  buildings 


STONEYPATH  TOWER 


—    355 


THIRD  PERIOD 


having  a  width  of  about  28  feet,  and  varying  from  four  to  five  stories  in 
height. 

Struthers  was  the  Fifeshire  residence  of  the  Lords  Lindsay  of  the 
Byres,  a  branch  of  the  Lindsays  who  ultimately  succeeded  to  the  Craw- 
ford peerage.  But  probably  the  place  is  now  best  known  in  connection 
with  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  the  Mount,  who,  as  a  scion  of  a  younger 
branch  of  the  Byres  family,  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  Struthers,  where  he 
enjoyed  the  congenial  company  of  "  Squyre  Meldrum,"  who  in  his  later 
years  acted  as  steward  or  mareschal  to  Lord  Lindsay,  and  whose  stirring 
adventures  by  sea  and  land  are  the  theme  of  Sir  David's  most  amusing 
poem,  "The  Historic  of  Squyer  Meldrum." 


FIG.  308.— Struthers  Castle.     View  from  the  South-West. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1651  Charles  n.  spent  two  days  at 
Struthers,  and  two  years  afterwards  the  place  was  occupied  by  the  soldiers 
of  Cromwell. 

According  to  Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  "  Struthers,  or  Ochterother  Struther," 
is  so  called  from  the  morasses  round  it,  and  Sir  Robert  mentions  it  as 
"  a  large  old  house,  with  gardens,  great  orchards,  and  vast  enclosures  and 
planting." 

STONEYPATH  TOWER,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

This  interesting  specimen  of  an  L  tower  exists  in  a  wofully  dilapi- 
dated state  about  two  miles  up  the  Papana  Water  from  Whittingham 
Tower,  and  near  to  what  was  the  Nunnery  of  Nunraw,  now  converted 
into  a  modern  mansion-house.  The  situation  of  Stoneypath,  in  a  little- 
frequented  glen,  is  very  fine  ;  it  stands  on  the  edge  of  a  high  and  steep 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    356 


STONEYPATH  TOWER 


bank  rising  up  from  the  wooded  dell  through  which  flows  the  Papana 
Burn,  and  as  seen  from  the  bed  of  the  stream  the  tower  forms  a  striking 
object.  The  main  block  measures  over  the  walls  44  feet  by  31  feet,  the 
projection  being  27  feet  by  19  feet.  It  contains  a  central  vault  (section, 
Fig.  309),  which  supports  the  floor  of  the  hall,  19  feet  high.  The  space 
under  this  vault  is  as  usual  divided  with  an  intermediate  floor.  The 


FIG.  309. — Stoneypath  Tower.    Plans,  Section,  and  View. 

tower  was  also  vaulted  at  the  roof,  and  between  this  vault  and  the  hall 
floor  it  contained  two  full  floors,  and  one  floor  in  the  vault.  The  entrance 
was  at  the  south  side,  at  the  level  of  the  upper  floor,  under  the  central 
vault,  and  about  six  or  eight  feet  above  the  ground.  From  this  floor 
access  was  gained  to  the  circular  staircase  at  the  north  side,  which  led 
down  to  the  basement  floor  and  up  to  the  top.  The  total  height  to  the 
top  of  the  staircase  is  about  60  feet  above  the  ground  floor.  The  posi- 
tion of  this  staircase  on  the  plan  is  peculiar.  Frequently  the  staircase  is 
a  square  structure  projected  in  the  re-entering  angle,  of  which  arrange- 
ment several  examples  have  been  given.  But  at  Stoneypath  the  stair 
turret  is  as  it  were  folded  over,  and  placed  inside  the  re-entering  angle. 
In  the  small  apartment  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  basement  floor, 
in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  was,  we  understand,  the  well,  now  heaped 
full  of  ruins ;  but  we  are  informed  that  it  existed  in  the  memory  of 
persons  now  living.  The  room  in  the  wing  at  the  north-east  corner  is 
low  and  vaulted,  and  lighted  by  a  narrow  window,  which  goes  up  in  the 
thickness  of  the  wall  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  ceiling,  so  that 
it  resembles  a  chimney  flue.  This  was  probably  used  as  a  dungeon. 
The  hall  floor  is  very  ruinous,  but  for  such  a  small  tower  the  hall  has 


FEDERATE  CASTLE  —    357    THIRD   PERIOD 

been  well  finished,  having  been  lighted  with  lofty  arched  windows,  pro- 
vided with  stone  seats,  and  one  of  them  having  an  ambry  above  the  seat 
with  an  O.G.  arched  lintel.  The  ruinous  fireplace  at  the  east  end  is  very 
remarkable.  It  has  measured  about  9  feet  6  inches  by  7  feet  6  inches, 
having  a  flat  arched  opening  to  the  hall.  This  fireplace  seems  to  have 
been  contrived  "a  double  debt  to  pay/'  being  at  once  the  hall  fireplace 
and  the  kitchen.  It  has  the  usual  stone  sink  and  drain  to  the  outside, 
and  is  lighted  by  a  small  high  window.  The  small  apartment  about  7 
feet  6  inches  square  adjoining  probably  entered  off  the  fireplace,  and  may 
have  been  used  as  a  part  of  the  kitchen.  The  turret  roof,  built  with 
stone,  on  the  top  of  the  staircase  still  exists,  but  it  is  in  a  very  threaten- 
ing condition,  and  unless  some  repairs  are  made  on  it,  it  will  soon  fall 
to  the  ground.  It  is  a  picturesque  structure  of  a  lofty  bee-hive  shape, 
unlike  that  of  any  other  tower  known  to  us.  There  is  a  projecting 
garde-robe  from  the  upper  floor  at  the  west  end,  and  remains  of  a 
circular  corbelled  turret  at  the  north-east  corner. 

The  name  of  John  Lyle  of  Stoneypath  occurs  as  early  as  1446  in  a 
charter  by  James  ir.  to  Robert  de  Lyle  of  Duchal,  and  on  a  shield  near 
the  south-west,  corner  of  the  tower  what  seems  to  be  the  Lyle  arms 
are  scratched  rather  than  carved.  The  arms  are  fretty  of  six  pieces. 
At  a  later  time  the  tower  belonged  to  the  Douglas  family.  The  build- 
ing probably  belongs  to  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century,  but  there 
are  no  features  to  enable  its  age  to  be  accurately  determined. 

FEDERATE  CASTLE,  ABERDEENSHIRE. 

Federate  Castle  is  situated  within  two  miles  of  New  Deer.  It  now 
stands  amidst  corn-fields,  but  in  the  days  of  its  strength  it  was  surrounded 
with  a  morass  and  a  fosse.  The  castle  was  reached  by  a  causeway  and 
drawbridge,  traces  of  which  were  visible  when  the  first  Statistical  Account 
was  written.  What  remains  is  a  building  of  the  L  plan  (Fig.  310), 
with  rounded  corners,  measuring  58  feet  8  inches  by  44  feet,  with  walls 
7  feet  and  8  feet  thick.  The  castle  has  the  appearance  of  having  been 
crashed  right  through  diagonally,  as  if  by  heavy  artillery  (Fig.  311);  and 
it  is  said  to  have  been  besieged  by  King  William's  troops  when  held  by 
some  of  the  partisans  of  James  n.,  who  fled  thither  after  the  battle  of 
Killiecrankie.  But  it  also  appears,  from  a  note  in  Dr.  Pratt's  Guide  to 
Buchan,  inserted  after  his  account  of  Federate  was  written,  that  a  great 
part  of  the  ruin  was  caused  by  an  attempt  to  blow  up  the  castle  with 
gunpowder,  the  result  being  that  the  area  floor  and  part  of  the  first  floor 
lie  buried  in  ruins. 

The  ground  floor  and  first  floor  were  vaulted,  and  there  seem  alto- 
gether to  have  been  four  floors,  although  Dr.  Pratt  mentions  that  it  was 
six  or  seven  stories  high.  Above  the  hall  there  is  a  set-off  all  round,  as 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  358  — 


FEDERATE  CASTLE 


seen  in  the  view  (Fig.  311).     The  entrance  is  not  in  the  usual  place,  viz., 
the  re-entering  angle,  but  in  the  west  wall,  almost  below  the  wide  window 


FIG.  310.—  Federate  Castle.    Plans. 

shown  on  the  plan.     It  led  directly  into  the  kitchen,  and  a  circular  stair 

on  the  left  hand  gave  access  to  the  upper  rooms. 

The  first  floor,  which  is  the  one 
shown  on  the  plan,  contained  two 
apartments  —  the  hall,  29  feet  by 
1  8  feet  6  inches,  by  1  7  feet  or  1  8  feet 
high,  being  one,  and  the  private 
room  in  the  wing  the  other.  On 
the  first  and  second  floors,  in  the 
thickness  of  the  walls,  are  numerous 
wall  closets  and  garde-robes. 

There  seems  to  be  no  definite 
information  ,as  to  the  date  of  the 
erection  of  this  castle. 

The  property  of  Federate  was 
possessed  by  the  Crawfords  in  the 
end  of  the  thirteenth  and  the  be- 

ginning of  the  fourteenth  centuries,  and,  judging  from  its  style,  it  was 

probably  erected  about  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  keep  towers  of  the  Third  Period  which  we  have  above  described 
are  detached  buildings  standing  alone  or  surrounded  with  their  enclosing 
walls.  We  shall  now  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  castles  of  which 
similar  keeps  have  formed  the  nucleus,  but  which  have  been  enlarged  and 
extended  so  as  to  become  castles  with  buildings  surrounding  a  courtyard. 


FIG.  3ii.—  Federate  Castle. 


EDZELL  CASTLE  -    359    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

THIRD  PERIOD— KEEPS  ENLARGED  IN  VARIOUS  WAYS 
BY  ADDITIONS. 

The  keeps  of  this  period,  like  those  of  the  previous  century,  were 
frequently  added  to  and  enlarged.  This  was  generally  done  by  erecting 
buildings  round  the  courtyard,  so  as  to  convert  the  keep  into  a  castle 
surrounding  a  quadrangle,  as  at  Edzell,  Balgonie,  etc.  Sometimes 
detached  buildings  were  added,  and  only  connected  with  the  keep  by 
means  of  a  drawbridge  or  otherwise,  as  in  the  case  of  Ruthven  Castle  and 
Dean  Castle.  The  keeps  were  also  sometimes  so  enlarged  by  additions 
made  to  the  keep  itself  as  to  convert  it  into  an  enlarged  mansion,  as  at 
Fallside.  We  shall  now  give  some  examples  of  the  various  methods 
adopted  for  utilising  the  keep  in  connection  with  buildings  of  a  later 
period. 

First,  KEEPS  ENLARGED  INTO  CASTLES  SURROUNDING 
A  COURTYARD. 

EDZELL  CASTLE,  FORFARSHIRE. 

This  castle,  the  seat  of  the  Lindsays,  Earls  of  Crawford,  was  the 
most  extensive  baronial  residence  in  Forfarshire.  It  is  situated  near 
the  West  Water,  at  the  point  where  the  plain  of  Forfarshire  terminates, 
and  the  hills  begin  to  rise.  The  castle  is  of  considerable  extent,  and 
comprises  an  original  fifteenth-century  keep,  which  was  enlarged  in  the 
sixteenth  century  into  a  castle  built  round  a  quadrangle,  and  at  the  same 
date  a  large  pleasure  garden  was  enclosed  with  a  remarkable  and 
highly  ornamental  wall,  with  a  garden-house  and  bath-house  attached. 
The  oldest  part  of  the  edifice  is  the  keep  (Fig.  312),  situated  at  the 
south-west  angle  of  the  principal  courtyard,  and  called  the  "  Stir- 
ling Tower,"  from  the  family  through  whom  the  estate  came  to  the 
Lindsays  by  marriage  in  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.  The 
keep  probably  dates  from  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The 
shape  of  the  port-holes  for  guns,  the  projection  for  the  comparatively 
wide  staircase  (breaking  the  simple  square  form),  and  the  design  of  the 
corbels  under  the  parapet  (Fig.  313),  are  features  which  point  to  that 
date.  The  corbels  are  specially  worthy  of  note.  This  is  a  striking  and 
early  instance  of  corbels  used  purely  for  ornament.  There  are  two  tiers 
of  apparent  corbels  in  the  cornice  under  the  parapet,  but  the  lower  tier 
is  entirely  useless.  In  the  older  corbelling  there  were  sometimes  several 
tiers  of  corbels,  but  they  were  always  one  above  the  other,  the  upper 
ones  being  supported  by  those  below.  But  here  the  corbels  are  placed,  not 
over  one  another,  but  alternately,  so  as  to  produce  a  chequered  effect, 


THIRD  PERIOD 


360    — 


EDZELL  CASTLE 


the  result  being  that  the  upper  corbels  (which  project  only  the  same 
distance  as  the  lower  ones)  are  alone  useful  in  carrying  the  parapet.    The 


i    . 

?    • 

8    . 

I 

B 


lower  tier  of  corbels  carries  nothing,  and  simply  forms  an  ornament  or 
enrichment. 

This  is  a  form  of  corbelling  which  was  introduced  about  the  end  of 


EDZELL  CASTLE 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—  362 


EDZELL  CASTLE 


the  fifteenth  century,  when  the  primitive,,  simple  features  of  the  earlier 
style  began  to  yield  to  the  growing  taste  for  ornament.  Numerous 
examples  of  this  form  of  enrichment  are  to  be  met  with  in  all  parts  of  the 
country.  As  we  shall  afterwards  see,  the  degradation  of  the  corbel  into 
mere  ornament  was  gradually  pushed  to  such  an  extent  that  at  last  the 
purpose  of  the  corbel  was  entirely  lost  to  view,  and  it  became  a  mere 
chequer  ornament. 


FIG.  314.— Edzell  Castle.    Plan  of  First  Floor. 

There  is  nothing  very  special  in  the  arrangements  of  the  keep. 

There  are  two  cellars  on  the  ground  floor,  one  with  the  usual  private 
stair  from  the  hall.  The  hall  occupies  the  first  floor  (Fig.  314),  and  has 
an  elegant  little  vaulted  private  room  in  the  north-west  angle.  The 
upper  stories  appear  to  have  had  the  usual  arrangements,  but  the  floors 
are  now  gone. 

In  connection  with  this  simple  keep  a  very  extensive  quadrangle  was 
erected  by  David,  ninth  Earl  of  Crawford,  at  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 


EDZELL  CASTLE  -    363    THIRD   PERIOD 

century.  The  buildings  011  the  west  side  of  the  quadrangle  are  still 
fairly  preserved ;  those  on  the  north  side  are  very  much  ruined,  while  on 
the  east  and  south  sides  they  have,  with  the  exception  of  the  outer  wall, 
been  entirely  removed  (Fig.  312). 

The  west  range  contains,  on  the  ground  floor,  a  kitchen,  an  arched 
passage  forming  the  principal  entrance  into  the  courtyard,  and  various 
cellars  and  stores.  On  the  north  side  we  find  traces  of  a  most  extensive 
kitchen,  the  fireplace  having  apparently  been  23  feet  wide  by  10  feet 
deep.  From  this  fireplace  there  is  an  access  to  a  large  oven,  and  in  the 
kitchen  a  drain  to  the  outside.  The  other  buildings  no  doubt  contained 
the  bakehouse,  the  brewery,  etc.,  while  the  stables  and  other  offices  were 
probably  on  the  other  sides  of  the  courtyard.  On  the  first  floor  the 
buildings  in  the  quadrangle  contained  the  great  hall,  50  feet  by  24  feet, 
at  the  north-west  angle,  and  adjoining  it,  in  the  west  range,  were  apart- 
ments which  seem  to  have  been  the  withdrawing-room  and  a  private 
room,  or  bedroom,  with  an  anteroom  connecting  this  suite  with  the 
old  keep  by  a  door  opened  for  that  purpose  in  the  staircase  of  the  keep. 

The  round  tower  at  the  north-west  angle  would  no  doubt  be  a  private 
room  off  the  hall.  It  has  a  private  stair  down  to  the  wine-cellar,  and  up 
to  bedrooms  above. 

The  principal  entrance  to  these  apartments  was  by  a  turret  staircase 
in  the  north-west  angle  of  the  courtyard.  Some  portions  of  the  entrance 
doorway  are  still  visible  in  this  turret,  with  the  thin  pilaster  mouldings 
in  use  about  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

To  the  east  of  the  hall  there  were  other  large  apartments,  probably 
bedrooms,  but  they  are  now  completely  obliterated,  except  the  outer 
wall  with  its  windows.  There  are  also  some  traces  of  a  tower  at  the 
north-east  angle. 

To  the  south  of  the  quadrangle  is  situated  the  pleasure  garden.  Such 
gardens  were  not  unusual  in  connection  with  the  Scottish  castles  of  the 
time  of  Queen  Mary  and  James  vi.,  but  there  is  no  other  so  well  pre- 
served, or  where  the  architecture  has  been  so  fine.  This  garden  is  173 
feet  long  by  144  feet  wide,  and  is  enclosed  on  three  sides  with  an 
elaborately  decorated  wall.  Each  side  is  divided  into  compartments 
10  to  11  feet  wide  (Fig.  315),  separated  by  what  appear  to  have  been 
square  shafts.  The  bases,  caps,  and  central  bands  still  remain  built  into 
the  walls,  but  the  shafts  are  gone. 

In  the  central  band  we  have  an  example  of  the  re-introduction  in  late 
work  of  the  enrichments  of  an  earlier  time,  the  dog-tooth  of  the 
thirteenth  century  being  the  enrichment  used  here  about  1600. 

The  compartments  are  arranged  in  two  alternating  designs,  one  con- 
taining a  single  recess  for  flowers,  3  feet  wide  and  2  feet  6  inches  high, 
with  a  carved  bas-relief  above,  and  the  other  containing  three  rows  of 
small  recesses  (about  16'  inches  square)  arranged  chequerwise,  with 


THIRD  PERIOD 


364    — 


KDZKLI,  CASTLE 


P 


5 

o 

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<    u 

—I     ° 
D.    ^ 

5     in 


z  <  < 

O  uj    5 

P  fc 

<  z 

>  o 

y  E 

1 1  ° 

U 


EDZELL  CASTLE 


—    365    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


i.1,  / 


mm 

-    I  :    T-1-1 


THIRD  PERIOD  366    


EDZELL  CASTLE 


three  stars  above  pierced  in  the  centre  as  shot-holes.  Over  the  centre 
of  each  compartment  there  is  a  small  niche  with  a  carved  cushion,  on 
which  a  bust  or  other  ornament  might  rest.  These  cushions,  although 
all  very  similar  in  design,  have  considerable  variety  of  details.  Over 
the  niches  is  a  small  curved  pediment  containing  a  scroll.  All  the  above- 
mentioned  recesses  have  the  sill  hollowed  out  as  if  for  the  reception  of 
soil  for  a  flower  or  plant.  It  is  supposed  that  the  chequered  design  and  the 
three  stars  represent  those  figures  in  the  Lindsay  arms,  which  are  gules, 
a  fesse  cheque  argent  and  azure,  with  three  stars  in  chief  of  the  second. 

The  bas-reliefs  are  in  the  somewhat  debased  style  of  sculpture  pre- 
valent at  the  period,  but  are  very  varied  in  design.  Those  on  the  east 
wall  represent  the  Celestial  Deities,  those  on  the  south  wall  the  Sciences, 
and  those  on  the  west  wall  the  Theological  and  Cardinal  Virtues. 

At  the  south-east  angle  of  the  garden  stands  the  very  picturesque 
lodge  and  garden-house  (Figs.  312  and  316),  with  monogram  of  David 
Lindsay  entwined  with  foliage  carved  in  the  tympanums  over  the  windows. 
The  lodge  is  a  single  room  entering  from  the  exterior.  The  garden-house 
enters  from  the  garden,  and  has  a  ribbed  and  groined  vault,  and  stone 
seat  all  round.  From  this  room  a  turret  stair  conducts  to  two  rooms  in 
the  upper  floor,  which  may  have  been  used  as  fruit  rooms.  At  the  south- 
west angle  of  the  garden  are  situated  the  well,  and  the  remains  of  what 
was  probably  a  bath-house.  The  well  is  carefully  built  in  the  thick- 
ness of  the  garden  wall,  and  access  is  provided  to  it  both  from  the  garden 
and  a  small  room  attached  to  the  bath-house,  in  which  there  is  a  stone 
sink  for  emptying  out  water. 

Notwithstanding  the  ruinous  state  of  the  quadrangle,  its  great  extent, 
and  the  elegant  and  commodious  arrangements  of  the  pleasure  garden  of 
Edzell,  give  an  impressive  idea  of  the  advancement  and  refinement  of  the 
last  years  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

The  castle  now  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  and  the  ruins  are  well 
taken  care  of. 

ROSSLYN  CASTLE,  MIDLOTHIAN. 

On  a  rocky  promontory  projecting  into  the  haughs  lying  along  the 
banks  of  the  North  Esk  stands  the  Castle  of  Rosslyn.  The  river  winds 
round  the  castle  on  three  sides.  On  the  north-west  a  calm  and  rather 
sluggish  stream,  it  rounds  the  point  of  the  promontory,  and  dashing 
over  a  lynn  it  enters  a  wild  rocky  gorge,  and  rushes  past  the  south-east 
side  of  the  castle  at  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  yards.  The  natural 
approach  to  the  castle  (Fig.  317)  was  by  a  narrow  ridge  of  rock,  which 
has  been  cut  through  at  the  neck  of  the  promontory.  A  high  access 
bridge  is  thrown  across  the  chasm  (Fig.  318),  but  it  was  undoubtedly 
originally  spanned  by  a  drawbridge.  Through  this  cutting  a  road 


HOS8LYN  CASTI.E 


—    367    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  .368 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE 


—  369  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


led  straight  down  to  the  river  which  was  crossed  by  another  bridge,  now 
only  represented  by  a  part  of  the  ruined  arch  on  the  castle  side  (but 
shown  as  if  complete  in  the  general  view  from  the  north-east,  Fig.  319). 
The  high  bridge  was  evidently  further  defended  by  a  gate  close  to  its 


Fio.  319.— Kosslyn  Castle.    General  View  from  the  North-East. 

southern  end,  as  part  of  the  rybats  for  hanging  it  to  still  exist.  At  27  feet 
back  from  this  gate  rise  the  ruined  outer  walls  of  the  castle,  through 
which  a  gateway  gave  access  to  the  courtyard.  Above  the  gateway  was 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    370    — 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE 


a  gatehouse  with  round  turrets  facing  the  bridge,  of  which  the  corbelling 
and  some  courses  of  masonry  still  remain  (Fig.  318).  On  the  east  side  of 
the  gateway  the  ruins  of  a  square  tower  may  still  be  traced,  while  broken 
walls  indicate  the  existence  of  buildings  on  the  west.  The  keep,  which 
is  situated  at  the  opposite  or  southern  end  of  the  courtyard,  and  on  the 
highest  part  of  the  ground,  is  the  oldest  part  of  the  castle.  Its  west 
wall  stands  entire  up  to  the  corbelling  of  the  parapet,  and  part  of  its 
south  wall  remains  to  the  same  height.  Of  its  interior  arrangements 
little  can  now  be  learned.  It  was  arched  on  the  ground  floor,  and  was 
five  stories  in  height ;  the  principal  entrance  was  at  the  level  of  the 
first  or  hall  floor  on  the  side  furthest  away  from  the  bridge,  where  one 
of  the  jambs  of  the  doorway  may  still  be  observed.  The  entrance  to 
the  ground  floor  cannot  now  be  determined,  owing  to  the  mass  of  ruins 
occupying  the  space,  and  for  the  same  reason  the  width  of  the  keep  is 
unknown.  Its  length,  however,  can  be  clearly  ascertained  to  be  50  feet 
3  inches.  The  south-west  corner  of  the  keep  is  rounded,  and  the  corbels 
of  the  side  and  end  walls  stop  at  the  round  which,  with  a  plain  face, 
was  evidently  continued  higher  than  those  walls  as  a  staircase  turret  to  the 
roof.  According  to  Father  Hay,  the  historian  of  the  family  of  St.  Clair, 

this  keep  was  erected  about  the 
end  of  the  fourteenth  century  by 
Henry  St.  Clair,  Earl  of  Orkney. 
Continuing  northwards,  in  a  line 
with  the  keep,  was  what  Father 
Hay  calls  the  chapel,  of  which  the 
west  wall  only  now  remains.  It  is 
of  a  singular  description,  being 
composed  of  eight  buttresses  or 
"  rounds/'  as  they  are  called,  wedge 
shaped  on  plan,  with  rounded  outer 
faces  (Figs.  317  and  320).  These 
are  placed  2  feet  apart  at  the  wallr 
and  project  5  feet  4  inches.  The 
existing  remains  give  no  indications 
of  how  the  rounds  were  finished 
at  the  top,  but  Father  Hay,  whose 
life  covered  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  thus  de- 
scribes them  :  "  He  (William  St. 
Clair)  builded  the  church  walls  of 
Rosslyn,  having  rounds,  with  fair 
chambers  and  galleries  thereon."  From  this  description  it  seems  probable, 
either  that  arches  were  thrown  from  "  round  "  to  "  round,"  and  a  gallery 
continued  along  the  top,  or  that  a  parapet  ran  round  the  wall-heads  of 
the  buttresses  as  well  as  the  top  of  the  wall,  in  which  case  the  former 


The 


FIG.  320. — Rosslyn  Castle. 
1  Rounds  "  of  the  Wall  of  Enceinte. 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE  371    THIRD  PERIOD 

would  create  recesses  (such  as  are  sometimes  met  with  over  the  piers  of 
bridges),  and  would  thus  represent  the  "fair  chambers,"  while  the 
parapet  walk  at  the  wall-head  would  form  the  "galleries."  Sir  William 
succeeded  his  father,  Henry,  just  referred  to,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  died  about  1484.  He  was  a  great  builder,  and 
founded  the  famous  Collegiate  Church  of  Rosslyn  in  1450.  There  are 
small  windows  between  the  "  rounds  "  on  the  ground  floor,  having  widely 
splayed  jambs  and  a  flat  arch  on  the  inside,  with  shutter  recesses  cut  in 
the  former.  In  one  case  there  is  a  door,  finished  in  the  same  way  as  the 
windows  on  the  inside,  with  a  sloped  tabling  outside  above  the  door 
(Fig.  320).  Near  the  top  of  this  wall,  on  the  inside,  there  is  a  round 
moulded  corbel  at  the  position  shown  on  the  plan,  which  was  in  some 
way  doubtless  connected  with  the  parapet  walk  or  gallery  (see  sketch, 
Fig.  321).  There  are  no  indications  of  any  buildings  having  stood  where 
Father  Hay  describes  the  church  to  have  been ;  and  there  is  no  appear- 
ance of  there  having  been  either  cross  partitions  or  floors  to  divide  it  into 
stories.  Sir  William  is  further  said  by  Father  Hay  to  have  built  the 
fore-work  on  the  north  side  of  the  entrance  gateway  and  the  bridge 
crossing  the  river,  and  in  all  probability  the  gatehouse  containing  the 
entrance  was  also  his  work.  The  tower  or  fore-work  on  the  east  side  of 
the  gateway,  along  with  the  under  part  of  the  wall  extending  eastwards, 
seems  to  be  older  than  Sir  William's  work,  and  may  have  been  erected 
about  the  same  time  as  the  keep,  as  part  of  the  walls  of  enceinte  which 
probably  surrounded  the  whole  castle  area.  Owing  to  the  almost  perpen- 
dicular configuration  of  the  rocks,  this  wall  and  the  tower  on  its  two  outer 
extremities  rise  from  a  considerable  depth  below  the  court  level.  There 
are  remains  of  a  wall  running  along  the  west  and  south  sides  of  the 
keep,  at  a  distance  of  about  13  feet  from  the  wall.  It  probably  con- 
tinued along  in  front  of  the  "  rounds  "  till  it  reached  the  high  retaining 
wall  at  the  roadway  (Fig.  318).  In  a  drawing,  dated  1700,  in  the 
Advocates'  Library,  a  wall  is  shown  in  this  position,  with  rounded  towers 
at  the  south-western  end,  as  indicated  on  the  plan.  There  are  also 
great  fragments  of  walls  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  round  the  north-west 
and  part  of  the  south  sides,  which  may  have  fallen  from  above.  The 
castle  seems  to  have  been  of  the  extent  above  described  when,  in  1544, 
it  was  burned  by  the  Earl  of  Hertford. 

The  next  builder  at  Rosslyn  was  also  a  Sir  William,  who  constructed 
the  large  addition  shown  on  the  plan  at  the  south-east  side  of  the 
courtyard.  This  consists  (Fig.  321)  of  three  stories  below  the  level  of 
the  court,  with  about  10  feet  of  additional  depth  of  bare  rock  to  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  being  a  depth  altogether  from  the.  courtyard  to 
the  ground  of  about  52  feet.  Owing  to  the  confined  nature  of  the  site, 
it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  preserve  a  good  courtyard,  to  bring  up  the 
outer  wall  of  these  new  buildings  from  near  the  base  of  the  rock,  which 
was  scarped  below  the  foundations  for  security  (Fig.  321).  The  three 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  372  — 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE 


—    373    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


stories  below  the  level  of  the  courtyard  were  thus  a  necessity.  These 
stories  are  arched  in  stone,  while  those  above  the  court  level  are  joisted 
in  timber.  A  wide  easy  staircase  gives  access  down  from  the  level  of  the 
court  to  the  various  floors  (Figs.  317  and  321),  while  from  the  middle  or 
bakery  floor  a  door  leads  to  the  outside  at  the  west  end  of  the  passage, 
the  ground  being  there  at  the  same  level  as  that  floor. 


FIG.  322.— Rosslyn  Castle.     View  from  the  South -East. 

Ill  the  basement  floor  is  situated  the  kitchen,  having  a  large  fireplace 
with  a  small  window  in  it,  about  6  feet  above  the  floor.  A  passage 
leads  from  the  kitchen  to  the  other  end  of  the  building,  from  which 
the  various  rooms  are  entered.  The  first  and  second  floors  above  are 
similar  in  arrangement.  On  the  first  floor  over  the  kitchen  is  situated 
the  bakery,  with  an  oven  in  the  corner  where  shown  on  section.  From 
the  great  hall,  situated  on  the  level  of  the  courtyard,  a  small  private 
newel  stair  leads  down  to  the  cellars  on  the  floor  below  (Fig.  317). 
Beneath  the  window-sills  of  the  three  under  stories  are  small  round 
shot-holes,  splayed  only  to  the  inside.  In  the  arched  roofs  of  the 
passages  a  hatch  is  constructed  for  a  hoist  from  the  kitchen,  etc.,  and 
in  the  passages  on  each  floor  are  recesses  for  lamps.  The  great  hall 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    374    — 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE 


was  a  room  54  feet  long  by  23  feet  wide,  with  a  fine  moulded  fireplace 
(Fig.  323),  bearing  a  shield  with  the  arms  and  initials  of  Sir  William  and 
his  wife,  Jean  Edmonston,  and  the  date  1597-  In  the  jamb  of  the 
opposite  window  is  a  piscina-looking  recess,  probably  used  as  a  wash-hand 
basin.  In  the  end  of  the  hall  there  is  a  recess,  but  it  is  so  ruined  that 
its  purpose  cannot  be  determined.  It  may  have  been  for  a  seat,  a  side- 


Fro.  323.— Rosslyn  Castle.    Fireplace  of  Hall. 


board,  or  even  a  second  fireplace.  Sir  William  seems  to  have  built  the 
three  under  stories  just  described,  and  the  hall.  In  1622,  his  son,  of  the 
same  name,  completed  the  buildings  north  of  the  staircase  above  this 
level  (Fig.  324).  Thereafter  they  remained  as  they  now  stand,  except 
that  at  some  later  period  the  hall  has  been  cut  in  two  by  a  wall,  the  lines 
of  which  are  shown  on  the  plan.  On  the  outer  doorway,  and  dormer 


ROSSLYN  CASTLE  375    THIRD  PERIOD 

(Fig.  324),  and  on  the  plaster  ceiling,  a  view  of  which  is  given  (Fig.  325), 
are  his  initials  with  the  above  date. 

Part  of  the   space    beneath    the    courtyard   is  supposed  to  contain 
vaulted  chambers.     The  construction  of  the  bridge  leading  to  the  castle 


FIG.  324. — Rosslyn  Castle.    East  Side  of  Courtyard. 

is  peculiar,  the  ring  next  the  river  being  some  12  or  15  feet  lower  than 
the  portion  bearing  the  roadway  (Fig.  318). 

The  various  portions  of  the  castle  correspond  in  style  with  the  periods 
at  which  they  are  said  to  have  been  built.  We  have  first  the  fifteenth- 
century  buildings,  consisting  of  the  keep,  and  the  enclosing  walls 
defended  by  a  drawbridge  and  gatehouse. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    376    — 


ROSSLVN  CASTLE 


In  the  later  buildings,  again,  we  see  the  more  enlarged  requirements 
of  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  and  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century 
met  by  the  extensive  accommodation  in  the  basement  floors,  the  large 
and  elegant  hall,  the  withdrawing-room  with  elaborately  ornamented 
ceiling,  on  the  level  of  the  courtyard,  and  the  bedrooms  above,  which 


PIG.  325. — Rosslyn  Castle.    Interior  of  Dining  Room. 

are  approached  by  a  wide  square  stair  at  one  end,  and  by  a  private  newel 
stair  in  a  projecting  turret  at  the  other. 

A  very  remarkable  and  quite  unique  feature  in  this  castle  is  the  west 
wall  of  enceinte,  with  its  buttresses  or  "  rounds."  We  are  not  aware  of 
any  other  castle  provided  with  similar  defences.  The  only  example  at 
all  analogous  to  it  is  that  of  the  wall  of  enceinte  of  the  Chateau  Gaillard, 
before  referred  to  (Fig.  20).1 

1  An  interesting  and  valuable  paper  on  '  Rosslyn  Castle  :  its  Buildings  Past  and  Present,' 
will  be  found  in  vol.  xii.  p.  412,  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland. 


BALGONIE  CASTLE 


—  377  — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


BALGONIE  CASTLE,  FIFESHIRE. 

Balgonie  Castle,  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Markinch,  Fife- 
shire,  is  situated  in  a  large  and  beautifully  wooded  park,  with  its  northern 
side  on  the  edge  of  a  steep  sloping  bank  some  25  or  30  feet  high.  A 
double  moat,  with  a  large  mound  between,  protects  the  castle  on  the 
other  sides.  The  buildings  consist  (Fig.  326)  of  a  courtyard  with  a  lofty 


f 


FIG.  326.— Balgonie  Castle.    Plans. 

keep  at  the  north-west  corner,  and  enclosing  walls,  within  and  outside 
of  which  later  additions  have  been  made.  The  arched  entrance  to  the 
courtyard  is  at  the  south-west  corner  in  the  west  wall,  which  is  here 
1 1  feet  thick,  and  is  guarded  with  a  round  tower.  This  tower  is  entered 
from  the  courtyard  ;  it  is  vaulted,  and  provided  with  shot-holes.  Adjoin- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    378 


BALGONIE  CASTLE 


BALGONIE  CASTLE 


—  379 


THIRD   PERIOD 


ing  it  is  a  small  chamber  with  walls  sloping  inwards,  till  they  nearly 
meet  at  the  top,  which  is  entered  from  the  tower  by  a  door  3  feet  high, 
and  3  feet  8  inches  above  the  floor.  This  singular  chamber,  which  was 
doubtless  the  prison,  has  a  slit  4  inches  wide  opposite  the  well,  which  is  out- 
side the  walls,  and  in  the  first  ditch  or  moat.  There  is  another  arched 
chamber  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  on  the  south  side  of  the  entrance. 

There  were  rooms  above  the  entrance,  now  in  a  very  ruinous  condition. 
These  rooms  may  have  been  used  for  the  working  of  a  bridge,  and  were 
probably  reached  by  some  kind  of  moveable  steps.  A  projecting  turret 
at  the  south-west  corner  (Fig.  327),  and  a  few  remaining  corbels  beside 
it  indicate  the  height  of  the  enclosing  walls. 

At  the  south-east  corner  of  the  courtyard  there  is  another  entrance. 
It  has  been  through  a  tower  projecting  to  the  outside,  and  shown  by 
dotted  lines  on  the  plan.  Only  two  of  the  sides  of  this  tower  remain. 
The  west  wall  contained  a  shot-hole,  now  built  up  by  the  fireplace  of  the 
more  modern  kitchen,  which  has  been  added.  Indications  of  the  other 
sides  of  the  tower  exist.  Above  this  entrance,  on  the  inside,  is  a  row  of 
notched  corbels  for  carrying  some  kind  of  platform. 

How  far  the  east  and  north  curtain  walls  extended  cannot  be  deter- 
mined. Possibly  they  are  partly  incorporated  in  the  outside  walls  of  the 
more  recent  buildings.  It  will  be  observed  that 
the  north  wall  and  the  return  of  the  east  wall  are  of 
great  thickness. 

The  west  curtain  breaks  off  abruptly  before 
reaching  the  steep  bank,  to  the  edge  of  which  it  no 
doubt  extended. 

The  keep,  which  is  43  feet  9  inches  long  by  34 
feet  9  inches  wide,  and  64  feet  7  inches  high  to  the 
top  of  the  parapets,  contains  five  stories  (Fig.  328), 
the  basement  and  first  floor  being  vaulted. 

The  present  scale  stair  adjoining  the  keep,  and 
giving  access  to  it,  belongs  to  the  more  modern 
buildings.  Originally  the  ground  floor  was  not  in 
communication  with  those  above.  The  first  floor, 
containing  a  large  hall  of  finely  finished  masonry, 
measures  28  feet  8  inches  by  20  feet  6  inches.  It 
was  reached  by  moveable  steps,  the  door  being  at  a  height  of  about 
12  feet  above  the  ground  on  the  north  side,  a  most  inconvenient  place, 
owing  to  the  slope  of  the  ground,  but  doubtless  so  placed  for  security. 

There  are  large  seated  windows  with  shutters  in  this  hall,  one  of  the 
latter  being  still  in  position.  Some  of  the  windows  are  pointed  and 
cusped,  but  there  is  no  fireplace.  Above  the  end  windows,  and  close  to 
the  arched  roof,  there  are  small  openings  about  12  inches  square, 
evidently  meant  for  ventilation.  From  the  north-east  corner  a  turnpike 


SECTION    THROUC.H 

FIG.  328.— Balgonie  Castle. 
Section. 


THIRD  PERIOD  380    -  BALGONIE  CASTLE 

leads  to  the  upper  floors  and  the  battlements.  On  the  second  floor  is 
the  principal  hall,  with  a  large  fireplace  on  the  north  side,  which  has 
been  reduced  in  size  during  the  later  occupancy  of  the  castle.  Adjoin- 
ing this  is  a  projecting  garde-robe  with  a  sloping  stone  roof,  and  on  the 
floor  above  a  similar  garde-robe  projects  right  above  this  one. 

The  battlements,  with  projecting  circular  open  bartizans  at  three  of 
the  angles,  and  the  parapets  and  gargoyles,  which  are  all  in  perfect  pre- 
servation, indicate  fifteenth-century  work  (see  Plan  of  Roof,  Fig.  326,  and 
Fig.  329).  Over  the  fireplace  of  the  upper  room  there  is  an  ornamental 
panel,  containing  what  seems  to  be  a  coat  of  arms,  but,  the  room  not 
being  accessible,  it  cannot  be  described.  From  the  battlements  a  narrow 
stair  leads  up  to  a  cape  house,  or  watch  turret,  at  the  north-east  angle, 
over  the  wheel  stair,  which  is  seen  rising  above  the  parapet  in  the  view 
from  the  courtyard. 

When  the  later  additions  came  to  be  made  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  the  keep  was  somewhat  modernised  to  suit  the  altered  times. 
A  scale  stair  was  built  alongside,  serving  for  the  old  and  new  buildings. 
The  latter  extend  eastwards,  and  southwards  to  the  south  curtain,  with 
a  range  of  one-story  offices  outside  the  latter.  There  was  thus  formed 
a  quadrangle  surrounded  with  buildings,  and  measuring  130  feet  from 
east  to  west  by  80  feet  from  north  to  south.  The  buildings  along  the 
north  side,  and  half-way  along  the  east  side,  are  three  stories  high 
(Fig.  327),  and  are  in  ruins.  The  remaining  half  of  the  east  side  is  two 
stories  high,  and  is  still  inhabited  as  labourers'  cottages,  which  contain 
some  of  the  original  plaster  decorations,  such  as  arms  and  monograms. 

The  entrance  doorway  to  the  staircase  was  originally  in  the  east  wall, 
at  the  projection  of  the  staircase  into  the  courtyard  (Fig.  326),  with  a 
moulded  architrave  outside,  having  the  shouldered  lintel  characteristic 
of  the  period  (Fig.  329).  The  shallow  projecting  porch  on  the  south 
face,  with  its  doorway,  is  an  addition. 

The  first  floor  contained  suites  of  rooms  leading  through  each  other, 
after  the  manner  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  sleeping  apartments 
being  on  the  floor  above. 

On  the  ground  floor  the  buildings  shown  with  a  dotted  semicircle 
on  the  plan  are  vaulted  in  fine  masonry.  The  kitchen  adjoins  the  main 
staircase.  The  two  rooms  beyond  communicate  with  each  other  through 
a  fine  arched  doorway  with  bead  mouldings.  The  first  of  these  apartments, 
which  is  only  lighted  by  the  doorway,  seems  to  have  been  a  stable, 
while  the  room  beyond,  feebly  lighted,  contains  the  water-supply  from 
the  outside  through  a  stone  conduit,  with  an  outward  drain. 

From  the  adjoining  room  in  the  east  range  a  stair  leads  up  to  the 
first  floor. 

In  the  range  of  low  buildings  outside  the  south  curtain  there  is  a 
second  kitchen  opening  into  the  courtyard. 


BALGONIE  CASTLE 


—    381     — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


f 

8 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  382   — 


BALGONIE  CASTLE 


Balgonie  has  been  a  fine  residence  and  has  not  long  been  abandoned. 
The  keep  in  particular  is  one  of  the  best  of  its  class  in  Scotland.  It 
may  be  regarded  as  quite  entire  in  its  masonry,  only  the  wooden  floors 
of  the  two  upper  stories  being  wanting. 

Balgonie  belonged  to  the  Sibbald  family  down  to  the  end  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  the  keep,  with  enclosure,  were  in  all  likelihood 
built  by  them  earlier  in  the  century.  Through  deficiency  of  male  heirs, 
the  estate  passed  by  marriage  to  Robert  de  Lundin.  In  the  time  of 
Charles  i.  the  place  was  purchased  by  General  Alexander  Leslie,  created 
Earl  of  Leven,  by  whom  in  all  probability  most  of  the  additions  were 
made. 

KILCHURN  CASTLE,  ARGYLLSHIRE. 

Kilchurn  Castle,  on  Loch  Awe  (Fig.  330),  so  well  known  from  the 
beauty  of  its  situation,  which  makes  it  a  favourite  subject  with  our  artists, 
is  a  specimen  from  a  remoter  part  of  the  country  of  the  original  keep, 
afterwards  converted  into  a  castle  with  quadrangle.  This  keep  was  built 
about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century  by  Sir  Colin  Campbell  of 
Glenorchy,  the  Black  Knight  of  Rhodes,  and  the  founder  of  the  Breadal- 
bane  family. 


FIG.  330.— Kilchurn  Castle.     View  from  the  North-East. 

It  is  situated  on  a  peninsula  at  the  north  end  of  Loch  Awe,  and  is 
well  protected  by  water  and  marsh,  while  the  buildings  stand  on  a  rocky 
platform  of  irregular  shape,  but  with  perpendicular  faces,  about  15  feet 
high,  on  three  of  its  sides. 


KILCHURN  CASTLE 


—  383  — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


The  plan  of  this  keep  (Fig.  331)  has  some  peculiarities.  The  entrance 
door  is  in  the  north  wall,  on  the  ground  floor,  and  the  stair  to  the  upper 
floors  starts  from  the  opposite  corner  of  that  floor.  The  stair  is  unusually 
easy,  being  a  square  stair,  so  arranged  that  small  vaulted  rooms  are  pro- 
vided on  each  side  of  it  at  the  east  end  of  the  keep.  The  exterior  is  of  the 
usual  plain  style,  and  is  built  with  granite  rubble-work.  The  corbels  carry- 
ing the  corner  bartizans  are  all  cut  out  of  the  hardest  gneiss,  or  granite. 


EARL  COUNTESS 

JOHN  OFBREOALBAN       MARY  CAMPBELL 


FIG.  331.— Kilchurn  Castle.    Plans. 


The  additions  were  built  in  1693,  this  date  being  carved  on  the  work 
in  two  places,  viz.,  the  entrance  door  and  the  door  to  the  stair  turret  on 
the  south  side  of  the  keep.  The  first  of  these  inscriptions  is  rather 
remarkable,  and  might  be  misleading.  The  original  lintel  of  the  entrance 
door  of  the  keep  has  been  removed,  and  a  new  lintel  (see  sketch,  Fig.  331) 
inserted,  bearing  the  date  1693,  and  the  initials  and  arms  of  John,  first 
Earl  of  Breadalbane,  and  of  his  second  wife,  Countess  Mary  Stewart  or 
Campbell. 

Another  curious  circumstance  connected  with  this  door  is,  that  it  is 
the  only  entrance  to  the  castle,  so  that  to  get  into  the  quadrangle  one 


THIRD  PERIOD  384    -  KILCHURN  CASTLE 

has  to  pass  through  the  narrow  entrance  door,  and  across  the  ground 
floor  of  the  keep. 

The  additions  made  in  lt»93  convert  this  keep  into  a  castle  surround- 
ing an  irregular  quadrangle. 

The  additional  buildings  have  been  very  extensive,  and  would  accom- 
modate a  large  garrison,  but  they  are  not  built  with  a  view  to  resist  a 
siege.  The  round  towers  at  the  angles  and  the  numerous  square  loop- 
holes on  the  ground  floor  would,  however,  suffice  to  defend  the  garrison 
against  a  sudden  attack  by  Highlanders,  which  was  probably  what  was  to 
be  chiefly  apprehended  in  that  inaccessible  situation.  Although  this 
castle  presents  a  striking  and  imposing  appearance  at  a  distance,  it  is 
somewhat  disappointing  on  closer  inspection.  The  interior  walls  are 
much  destroyed,  and  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  plan  can  scarcely 
be  made  out.  The  buildings  have  more  the  appearance  of  modern 
barracks  than  of  an  old  castle.  There  are  two  kitchen  fireplaces,  and 
probably  there  were  officers'  quarters  and  men's  quarters,  while  the  keep 
and  some  additional  accommodation  adjoining  (on  the  east  side)  would 
be  set  apart  for  the  lord  and  his  family. 

KILRAVOCK  CASTLE,  NAIRNSHIRE. 

Originally  this  castle  consisted  of  a  quadrilateral  keep,  39  feet  by 
31  feet,  situated  on  the  top  of  a  steep  bank  above  the  river  Nairn,  and 
seven  miles  up  from  the  town  of  the  same  name.  The  lands  of  Kilravock 
were  acquired  in  the  thirteenth  century  by  Hugh  Rose  of  Geddes,  and 
have  been  in  the  same  family  ever  since.  The  keep  probably  belongs  to 
the  fifteenth  century,  but  it  possesses  few  features  whereby  its  age  may 
be  determined.  The  simple  corbel  table  and  bartizans  of  the  parapet 
(Fig.  332)  might  even  be  of  the  fourteenth  century ;  but  the  way  in 
which  the  angle  of  the  parapet  over  the  staircase  is  carried  up  to  form  a 
watch-turret  indicates  a  later  date.  In  the  History  of  the  Family  of 
Rose,  by  Rev.  Hugh  Rose,  minister  of  Nairn,  it  is  stated  that  in  1460 
the  Baron  of  Kilravock  obtained  a  licence  from  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  "  to 
fund,  big  ande  upmak  a  toure  of  fens  with  Barmkin  ande  bataling  upon 
quhat  place  of  strynth  him  best  likis  within  the  Barony  of  Kylrawok." 
The  existing  keep  was  probably  built  soon  after.  It  has  the  ordinary 
characteristics  of  fifteenth-century  towers,  such  as  walls  7  feet  in  thick- 
ness, small  windows  in  deeply-recessed  bays,  chambers  in  the  walls  a 
newel  staircase  in  the  thickness  of  one  of  the  angles,  a  high  window  over 
the  fireplace,  and  the  adjoining  wall-chamber  off  the  hall. 

In  the  seventeenth  century  the  keep  has  been  enlarged  into  a  castle 
surrounding  a  courtyard  in  a  rather  unusual  manner.  A  square  staircase 
(Fig.  333)  was  built  adjoining  the  south-west  angle,  and  a  large  building 
attached  to  it,  so  as  to  form  the  south  front  of  the  quadrangle.  The 


K1LRAVOCK  CASTLE 


—  385  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


basement  floor  of  this  building  contains  vaulted  cellars,  with  a  vaulted 
passage  giving  access  to  them. 


PIG.  332.— Kilravock  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 

The    entrance    doorway — the    original  lintel  of  which   (see   sketch, 
Fig.    332)  is   lying   in  the   grounds — is  in  the  staircase  tower,  and  is 


FIG.  333.— Kilravock  Castle.    Plans. 


defended   with   a  wide   shot-hole  from  the    basement  passage.     Other 
shot-holes  from  the  staircase  flank  the  keep,  explaining  the  object  of  the 


2  B 


THIRD  PERIOD  386    KILRAVOCK  CASTLE 

builder  in  planning  the  stair  tower  as  he  has  done.  The  upper  rooms  of 
the  south  block  are  of  a  modern  character,  with  private  turret  stairs,  and 
angle  closets,  such  as  are  usual  in  the  seventeenth  century,  the  stairs  being 
arranged  so  as  to  give  separate  accesses  to  the  various  apartments. 
Although  there  is  a  corridor  on  the  basement  floor,  there  was  none  on 
the  upper  floors,  the  rooms  on  which  occupied  the  full  width  of  the 
block,  and  had  separate  access  by  the  turret  stairs. 

In  more  recent  times  other  buildings  have  been  added  to  the  north 
of  the  main  house,  so  as  to  suit  modern  requirements,  and  a  wing  has 
been  extended  along  the  west  side  of  the  quadrangle,  but  these  additions 
have  been  omitted  in  the  plan. 

BALVENY  CASTLE,  BANFFSHIRE. 

This  ancient  fortress,  which  is  said  to  have  belonged  successively  to 
the  Comyns,  the  Douglases,  the  Stewarts,  and  the  Inneses,  is  situated  on 
an  isolated  peak  of  rock  in  the  valley  of  the  Fiddich,  near  the  point 
where  it  is  joined  by  the  Dullan,  and  within  a  mile  of  Dufftown. 

The  castle  consists  (Fig.  334)  of  a  great  wall  of  enceinte  about  170  feet 
from  north  to  south  by  130  feet  from  east  to  west,  and  about  6  feet 
thick,  with  a  tower-shaped  buttress  at  the  north-east  angle.  This 
enclosing  wall  is  28  feet  high  to  the  top  of  the  parapet,  and  is  probably 
the  most  ancient  part  of  the  buildings.  Its  size  and  massive  strength 
remind  one  of  the  early  castles  of  Kinclaven  and  Castle  Roy.  About 
20  feet  beyond  the  north  wall,  and  extending  round  the  sides,  are  the 
remains  of  a  great  ditch  about  30  feet  wide,  which  may  perhaps  indicate 
the  defences  of  an  earlier  and  more  primitive  fortress  even  before  the 
days  of  the  Comyns.  Along  the  north  wall  there  are  some  vaulted 
cellars,  over  which  there  appear  to  have  been  large  upper  rooms. 

The  portions  of  the  castle  most  recently  occupied  extend  along  the 
south  front  (Fig.  335).  The  western  portion  is  of  rough  work  like  the 
wall  of  enceinte,  and  is  evidently  the  oldest  part.  The  walls  are  6'  feet 
thick,  with  small  openings,  and  the  hall,  which  is  on  the  first  floor,  has 
a  high  pointed  barrel  vault  (see  First  Floor  Plan,  Fig.  334).  The  ground 
floor  of  the  western  portion  was  evidently  partly  occupied  as  the  bake- 
house, from  the  ovens  which  still  exist  in  the  west  wall,  and  also  partly 
as  a  cellar,  provided  with  the  usual  private  stair  from  the  hall  above. 
The  kitchen  and  offices  were  along  the  west  wall,  where  the  great  kitchen 
chimney  still  remains.  The  eastern  part  of  the  building,  including  the 
two  stair  turrets  and  the  south-east  angle  tower,  have  been  rebuilt  in 
the  sixteenth  century.  The  coat-of-arms  over  the  door  of  the  central 
stair  turret  (see  sketch,  Fig.  334)  combines  the  arms  of  Stewart,  Earl  of 
Athol,  and  Forbes  ;  while  on  the  outer  front  there  are  the  arms  of  the 
Earl  of  Athol,  with  a  long  scroll  containing  the  motto  of  the  Stewarts 


BALVENY  CASTLE 


—  387  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


of  Athol,  "  Furth  Fortuin  and  fil  thi  fatris/'  both  of  which  ornaments 
point  out  this  part  of  the  building  as  belonging  to  the  time  of  the 
Stewarts,  Earls  of  Athol,  dating  from  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century. 
The  entrance  gateway  still  retains  its  double  iron-grated  gate  or  "yett/' 
and  in  the  vaulted  entrance  passage  there  are  the  usual  stone  seats. 
Adjoining  this  on  the  left  is  the  guard-room. 


FIG.  334.— Balveny  Castle.    Plans. 

The  circular  staircase  to  the  west  of  the  entrance  leads  to  the  two 
large  rooms  on  the  first  floor,  while  the  staircase  in  the  south-east  angle 
conducts  to  the  private  rooms  as  well  as  the  hall. 

The  rooms  on  the  ground  floor  have  been  used  as  living-rooms,  each 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  388  — 


BALVENV  CASTLE 


BALVENV  CASTLE 


—  389  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


being  supplied  with  a  garde-robe,  in  which  there  are  deeply  splayed 
shot-holes.  The  garde-robes  are  roofed  over  at  a  low  level,  so  that 
windows  at  a  higher  level  may  be  introduced  above  them  to  light  the 
apartments,  as  indicated  by  dotted  lines  on  the  plan.  The  great  round 
tower  at  the  south-east  angle  is  provided  with  shot-holes  enfilading  the 
side  walls. 

On  the  first  floor  there  is  at  the  west  end  the  old  hall,  with  its  pointed 
vault,  thick  walls,  and  small  windows,  which  has  apparently  been  super- 
seded by  the  new  hall  to  the  east,  with  three  large  windows  in  the  outer 
wall.  To  the  east  of  this  is  the  private  room  and  bedrooms,  while  on  the 
upper  floor  there  appears  to  have  been  a  similar  hall,  which  was  probably 
the  withdrawing-room,  with  ornamental  windows  (sketch,  Fig.  334). 

The  apartments  seem  to  have  extended  all  round  the  quadrangle,  but 
only  the  foundations  can  now  be  traced. 

The  picturesque  stair  turrets  and  other  features  in  the  view  of  the 
interior  of  the  courtyard  (Fig.  336)  evidently  belong  to  the  sixteenth 
century. 


FIG.  33(3. — Balveny  Castle.     Interior  of  Courtyard. 


John  Stewart  of  Balveny  was  the  son  of  James  Stewart,  the  Black 
Knight  of  Lorn,  and  Jean,  widow  of  James  i.,  who  married  the  Knight 
of  Lorn  after  her  first  husband's  death.  John  of  Balveny  was  thus 
James  ii.'s  half  brother,  and  was  in  great  favour  with  the  King,  who 
presented  him  with  the  lands  of  Balveny  on  his  marriage  to  Margaret, 


THIRD  PERIOD  390    BALVENY  CASTLE 

widow  of  the  Earl  of  Douglas,  and  created  him  Earl  of  Athol  in  1457. 
He  was  a  powerful  supporter  of  the  Crown,  and  defeated  an  insurrec- 
tion under  the  Earl  of  Ross,  on  which  occasion  James  in.  granted  him 
the  motto  of  "  Furth  Fortune  and  fill  the  fetters/'  which  is  still  borne 
by  the  Earls  of  Athol. 

John's  second  daughter,  Katherine,  married  John,  Lord  Forbes,  and 
it  was  probably  by  them  that  the  new  part  of  the  Castle  of  Balveny  was 
built,  the  coat-of-arms  over  the  door  of  the  central  staircase  containing 
the  arms  of  Athol  and  Forbes.  (See  Nisbet's  Heraldry.') 

Balveny  now  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Fife. 

The  coat-of-arms  over  the  entrance  gate,  and  near  the  parapet,  appears 
to  be  that  of  Forbes. 

The  windows  on  the  upper  floor,  with  projecting  curved  and 
moulded  sills  and  lintels  (Fig.  334),  are  remarkable.  Mr.  Billings  gives 
an  example  of  a  similar  window  in  the  town  of  Elgin  (now  demolished). 

The  general  aspect  of  the  south  front,  with  its  great  round  tower, 
recalls  the  design  of  such  castles  as  Drochil  and  Huntly,  with  their 
diagonally  opposite  towers,  but  as  in  this  case  the  building  had  to  be 
fitted  to  the  existing  courtyard,  only  one  angle  tower  was  required. 

KILBIRNIE  CASTLE,  AYRSHIRE. 

The  Place  of  Kilbirnie  has  a  pleasant  situation  on  the  southern  slope 
of  the  Glengarnock  Hills,  in  North  Ayrshire.  The  castle  is  unfortunately 
in  a  state  of  great  dilapidation  and  neglect.  It  is  situated  on  high 
ground  in  the  bend  of  a  deep  ravine,  which  protects  it  along  the  west 
and  north.  The  approach  from  the  south  is  by  a  long  straight  avenue 
of  great  width,  with  high  walls  on  either  side,  enclosing  large  gardens, 
all  ruinous  and  waste,  the  castle  itself  terminating  the  view. 

The  buildings  are  of  two  distinct  periods.  The  original  part  is  the 
keep  (Fig.  337)  at  the  north-west  corner,  measuring  42  feet  by  32  feet 
7  inches,  with  walls  varying  from  7  feet  to  8  feet  in  thickness.  It  is 
four  stories  high,  and  contains  two  vaulted  floors  (section,  Fig.  337).  The 
entrance  is  on  the  ground  floor  by  a  round  arched  door  at  the  north-east 
angle,  leading  to  the  basement,  the  vault  of  which  is  1 4  feet  6  inches  high. 
From  the  passage  at  the  entrance  door  a  newel  stair  leads  in  the  thickness 
of  the  wall  to  a  narrow  passage  in  the  north  wall,  which  gives  access  by  a 
door  to  the  upper  floor  or  entresol  of  the  basement  (see  Plan),  and  to  a 
passage  in  the  wall,  at  the  end  of  which  is  a  hatchway  18  inches  square, 
which  forms  the  entrance  to  a  dark  dungeon  in  the  north-west  angle  of 
the  keep.  The  newel  stair  is  continued  to  the  hall  floor  and  the  upper 
floors.  The  corner  containing  the  stair  is  now  quite  ruinous,  and  the 
hall  can  only  be  reached  by  scrambling  over  the  fallen  masonry.  The 
hall  measures  28  feet  by  19  feet  6  inches,  and  is  21  feet  6  inches  high 


KILBIRNIE  CASTLE 


—    391 


THIRD  PERIOD 


to  the  top  of  the  arch.  It  is  lighted  by  three  ordinary  windows  (that  in 
the  south  wall  having  by  mistake  been  omitted  in  plan,  but  it  is  shown 
on  the  sketch,  Fig.  338)  and  by  a  window  high  up  in  the  north  wall.  In 
this  wall  there  is  a  small  garde-robe  over  the  passage  just  described  as 
leading  to  the  dungeon,  and  a  ruined  fireplace  in  the  west  wall. 


TMC   PLACE    OF    KILBIRNIE: 

7IVR5HIKE 


FIG.  337. — Kilbirnie  Castle.     Flans  and  Section. 

The  addition  to  the  castle  is  a  fine  specimen  of  our  seventeenth-century 
architecture ;  it  is  oblong  on  plan,  measuring  74  feet  4  inches  by  25  feet 
3  inches,  with  a  quaint  circular  staircase  adjoining  the  old  keep  (Fig.  338), 
between  which  and  the  modern  building  there  is  a  communication  at 
the  stair  landing  on  the  first  floor.  The  old  hall  may  thus  have  been 
retained  as  the  dining-room,  while  the  large  room  in  the  new  building  was 
the  drawing-room  of  the  extended  castle.  At  the  two  corners  of  the  south 
front  (Fig.  339)  there  are  large  turrets  supported  on  deep  corbelling, 
ornamented  with  the  dog-tooth  ornament,  the  revival  of  which  is 
characteristic  of  this  late  period.  The  number  of  the  members  and  the 
nearness  of  the  corbelling  to  the  ground  are  also  signs  of  a  late  date. 
These  turrets  are  large  enough  to  form  little  retiring-rooms. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


392    — 


KILBIRNIE  CASTLE 


The  entrance  doorway,  7  feet  wide,  is  contained  in  a  projecting  porch 
(Fig.  339)  in  the   south  front.       This  is  rather  an  unusual  feature  of  a 


Scottish  mansion ;  indeed,  we  can  only  recall  two  other  porches  of  this 
type — one  at  Stobhall,  and  another  in  the  small  mansion  of  Cardarroch, 


KILBIRNIE  CASTLE 


—    393 


THIRD  PERIOD 


near  Lenzie.  There  is  also  a  porch  at  Rosyth,  but  of  a  somewhat  different 
character.  Entrance  doorways  in  projecting  towers  containing  the  stair- 
case are  of  frequent  occurrence,  but  this  may  be  regarded  as  an  early 
specimen  in  embryo  of  the  modern  porch,  and  distinct  from  the  open 
pillared  porch,  such  as  that  of  Argyll's  Lodging  in  Stirling.  The  passage 
from  the  porch  continued  right  through  the  house  and  into  the  court- 
yard beyond.  The  basement  (now  in  a  state  of  great  ruin)  has  been 
vaulted.  The  position  of  the  kitchen  is  not  quite  clear,  but  projecting 
from  the  keep  on  the  north  are  the  ruins  of  an  oven  and  other  buildings, 
which  seem  to  indicate  that  it  was  situated  there.  The  top  story,  with 
its  row  of  dormers,  is  quite  ruinous. 


FIG.  339.— Kilbirnie  Castle.    View  from  the  South-East. 

In  the  New  Statistical  Account  it  is  argued  that,  from  the  absence  of 
gun-ports  in  its  walls,  the  keep  was  built  at  the  latest  in  the  early  part 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  "  and  consequently  in  the  days  of  the  Barclays, 
the  most  anciently  recorded  lords  of  the  barony."  But  this  is  quite  a 
fallacy.  There  are  no  gun-ports  in  Borthwick  keep,  and  we  know  that 
it  was  built  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  this  tower  is, 
we  are  inclined  to  think,  even  of  a  later  date  than  Borthwick. 

From  the  admirable  County  History  entitled  Cuninghame,  by  Timothy 
Pont,  continued  by  James  Dobie  and  his  son,  John  Shedden  Dobie,  we 
learn  that  the  male  line  of  the  Barclays  became  extinct  in  1470,  and 
that  a  daughter  of  the  house,  marrying  Malcolm  Crawfurd,  a  scion  of  the 
Crawfurds  of  Loudoun,  became  the  founders  of  the  family  long  known  as 
the  Crawfurds  of  Kilbirnie,  now  represented  by  the  Earl  of  Glasgow. 

As  far  as  the  style  of  the  keep  permits  one  to  judge,  we  think  it  not 
unlikely  that  it  was  built  by  Malcolm  Crawfurd. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    394    — 


RUTHVEN  CASTLE 


KILBIRNIE  CASTLE 


—    395    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  modern  part  of  the  edifice,  we  learn  from  the  Statistical  Account, 
was  built  by  John  Crawfurd  of  Kilbirnie  about  1 627,  and  its  style  quite 
corresponds  with  that  date.  Exactly  1 30  years  afterwards,  "  on  a  calm 
Sunday  morning,  on  the  1st  of  May,  when  the  family  were  unconscious 
of  danger,  one  of  the  .servants,  in  going  to  the  stables,  observed  smoke 
issuing  from  the  roof,  and  gave  the  alarm.  The  Earl  came  down  instantly, 
and  seeing  the  reality  of  the  danger,  ran  to  the  garrets,  and  on  opening 
the  door  the  flames  burst  forth  with  tremendous  fury,  and  spread  rapidly 
over  the  whole  attic  story."  He  had  just  time  to  save  his  sleeping  infant 
daughter,  Jean  (afterwards  to  become  Countess  of  Eglintoun),  and,  fol- 
lowed by  the  whole  members  of  his  family,  to  rush  from  his  blazing  home. 

The  house  was  never  repaired,  but  it  is  a  pity  that  it  should  be 
allowed  to  crumble  gradually  to  ruin,  when  a  small  outlay  would  save  it 
for  a  long  time  to  come. 

RUTHVEN  CASTLE,  OR  HUNTINGTOWER,  PERTHSHIRE. 
Situated  on  the  crest  of  a  high  bank  above  the  river  Almond,  about 
two  miles  from  Perth,  this  castle  is  famous  as  the  scene  of  the  "  Raid  of 


FIG.  341.— Ruthven  Castle,    Plan. 


Ruthven."     It   consisted    originally    of  a  single  keep  of  three    stories 
(Fig.  340),  built  in  the  fifteenth  century,  now  the  eastern  portion  of  the 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    396    — 


RUTHVEN  CASTLE 


building.  Each  floor  (Figs.  341,  34-2)  contained  an  apartment  27  feet  by 
14  feet,  the  ground  floor  being  vaulted,  with  the  entrance  door  and  a 
newel  stair  in  the  north-west  angle.  The  hall  on  the  first  floor  contains 
a  good  fireplace  of  the  fifteenth  century  (Fig.  343). 


PIG.  342.— Ruthven  Castle.    Plan. 

The  accommodation  in  the  keep  being  found  too  restricted,  additional 
rooms  were  provided  by  building  another  independent  house,  with  a 
square  tower  at  the  south-west  angle  (Fig.  344),  and  so  situated  as  to 
leave  an  open  space  about  9  feet  wide  between  the  new  and  the  old 
buildings.  The  western  tower  was  entered  by  a  door  on  the  first  floor 
(to  which  an  outside  stone  stair  has  been  built  in  recent  times,  Figs. 
341  and  345),  from  which  level  a  newel  stair  led  to  the  upper  parts  of 
the  building.  The  ground  floor  was  either  reached  by  a  trap  down  from 
the  first  floor,  or  more  likely  by  a  door,  now  built  up  by  the  outside  stair, 
as  just  opposite  this  stair,  on  the  inside,  a  recess  exists  in  the  room  where 
the  entrance  door  probably  was  (see  Plan). 

The  peculiarity  here  is,  that  the  east  and  west  towers  were  quite 
detached,  and  had  no  communication  with  one  another,  except  by  a 
moveable  plank  or  bridge  at  the  battlements,  where  a  door  of  communi- 


RUTHVEN  CASTLE  -    397    THIRD  PERIOD 

cation    is    still    traceable.     This   idea  looks  like   a  survival   of  the   old 


/l(l€II$ 

" 


hirteenth-century   mode   of  fortification,   when    each   tower  formed    a 
separate  post,  and  had  to  be  besieged  independently.     Thus,  if  one  of 


HIRD  PERIOD 


—    398    — 


RUTHVEN  CASTLE 


RUTHVEN  CASTLE 


—  399  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


eX^Mv^ 

^  1;\  •;" 


THIRD  PERIOD 


400    — 


RUTHVEN  CASTLE 


these  towers  was  taken,  the  garrison  could  retire  over  the  bridge  to  the 
other  one,  and  the  besiegers  would  have  to  commence  a  fresh  attack. 

Another  peculiarity  of  Huntingtower  is  the  way  in  which  the  bartizans 
and  parapets  are  partly  roofed  in  (Figs.  340  and  345),  the  object  being 
to  form  covered  passages  to  rooms  in  the  roof,  Here  we  see  the  roofed 
turret  in  course  of  formation,  and  the  transition  from  the  open  battle- 
ments to  the  later  arrangement,  when  the  eaves  of  the  roof  were  raised 


FIG.  346. — Ruthven  Castle.    New  Entrance  Doorway. 

to  the  top  of  the  parapet  wall.  The  sketch  (Fig.  347)  shows  the  corbels 
of  the  parapet  and  bartizans  of  the  original  tower,  which  are  charac- 
teristic of  fifteenth-century  work. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  when  the  idea  of  the 
mansion  predominated  over  that  of  the  castle,  the  gap  between  the  two 
buildings  was  filled  up,  and  a  square  wooden  staircase  introduced,  so  as  to 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE 


—    401    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


connect  the  east  and  west  portions  of  the  building,  and  form  of  both  a 
good  mansion-house.  When  the  separate  buildings  were  thus  united 
into  one  house,  various  minor  changes  were  effected.  The  old  entrance 
to  the  east  tower  was  built  up,  and  the  first  flight  of  the  turret  stair  was 
altered  as  shown  on  the  plan  of  the  ground 
floor.  A  new  entrance  doorway  (Fig.  346) 
was  at  the  same  time  slapped  through  the 
south  front  at  X  on  plan. 

Most  of  the   panelling   and  plaster- 
work  of  that  period  still  remain. 

The  first  Lord  Ruthven  was  created 
in  1488.  The  second  tower  may  pro- 
bably have  been  erected  by  him.  Patrick, 
the  third  Lord  Ruthven  (1520-66),  was  a 
chief  actor  in  the  murder  of  Rizzio,  and 
his  son  William  was  created  Earl  of 
Gowrie  in  1581.  The  union  of  the  two  towers  by  building  up  the  space 
between  them  was  probably  done  about  that  time.  In  1582  the  famous 
"  Raid  of  Ruthven,"  as  above  mentioned,  was  carried  out  here,  when  the 
Earl  of  Gowrie  kidnapped  the  boy-King  James  vi.,  for  which  offence  he 
was  beheaded  in  1584. 


PIG.  347.— Ruthven  Castle. 
Corbels  at  Parapet. 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE,  KILMARNOCK. 

We  have  here  another  example  of  the  extension  of  a  castle  by  the 
erection  of  buildings  within  the  wall  of  enceinte,  but  detached  from 
the  keep. 

The  latter  (Fig.  348)  is  of  the  ordinary  quadrilateral  form,  and  has 
all  the  characteristics  of  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth  century,  but 
there  is  no  record  of  the  date  of  its  erection.  The  extensive  additions 
seem  to  have  been  built  after  the  middle  of  the  same  century,  when  the 
Boyd  family,  to  whom  the  castle  then  belonged,  had  attained  their  great 
power  and  influence. 

Lord  Boyd  was  raised  to  the  peerage  by  James  n.,  and  his  brother, 
Sir  Alexander  Boyd,  was  appointed  instructor  in  chivalry  to  the  young 
James  HI.  In  1466  the  Boyds  got  possession  of  the  King's  person,  and 
Lord  Boyd  obtained  the  highest  appointments  in  the  State,  while  his 
eldest  son  was  created  Earl  of  Arran,  and  received  in  marriage  the 
Princess  Mary,  sister  to  the  King. 

But  their  honours  and  power  were  of  short  duration.  In  1469  the 
Boyds  were  tried  and  found  guilty  of  treason.  Sir  Alexander  was 
beheaded,  and  the  Earl  of  Arran  fled  to  Denmark.  The  Princess 
Mary  (the  sister  of  King  James  in.)  is  said  to  have  been  confined  in 
Dean  Castle  during  the  lifetime  of  the  Earl  of  Arran. 

2  c 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    402    - 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE 


This  keep  seems  to  have  been  the  earlier  castle  of  the  Boyds,  and 
when  they  rose  in  power  they  probably  erected  the  detached  buildings 
in  the  courtyard.  These  would  thus  date  from  about  1468-9. 


Pio.  348.— The  Dean  Castle.    Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

The  keep  (Fig.  348)  is  a  good  specimen  of  its  period.1  It  comprises  the 
usual  vaulted  basement.,  divided  into  two  cellars.  The  basement  is  entered 
by  a  round  arched  doorway  in  the  east  gable,  and  a  similar  round  arched 
doorway  leads  from  the  outer  to  the  inner  cellar.  Mr.  Galloway  calls 
the  latter  apartment  "the  kitchen,"  but  there  are  no  features  to  justify 
this  view.  There  is  a  fireplace  in  the  west  gable,  but  it  has  none  of  the 
characteristics  of  a  kitchen  fireplace,  which  in  those  days  was  always  of 
great  size,  and  of  unmistakable  appearance.  This  fireplace  is  probably 
an  insertion,  made  when  the  upper  part  of  the  building  was,  as  we  shall 
see,  greatly  altered  at  a  later  time. 

The  garde-robes  in  the  upper  floors  are  over  this  point,  and  the  flues 
would  naturally  descend  in  this  direction.  Mr.  Galloway  points  out  that 
there  is  an  aperture  in  the  outer  face  of  the  wall,  opposite  the  fireplace 
on  the  ground  floor.  This  may  have  been  the  aperture  for  cleaning  the 
flues.  One  of  these  flues  has  perhaps  been  appropriated  as  a  chimney 
when  the  fireplace  in  the  basement  was  added.  But  besides  this,  as  Mr. 
Galloway  remarks,  the  staircase  from  the  basement  to  the  hall  would 
have  been  found  most  inconvenient  for  the  service  from  the  kitchen.  In 

1  This  castle  has  been  recently  well  illustrated  by  Mr.  Galloway  in  the  publications  of  the 
Ayr  and  Wigtown  Archaeological  Society,  vol.  iii.  p.  112. 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE 


—    403    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


short,  this  keep,  like  many  others  of  the  same  date,  had  probably  no 
kitchen  within  the  building.  Either  the  cooking  was  done  in  the  hall 
or  in  an  outer  shed  in  the  courtyard. 

The  staircase  above  referred  to  is  of  peculiar  construction.  The 
builder  seems  at  first  to  have  intended  to  insert  a  wheel  staircase,  running 
from  the  entrance  door  of  the  basement  to  the  roof,  and  serving  every 
floor ;  but  after  building  the  first  eight  steps,  he  appears  to  have 
changed  his  plan,  and  from  the  point  then  reached  a  crooked  and 
irregular  stair  runs  up  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  to  a  mural  chamber  on 
the  first  floor  (Fig.  349),  from  which  a  very  narrow  passage  leads  to  the 
hall.  This  is,  in  fact,  an  ill-constructed  private  stair  to  the  cellars,  such 
as  is  found  in  almost  every  castle.  It  is  here,  however,  so  contrived  as 
to  give  access  likewise  from  the  lower  entrance  door  to  the  first  floor ; 
and,  to  prevent  its  being  abused,  it  is  securely  defended  by  the  guard- 
room, into  which  it  opens  on  the  first  floor,  and  by  the  narrow  doors 
and  passages  which  block  the  ingress.  The  base  of  the  keep  is  formed 
by  a  bold  slope  3  feet  6  inches  high  and  projecting  2  feet. 


II 


FIRbT  FLOOR  PLAIN    SOur*   WINC 

FIG.  349.—  The  Dean  Castle.    Plans  and  Section. 


The   original   entrance  to   the   hall   was,   as  usual,  on  the  first  floor 
(Fig.  349),  at  which  level  the  round  arched  doorway,  although  now  built 


THIRD  PERIOD  404    THE  DEAN  CASTLE 

up,  is  distinctly  visible  in  the  east  gable  immediately  above  the  doorway 
to  the  basement.  The  present  entrance  to  the  keep  is  by  a  flight  of  stone 
steps  and  a  doorway  on  the  south  side,  but  these  are  clearly  not  original. 
The  stone  stair  is  of  a  more  modern  style  of  construction,  and  the  south 
doorway  has  evidently  been  broken  through  what  was  originally  a 
window,  similar  to  that  opposite  it  in  the  north  wall.  The  slapping  out 
of  the  lower  part  of  the  entrance,  which  has  been  lowered  about  2  feet 
6  inches,  is  roughly  done,  and  the  stone  seats  at  each  side  still  remain, 
like  those  of  the  window  opposite,  but  are  now  upwards  of  4  feet  above 
the  floor,  in  which  position  they  are  only  intelligible  on  the  supposition 
that  they  were  originally  in  the  bay  of  a  window,  the  floor  of  which  was 
at  a  higher  level,  like  that  in  the  north  wall. 

Adjoining  the  original  entrance  to  the  keep  is  the  newel  staircase, 
which  runs  from  the  first  floor  to  the  roof,  and  gives  access  to  the  upper 
floors.  On  the  north  side  of  the  narrow  entrance  passage  there  is  a 
guard-room  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  from  which  a  man-hole  gives 
entrance  to  the  dungeon  beneath.  The  latter  is  ventilated  by  means 
of  a  long  narrow  aperture  sloping  upwards  in  the  north  wall. 

The  hall  (Fig.  349)  is  a  spacious  apartment,  38  feet  long  by  22  feet 
wide,  with  a  semicircular  vault  26  or  27  feet  in  height  (see  Section). 
This  height  seems  to  have  been  entirely  within  the  hall,  and  not  to 
have  been  divided  into  two  stories,  as  often  happened.  There  are  no 
corbels  to  carry  an  intermediate  floor,  and  there  is  only  one  window  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  eastern  wall,  to  which  we  shall  refer  immediately. 
The  hall  has  a  fireplace  at  the  west  or  upper  end,  where  also  the  two 
windows  in  the  north  and  south  walls  are  situated.  This  fireplace  is 
unusually  narrow,  and  seems  to  have  been  altered,  probably  at  the  time 
when  the  one  below  it  in  the  basement  was  inserted.  Some  of  the 
mouldings  have  been  reversed,  as  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Galloway,  which  is 
a  clear  sign  of  alterations.  There  is  a  stone  bench  or  seat  running  along 
each  side  of  the  hall  (as  at  Linlithgow),  and  a  curious  detached  bench 
in  the  south-west  angle.  The  upper  window  recess  above  referred  to  is, 
we  believe,  correctly  described  by  Mr.  Galloway  as  a  musicians'  gallery. 
It  has  a  stone  seat  all  round  the  recess  (see  Plan,  Fig.  349),  and  the 
window  itself  is  placed  several  feet  above  the  seat,  so  as  to  allow  the  light 
to  pass  over  the  heads  of  the  performers  (see  Section).  This  gallery  is 
entered  by  a  narrow  passage  from  the  main  staircase,  and  has  a  small 
mural  closet  on  the  north  side,  which  would  be  useful  for  the  reception 
of  musical  instruments,  etc.  The  doors  entering  the  window  bay  or 
gallery  have  their  sills  above  the  stone  seat,  so  as  not  to  break  it  up  and 
diminish  the  sitting  room.  Similar  musicians'  galleries  exist  at  Doune 
Castle  and  Mearns  Tower. 

The  floor  above  the  hall  (Plan  and  Section,  Fig.  349)  has  been  the 
upper  hall  or  withdrawing-room.  It  contains  an  oratory  or  small  chapel, 


THE   DEAN  CASTLE 


405    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    406    — 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE 


like  the  similar  apartments  at  Borthwick,  Doune,  etc.  The  oratory  is 
situated  in  the  eastern  wall,  and  is  covered  with  a  circular  vault.  It  has 
a  window  to  the  east  (now  built  up),  a  piscina,  much  broken,  on  the  south 
side,  and  an  ambry  in  the  north  wall.  There  are  now  two  fireplaces  in 
the  upper  hall,  that  in  the  west  wall  being  apparently  a  late  insertion. 
The  hall  is  lighted  by  one  window  in  the  south  wall,  which  has  been 
enlarged,  and  is  provided  with  garde-robes  and  closets  in  the  walls.  A 
large  continuous  corbel  forms  a  cornice  on  each  side  of  this  hall  to  pro- 
vide a  rest  for  the  timbers  of  the  upper  floor. 


FIG.  351.— The  Dean  Castle.    View  from  the  South- West. 


The  upper  part  of  the  keep  is  now  greatly  ruined,  but  it  is  still 
possible  to  form  a  fair  idea  of  the  position  of  the  battlements  and  the 
upper  rooms.  The  parapet  walk  ran  all  round  the  keep  (Fig.  350),  the 
east  and  west  gables  being  built  on  the  inner  edge  of  the  thick  walls. 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE  -    407    THIRD  PERIOD 

The  parapet  has,  like  Craigmillar,  no  projecting  corbel  table,  and  there 
do  not  appear  to  have  been  any  turrets  or  bartizans  at  the  angles. 

Originally  there  was  probably  only  one  story  above  the  parapet  walk, 
similar  to  that  at  Borthwick,  but  the  upper  part  of  the  keep  has  been 
much  altered  in  the  sixteenth  century,  probably  .at  the  time  when  the 
other  additions,  about  to  be  referred  to,  were  made  to  the  buildings  in 
the  courtyard. 

As  above  mentioned,  the  extended  buildings  were  almost  certainly 
erected  by  Lord  Boyd  about  1468-9-  The  great  tower  at  the  south- 
western angle  of  the  enceinte,  with  its  bold  corbels  and  stone  roof 
(Figs.  351  and  352),  are  in  the  style  of  that  period,  while  the  extended 
accommodation  provided  by  the  new  buildings  corresponds  with  the 
tendency  of  the  times.  The  ground  floor  (Fig.  348)  contains  a  large 
kitchen,  with  spacious  fireplace  and  oven,  and  various  cellars  and  offices, 
all  vaulted,  while  on  the  first  floor  (see  Plan,  Fig.  349)  are  situated  a 
large  hall,  with  private  room  adjoining,  besides  the  apartment  in  the 
south-west  tower.  The  latter  may  have  been  used  as  a  guard-room,  as  it 
has  a  door  leading  out  to  the  parapet  walk  of  the  wall  of  enceinte,  and 
also  to  the  newel  staircase,  which  runs  to  the  top  of  the  tower.  This 
tower  is  five  stories  high,  and  is  vaulted  on  the  top  story  so  as  to  support 
the  stone  roof.  The  intermediate  wooden  floors  are  now  all  gone. 

The  hall  was  in  all  likelihood  approached  originally  by  an  outside 
staircase  from  the  courtyard,  similar  to  that  of  Doune  Castle,  but  in  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  a  narrow  building  was  erected  along 
the  eastern  side  of  the  hall  containing  a  new  entrance  and  staircase. 

The  view  in  the  courtyard  (Fig.  352)  shows  how  this  new  building 
was  applied  against  the  old,  and  also  the  panel  which  contained  the  coat 
of  arms  and  name  of  the  builder.  Grose  states  that  in  his  time  one 
could  read  the  following  inscription  : — 

JAMES  LORD  OF 

KILMARNOCK 

DAME  CATHERINE  CREYK 

LADY  BOYD. 

The  monogram  of  Lord  James  and  his  Dame  is  still  distinguishable. 

This  Lord  Kilmarnock  died  in  1654.  In  his  time  great  alterations 
and  additions  seem  to  have  been  carried  out.  The  windows  of  the  outer 
hall  were  enlarged  (Fig.  350),  and  the  upper  part  of  the  keep  was  raised 
a  story,  with  new  gables  and  roof,  and  a  cape  house  added  on  the  top  of 
the  staircase.  In  1735  the  lower  castle  was  completely  destroyed  by 
an  accidental  fire,  and  has  remained  in  ruins  ever  since.  The  Dean  is 
now  the  property  of  the  Duke  of  Portland. 

The  massive  keep  of  the  Dean  strongly  recalls  that  of  Craigmillar, 
while  the  castle,  as  a  whole,  somewhat  resembles  that  of  Doune  in  the 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    408 


THE  DEAN  CASTLE 


general  dispositions.  It  has  a  great  keep,  which  is  here  entirely  detached 
from  the  other  buildings,  while  that  of  Doune  is  only  partially  so.  The 
outer  buildings  contain  a  kitchen  and  a  banqueting-hall,  and  private 
rooms  and  bedrooms  in  the  tower.  Both  buildings  were  approached  by 
outside  stairs,  and  both  had  a  large  courtyard  enclosed  with  a  high  and 
massive  wall,  with  battlemented  parapet,  entered  from  the  building. 


FIG.  352. — The  Dean  Castle.    View  in  the  Courtyard. 

The  south  wall  and  part  of  the  easteni  wall  of  enceinte  still  remain 
at  the  Dean,  but  the  rest  is  gone. 

The  situation  of  this  castle  is  rather  unusual.  It  stands  on  low 
ground  near  the  Kilmarnock  Burn,  and  is  closely  surrounded  with  undu- 
lating hills  rising  about  the  height  of  the  roof  of  the  keep.  It  is  difficult 
to  imagine  why  such  a  site  should  have  been  selected,  unless  perhaps 
with  a  view  to  concealment. 


FALSIDE  CASTLE 


—    409    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


FALSIDE  CASTLE,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

Falside  Castle  is  situated  seven  miles  east  of  Edinburgh,  on  high 
ground  overlooking  the  plain  between  the  castle  and  the  Forth.  The 
building  consists  of  the  original  keep  and  additions  on  the  south  side. 
The  keep  (Fig.  354)  measures  39  feet  4  inches  by  30  feet  7  inches  over 
the  walls,  and  contains  four  stories  (see 
Section,  Fig.  354),  the  upper  one  being 
vaulted.  The  full  height  to  the  under 
side  of  the  vault  is  41  feet  7  inches. 
The  entrance  is  by  a  round  arched  door- 
way in  the  north  side  of  the  ground  floor 
(Fig.  354).  Adjoining  the  entrance  a 
straight  flight  of  steps  in  the  thickness 
of  the  wall  leads  to  the  first  floor  (Fig. 
353).  In  the  landing  of  this  stair  a  trap 
gives  access  to  a  dungeon  beneath  the 
stair,  which  was  ventilated  in  the  usual 
way  with  a  small  round  hole  near  the 
ceiling.  From  this  landing  a  circular 
stair  led  to  the  upper  floors  and  the  roof. 
The  floors  above  are  lighted  from  each 
side,  except  the  south,  on  which  side  were 
situated  the  fireplaces.  The  first  floor 
seems  to  have  been  a  common  hall,  and 
the  floor  above  was  the  great  hall  or  prin- 
cipal apartment  (see  Section).  The  latter 
has  a  mural  closet  sufficient  for  a  bed, 
a  garde-robe,  and  a  seated  window. 
There  is  a  small  arched  niche  with  pro- 
jecting sill,  but  no  drain  in  the  east  end. 
The  upper  floor  (Plan,  Fig.  353)  was  no 
doubt  used  as  bedrooms  by  the  family. 
There  seems  to  be  no  evidence  of  the 
date  of  erection  of  this  keep,  and  from 
its  style  we  cannot  ascribe  to  it  an  earlier 
date  than  the  latter  half  of  the  four- 
teenth or  the  fifteenth  century.  The 
family  name  of  Fauside  appears  as  early 

./  ,~,  J         PLAN     OF    SECOND     FLOOR 

as    the    twelfth    century    in    connection 

•  .i     .11         T.  j  Fio.  353. — Falside  Castle. 

with  the  locality,  and  continues  down  to  Plan  of  Upper  Floors. 

the  seventeenth. 

In  September   1547  was  fought   beneath   the  walls  of  Falside  the 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    410 


FALSIDE  CASTLE 


PLAN      OF      GROUND        FLOOR        AND       OF       OUTBUILDINGS 


FIG.  354.— Falside  Castle.      Plan  of  Ground  Floor 
and  Section. 


FALSIDE  CASTLE 


4-11    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


battle  of  Pinkie,  between  Protector  Somerset  and  the  Regent  Arran. 
The  "total  destruction"  of  the  castle  is  said  to  have  been  averted 
"  through  its  first  floor  and  roofs  being  arched  over  with  stone."  This 
statement  would  seem  to  imply  that  the  additions  to  the  castle  were 
made  by  that  time,  as  the  keep  is  arched  at  the  roof,  and  the  additions 
are  arched  only  on  the  basement  floor.  By  these  additions  the  castle 
was  extended  southwards  41  feet  (Fig.  354),  doors  of  communication 


FIG.  355.— Falside  Castle.    View  from  the  South-East. 

between  the  old  and  new  building  were  cut  through  on  the  two  lower 
floors,  and  a  space  for  a  stair  connecting  the  ground  floor  with  the  first 
floor  was  dug  out  of  the  south  wall  of  the  keep.  A  new  entrance  door- 
way was  placed  on  the  west  side,  having  a  large  entrance  hall,  indicating 
a  decided  advance  in  house-planning.  Entering  from  this  hall  was  the 
kitchen,  with  a  large  fireplace  at  one  end  and  a  smaller  one  at  the 


THIRD   PERIOD 


412    — 


FALSIDE  CASTLE 


other ;  two  stone  drains  and  a  water-supply  drain  are  also  provided. 
On  the  first  floor  is  the  dining-hall,  with  a  private  room  adjoining.  In 
order  to  permit  the  spectator  from  the  west  window  of  the  hall  to  see 


FIG.  356.— Falside  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 

as  much  of  the  country  towards  Edinburgh  as  possible,  the  projecting 
angle  of  the  corner  of  the  private  room  is  splayed  away,  the  effect  of 
which  externally  with  the  turreted  staircase  (Fig.  356)  is  picturesque. 


HAINING  CASTLE 


—    413    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Fig.  355  shows  the  appearance  of  the  castle  from  the  south-east.  The 
mode  in  which  the  additions  have  been  made  at  Falside  are  somewhat 
peculiar,  resembling  rather  an  addition  of  modern  times  than  of  old. 
In  the  sixteenth  century  an  old  keep  was  generally  extended  by  the 
addition  of  single  buildings  round  a  courtyard,  but  here  we  have  an 
addition  made  so  as  to  render  the  whole  buildings,  old  and  new,  one 
solid  block.  The  remains  of  walls  surrounding  the  castle  are  shown 
on  the  plan  of  the  ground  floor,  with  a  round  turret  open  to  the  out- 
side, an  arrangement  somewhat  difficult  of  explanation,  except  on  the 
footing  that  it  was  a  late  erection  connected  with  a  garden  attached 
to  the  house  at  the  south-east.  That  house  is  of  good  size,  and  is 
now  in  ruins.  On  one  of  the  dormers  was  carved  the  date  1618,  with 
the  initials  I-F-I-L.  This  dormer  no  longer  exists.  The  LF-  is  sup- 
posed to  be  John  Falside,  to  whose  memory  a  tablet  exists  at  Tranent 
Parish  Church.  This  house,  which  had  offices  attached,  was  probably 
occupied  by  dependants  of  the  family. 


HAINING,  OR  ALMOND  CASTLE,  LINLITHGOWSHIRE. 

This  is  a  keep  of  the  fifteenth  century,  which  has  received  extensive 
additions  in  the  sixteenth  century.  It  is  situated  in  the  higher  part 
of  Linlithgowshire,  not  far  from  Polmont,  and  now  stands  in  the  middle 
of  a  cultivated  field. 


FIRST  FLOOR  PLAN  EEtj    GROUND  PLAN 

FIG.  357.— Haining  Castle.     Plans. 

The  original  keep  (Fig.  357)  is  of  the  L  plan,  but  the  doorway,  which 
was  on  the  first  floor,  was  not  placed,  as  usual,  in  the  re-entering  angle, 
but  in  the  centre  of  the  eastern  or  largest  front.  The  newel  staircase 
adjoining,  which  begins  on  the  first  floor,  is  however  so  situated  as 
to  give  access  to  the  apartments  both  of  the  main  building  and  the 
wing. 

There  would  appear  to   have  been   no  access  from   the  basement 


THIRD  PERIOD 


414    — 


HAINING  CASTLE 


(which  is  vaulted)  to  the  first  floor  except  by  the  hatch  in  the  recess  of 
the  small  window  in  the  east  wall. 

The  door  of  the  keep  has  been  defended  by  a  projecting  bartizan  at 
the  roof  (Fig.  358),  which  still  exists.  There  was  probably  originally  a 
parapet,  with  bartizans  at  the  angles,  at  this  level,  before  the  alterations 
in  the  sixteenth  century.  The  roof  was  likely  constructed  of  stone, 
similar  to  that  of  Craigmillar,  as  the  top  story  has  a  pointed  vault  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  it,  which  still  remains. 


Fio.  358.— Haining  Castle.    View  from  the  North-East. 

The  castle,  which  was  built  by  the  family  of  Crawford  in  the  reign  of 
James  in.,  appears  to  have  received  additions  on  two  separate  occasions. 
In  1540  it  was  acquired  by  the  Livingstons,  who  probably  then  added 
the  southern  portion  of  the  addition  (to  the  left  in  Fig.  358),  and  in  1633, 
when  James,  third  son  of  the  first  Earl  of  Linlithgow,  was  created  Baron 
Livingston  of  Almond,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  castle  from  Haining 
to  Almond  Castle.  The  first  of  these  additions  is  a  symmetrically 
balanced  composition,  with  a  turret  at  each  end  and  a  door  in  each 
turret.  There  seems  also  to  have  been  a  large  central  oriel,  the  founda- 
tions of  which  still  remain.  The  whole  of  this  building  is  executed  with 
good  freestone  ashlar,  and  the  southern  turret  has  round  windows  of  a 
spurious  Gothic  design.  This  building  formed  a  kind  of  "  forework  "  to 
the  keep,  and  contained  a  handsome  staircase  leading  up  to  the  doorway 


SANQUHAR  CASTLE 


__  415  _ 


THIRD  PERIOD 


on  the  first  floor,  of  which  a  suggested  restoration  is  shown  on  the  plan. 
The  interior  of  the  original  wing  has  had  the  walls  hollowed  out  at  the 
same  time,  so  as  to  increase  the  size  of  the  private  room. 

The  remaining  portions  of  the  additions  (to  the  right,  Fig.  358)  are  of 
common  rubble-work,  and  seem  to  be  later.  A  wing  has  been  added 
against  the  north  end  of  the  keep  also,  where,  for  the  various  floors, 
joist-holes,  which  are  still  visible,  were  cut  in  the  wall  of  the  keep. 


SANQUHAR  CASTLE,  DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

Sanquhar  Castle  stands  on  the  edge  of  a  steep  bank  rising  up  from 
the  valley  of  the  Nith,  adjoining  the  village  of  Sanquhar,  and  is  protected 
by  this  bank  along  its  south  and  west  sides,  having  probably  had  a  ditch 
to  the  north.  It  has  been  a  splendid  building,  but  is  now  in  a  state  of 
complete  ruin.  The  castle  was  approached  from  the  village  along  an 
avenue  of  trees,  of  which  a  few  pairs  still  remain.  At  the  end  of  the 
avenue  was  the  gateway  leading  into  the  outer  courtyard  at  the  north- 
west corner.  This  gateway,  of  which  little  remains,  is  seventeenth- 
century  work.  Entering  from  the  east  side  of  this  courtyard  is  the 
castle  proper.  Together  the  courtyard  and  castle  form  an  oblong  in 
plan  (Fig.  359),  measuring  over  both  about  167  feet  from  east  to  west 


FIG.  359.— Sanquhar  Castle.    General  Plan. 

by  128  feet  from  north  to  south.  The  castle  is  entered  from  the 
outer  courtyard  by  an  arched  doorway  about  7  feet  6  inches  wide,  and 
was  protected  by  a  great  round  tower.  From  this  door  the  inner  court- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    416    — 


SANQUHAR  CASTLE 


yard  is  reached  through  a  vaulted  passage,  and  the  castle  is  found  to 
consist  of  buildings  round  an  oblong  square,  with  a  keep  forming  the 
original  nucleus  at  the  south-east  corner.  The  keep  measures  about 
23  feet  square  over  the  walls,  and  from  10  to  11  feet  inside,  and  although 
this  is  a  very  small  building,  it  has  been  well  designed,  with  good  moulded 
windows,  a  sketch  of  one  of  which  is  given  (Fig.  360).  The  ground  floor 
was  vaulted,  and  probably  one  of  the  upper  floors  ; 
but  the  ruin  that  has  overtaken,  not  only  this 
part,  but  the  rest  of  the  castle,  is  so  complete 
that  it  can  only  be  described  in  a  very  general 
way.  Adjoining  the  keep,  on  the  west,  is  the 
bakery,  with  the  oven  outside  the  wall.  This 
oven  seems  to  have  been  an  insertion.  The 
kitchen  is  in  the  south-west  corner.  It  has  had 
an  arched  fireplace  about  10  feet  by  9  feet,  with 
a  stone  drain  to  the  outside.  In  the  west  wall, 
entering  from  the  inner  court,  was  the  wheel  stair, 
with  steps  4  feet  wide,  to  the  upper  floors. 
The  round  tower  between  this  and  the  entrance 
is  nearly  all  away.  The  basement  floor,  which 
was  vaulted,  is  at  a  lower  level  than  the  court- 
yard. It  is  square  on  plan  internally,  and  evidently  continued  so  to  the 
top.  The  sketch  (Fig.  36 1)  shows  that  the  two  remaining  walls  of 


PIG.  360.—  danquhar  Castle. 
Window  in  Keep. 


Fia.  361. — Sanquhar  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 


this  room,  as  they  get  towards  the  top,  are  corbelled  inwards  on  a  con- 
tinuous corbelling  at  two  different  heights.  This  diminished  the  size  of 
the  room,  and  the  object  of  it  is  not  clear.  The  same  thing  occurs  at 


SANQUHAR  CASTLE  -    41?    THIRD  PERIOD 

other  places,  as  at  Morton  Castle  in  the  neighbourhood,  in  the  north-west 
wall,  where  it  projects  towards  the  loch.  Here,  as  well  as  at  the  kitchen 
fireplace,  are  flues  in  the  walls,  probably  from  what  were  garde-robes 
above. 

The  buildings  to  the  north  of  the  entrance  gateway  are  nearly  all 
swept  away.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  stair  from  the  outer  courtyard 
to  the  top  of  the  walls,  and  another  stair  on  the  inside  at  the  north-west 
corner  can  be  partly  traced.  The  whole  masonry  of  this  wall  towards 
the  outer  courtyard  is  of  the  finest  kind.  Being  in  very  large  courses,  it 
conveys  the  idea  of  great  strength  and  power. 

The  principal  apartments  on  the  upper  floors  were  on  the  west  side 
over  the  entrance. 

In  the  earliest  notices  of  Sanquhar  we  find  the  place  in  possession  of 
the  Ross  family,  and  in  the  reign  of  Robert  the  Bruce,  Isobel,  the  last 
of  this  branch  of  the  family,  married  a  son  of  the  Lord  of  Creighton,  and 
with  their  descendants  the  barony  remained  till  the  year  1630,  when  it 
was  purchased  by  Sir  William  Douglas  of  Drumlanrig.  It  was  undoubtedly 
by  some  member  of  the  Creighton  family  that  the  castle  was  built.  The 
first  of  them  died  in  1360,  but  this  is  too  early  a  date  for  any  portion  of  the 
existing  structure,  the  oldest  part  of  which  may  be  safely  assigned  to  the 
following  century.  Sir  William  Douglas,  the  first  Duke  of  Queensberry, 
who  built  Drumlanrig,  stayed  in  Sanquhar  Castle  till  his  death,  preferring 
it  to  the  splendid  structure  he  had  himself  reared,  and  within  which  he 
is  said  to  have  slept  only  one  night.  On  his  death  the  second  Duke 
abandoned  Sanquhar,  and  it  then  fell  a  prey  to  the  depredations  of  the 
burghers,  from  whose  rapacity  the  few  remaining  ruins  have  been  saved 
in  comparatively  recent  times. 


THIRD  PERIOD— CASTLES  DESIGNED  AS  BUILDINGS 
SURROUNDING  A  COURTYARD. 

In  the  above  examples  of  the  keep  plan,  as  carried  out  and  modified 
during  the  Third  Period,  we  have  noticed  many  special  features  which 
distinguish  them  from  the  keeps  of  the  fourteenth  century.  We  have  , 
also  seen  how  many  of  these  keeps  were  enlarged  at  later  periods  into 
castles  surrounding  courtyards  or  otherwise.  But  the  buildings  which 
chiefly  distinguish  this  period  are  the  castles  designed  and  erected  from 
the  first  on  the  plan  of  buildings  surrounding  a  courtyard,  like  the  con- 
temporary castles  in  France  and  England.  Nearly  all  the  more  important 
buildings  of  the  period  are  of  this  class,  such  as  the  great  castles  of 
Doune  and  Tantallon,  and  the  Royal  palaces  built  by  the  Jameses  at 
Edinburgh,  Stirling,  Linlithgow,  Falkland,  and  Dunfermline. 


THIRD  PERIOD  418    DOUNE  CASTLE 

While  there  is  a  rudeness  in  the  construction  of  the  earlier  keeps  and 
castles  of  this  period,  above  described,  which  renders  them  scarcely  dis- 
tinguishable from  those  of  the  previous  century,  we  have  already  seen, 
in  many  even  of  the  simple  keeps,  and  still  more  in  the  later  keeps  with 
wings,  a  gradual  improvement  both  as  regards  accommodation  and  orna- 
ment. The  same  remark  applies  to  the  castles  designed  with  buildings 
surrounding  courtyards.  The  early  types,  although  extended  in  accom- 
modation, are  somewhat  rude  in  design,  being  evidently  intended  rather 
for  strength  than  elegance.  The  later  castles  of  this  epoch,  however, 
such  as  the  Royal  palaces,  not  only  contain  the  numerous  halls  and 
suites  of  apartments  common  at  the  time  in  French  and  English  man- 
sions, but  they  are  also  built  and  decorated  in  a  style  almost  as  ornate 
and  sumptuous  as  their  foreign  prototypes. 

The  castles  and  palaces  of  this  period  exhibit  a  completeness  and  large- 
ness of  conception  not  to  be  met  with  in  any  other  period  of  our  Scottish 
Architecture.  In  this  they  contrast  favourably  with  the  Ecclesiastical 
Architecture  of  the  period.  While  the  splendid  cathedrals  and  churches 
of  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries  were  erected,  the  Domestic 
and  Castellated  Architecture  of  the  country  was  (with  a  few  exceptions, 
such  as  Bothwell  and  Kildrummie)  in  a  very  primitive  and  backward 
condition  ;  but  now,  during  the  fifteenth  and  the  early  part  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  Civil  Architecture  developed  at  the  expense  of  the 
Ecclesiastical.  Palaces  and  mansions  of  great  extent  and  magnificence 
arose  and  overshadowed  the  small  and  somewhat  debased  collegiate 
churches  which  almost  alone  were  erected  at  that  time. 

Some  of  the  rich  abbeys  no  doubt  vied  in  the  elegance  of  their  build- 
ings with  those  of  the  nobility,  but  these  were  rather  feudal  than 
ecclesiastical  establishments. 


DOUNE  CASTLE,   PERTHSHIRE. 

Doune  Castle  is  a  striking  and  magnificent  example  of  the  style  of 
castles  of  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century  designed  with  build- 
ings surrounding  a  courtyard.  This  castle  was  built  by  Murdoch,  Duke 
of  Albany,  who  was  Regent  in  Scotland  (from  1419  to  1424)  during 
the  captivity  of  James  i.  in  England,  and  who  was  executed  by  James 
on  his  return  to  Scotland  in  1424.  Doune  must  therefore  have  been 
built  before  that  date.  The  castle  then  lapsed  to  the  Crown,  and  was 
bestowed  by  James  iv.  on  his  Queen,  Margaret,  through  whom  it  again 
passed  to  the  Stewart  family,  and  remains  at  present  the  property  of 
the  Earl  of  Moray. 

Doune  Castle  is  situated  close  to  the  town  of  Doune,  on  a  tongue  of 
land  lying  between  the  rivers  Teith  and  Ardoch  at  their  junction,  and 
has  been  further  defended  by  the  steep  slope  of  the  ground  all  round,  and 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


—    41J)    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  420  — 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


—    421    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


by  several  ditches,  which  can  yet  be  traced.    There  has  also  been  an  outer 
wall  at  the  top  of  the  sloping  bank,  the  foundations  of  which  still  exist. 

This  castle  is  almost  all  built  in  one  style,  and  is  all  of  about  the 
same  date.  Fig.  362  shows  the  whole  in  a  bird's-eye  view,  with  a  few 
suggested  restorations.  The  portion  containing  the  entrance  passage 
(Fig.  364)  has  probably  been  first  built,  along  with  the  walls  of  enceinte. 
It  has  evidently  been  intended  to  complete  the  buildings  all  round  the 
quadrangle.  This  is  apparent  from  the  tusks  left  in  the  south-west  gable 
for  the  continuance  of  that  side,  and  also  from  the  large  windows  formed 
in  the  south  wall  of  enceinte  (Fig.  362),  in  preparation  for  large  apart- 
ments intended  to  be  erected  on  that  side  of  the  quadrangle. 


Pia.  364.—  Donne  Castle.    Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

The  walls  of  enceinte  are  40  feet  high  (section,  Fig.  367),  besides  the 
parapet  of  about  6  feet,  which  has  a  projecting  string-course,  but  110 
machicolations  occur  except  over  the  postern  door  in  the  west  wall  (Fig. 
363).  The  walls  are  however  defended  with  open  bartizans  at  the 
angles  and  in  the  centre  of  the  curtains.  The  whole  building  (Fig.  364) 
measures  155  feet  by  143  feet.  The  block  over  the  entrance  at  the  north- 
east angle  is  complete  in  itself,  and  would  form  a  large  castle  inde- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  422  — 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


pendently  of  the  other  portions  of  the  edifice.  It  in  fact  constitutes  an 
enlarged  keep,  without  internal  communication  with  the  other  buildings. 
This  was  a  usual  arrangement  in  similar  castles  of  this  period,  as  it  was 
also  in  France  and  England.  At  Pierrefonds,  for  example,  the  keep  is 
a  large  block,  containing  numerous  apartments,  and  is  sufficiently  exten- 
sive to  form  an  independent  residence.  It  thus  presents  (as  above  pointed 
out)  a  striking  contrast  in  the  dispositions  of  its  keep  to  that  of  Couci, 
which  was  erected  about  a  century  earlier,  just  as  Doune  contrasts 
with  the  Scottish  keeps  of  the  previous  periods. 


FIG.  365.— Doune  Castle.    Plan  of  First  Floor. 

The  entrance  to  the  quadrangle  is  peculiar,  being  by  an  archway  which 
passes  below  the  great  hall.  The  gateway  is  provided  with  wooden  doors, 
strong  iron-grated  gates,  which  still  exist,  and  a  portcullis,  which  was 
worked  from  the  window  recess  of  the  hall  above.  The  gateway  is 
flanked  by  a  great  round  tower  (Fig.  366),  as  at  Pierrefonds.  In  the 
entrance  passage  there  is  a  guard-room  on  one  side,  with  a  small  prison 
entering  from  it,  and  on  the  other  side  are  stores  and  cellars,  and  a  well 
in  the  great  round  tower. 

On  the  first  floor  (Fig.  365)  is  the  great  hall,  44  feet  by  26  feet 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


—    423    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  424  — 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


6  inches,  and  24  feet  6  inches  high  to  the  crown  of  the  semicircular 
vault,  which  has  apparently  always  formed  the  roof  of  the  hall  (Fig.  372). 
The  hall  is  entered  by  an  outside  straight  stair,  the  only  internal  com- 
munication between  the  basement  and  the  hall  being  by  an  aperture  in 
the  vault  (shown  on  the  Plans)  through  which  stores,  etc.,  could  be  hoisted. 


FIG.  367. — Doune  Castle.    Section  through  Courtyard,  looking  North. 


The  outside  stair  has  been  enclosed  with  a  wall,  and  was  guarded  by 
a  grated  gate  at  the  bottom,  the  recess  for  which  when  open  may  be 
seen  in  the  main  wall.  The  hall  has  a  large  window  over  the  gateway, 
from  the  recess  of  which,  as  above  mentioned,  the  portcullis  was  worked. 
It  has  also  a  fine  double  fireplace  (Fig.  368),  with  jambs  and  lintel  orna- 
mented with  shafts  and  mouldings.  It  must  however  be  admitted  that 
the  details  of  these  are  not  so  good  as  one  would  expect  at  the  above 
date,  but  the  whole  of  the  ornamental  work  of  this  castle,  as  of  Scotch 
castles  in  general,  although  there  are  exceptions,  is  of  an  inferior 
character  to  the  similar  class  of  work  in  ecclesiastical  edifices. 

There  is  a  private  room  in  the  tower  over  the  inner  end  of  the 
entrance  archway,  with  a  window  to  the  hall,  from  which  a  view  could 
be  obtained  of  all  that  went  on  there  (Fig.  365).  Another  room  in  the 
great  tower  enters  from  the  hall,  and  has  an  aperture  in  the  floor  for 
drawing  up  water  from  the  well-room.  From  the  hall  a  staircase  leads 
to  four  private  rooms  in  the  various  floors  of  the  tower,  to  the  upper  floors 
over  the  hall,  and  to  the  roof,  Another  newel  stair  at  the  north-west 
angle  of  the  hall  also  leads  to  the  upper  floors  and  roof.  There  is  now 
a  communication  between  this  part  of  the  castle  and  the  banqueting-hall 
adjoining,  but  this  is  not  likely  to  have  been  the  case  originally.  There 
is  no  other  opening  between  the  keep  and  the  buildings  adjoining  it. 
The  second  floor,  immediately  over  the  hall  (Fig.  369),  comprised  the 
withdrawing-room,  entering  from  which  is  an  oratory  in  the  south 


DOUNE  CASTLE  425    THIRD  PERIOD 

window  recess,  which  has  served  as  the  chapel.    The  piscina,  locker,  etc., 


FIG.  368.— Doune  Castle.    Details  of  Fireplaces. 

are  still  preserved.     This  arrangement  recalls  the  similar  plan   of  the 
chapel  at  Borthwick.     It  is  thought  that  the  large  pointed  windows  in 


FIG.  869. — Doune  Castle.    Plan  of  Second  Floor. 

the    south  curtain  (Fig.  362)  indicate  the  intention  of  erecting  a  large 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    426    — 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


chapel  there,  which  however  was  never  carried  out.  The  drawing-room 
is  entered  from  both  the  above-mentioned  staircases  by  passages  in  the 
thickness  of  the  wall  opening  in  a  window  recess.  A  similar  passage 
in  the  south  wall  leads  to  the  parapet  walk  of  the  enceinte  (Fig.  369). 
The  drawing-room  has  a  good  fireplace,  with  similar  workmanship  and 
mouldings  to  that  of  the  hall. 

The  floor  of  the  top  story  was  of  wood  (Fig.  372),  and  the  accommo- 
dation was  similar  to  that  on  the  drawing-room 
floor.  Above  this  was  the  wooden  roof.  The 
apartments  in  the  round  tower  are  all  vaulted, 
and  probably  it  had  a  pointed  roof,  with  crenel- 
lated parapet  for  defence.  The  east  gable  was 
carried  up  so  as  to  form  a  high  watch-tower, 
with  no  doubt  a  beacon  grating  (Fig.  362).  The 
passage  across  the  roofs  from  the  battlements  on 
one  side  to  those  on  the  other  was  effected  by 
FIO.  370.— Doune  Castle.  Plan  of  wide  stairs  on  the  top  of  the  gable  walls  (Fig.  370) 

Upper  Rooms  of  Tower  and       defended  with  parapets.     There  are  round  pro- 
Battlements. 

jecting  bartizans  at  the  corners,  and  the  north- 
west corner  over  the  staircase  was  carried  up  as  a  high  turret. 

This  portion  of  the  building  (Fig.  371),  as  already  mentioned,  forms 
an  independent  residence.     Adjoining  it  on  the  west  is  the  banqueting- 


. NORTH  ELEVATION. 


-t- 


FIG.  371.— Doune  Castle.    Elevation  of  North  Front. 

hall,  situated  on  the  first  floor  (Fig.  365),  with  a  range  of  cellars  under- 
neath.    It  is  68  feet  long  by  27  feet  wide,  and  has  had  an  ornamental 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


—    427    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


open  wooden  roof;  the  stone  corbels  for  the  principal  rafters,  carved  with 
heads,  still  remain  (Fig.   373).      The   "  screens"  were  at  the  west  end, 


FIG.  372. — Doune  Castle.    Section  through  Hall. 


where  a  stair  from  the  recess  of  the  window  leads  to  the  parapet  of  the 
roof  and  to  the  floor  over  the  "  screens,"  where  no  doubt  the  minstrels' 
gallery  was  situated.  There  is  an  upper  window  at  a  suitable  level  for 
lighting  it. 


SECTION    OMbfl^D- 

-4 ? *- £- 


FIG.  373. — Doune  Castle.    Section  through  Banqueting-Hall  and  Elevation  of 
West  Side  of  Courtyard. 

This  hall  was  lighted  with  large  windows  to  the  courtyard  (Fig.  367). 
In  the  recess  of  one  of  them  is  a  garde-robe,  and  opposite  it  a  stair  to 
the  wine-cellar.  The  windows  on  the  north  side  are  also  of  good  size 
(Fig.  371);  the  one  to  the  screens,  however,  is  smaller  than  the  others. 
The  outer  wall  is  here  strengthened  with  a  solid  semicircular  tower. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  428  — 


DOUNE  CASTLE 


The  banqueting-hall  is  entered  by  a  separate  straight  outside  stair, 
which  was  enclosed  with  a  wall  like  that  to  the  common  hall  (Fig.  373). 
Such  separate  outside  stairs  to  different  parts  of  castles  were  a  usual 
arrangement  in  castles  surrounding  a  courtyard,  and  were  also  quite 
common  in  the  French  and  English  examples.  This  stair  leads  to  an 
entrance  hall,  which  was  also  used  as  a  service  room,  having  a  door  to 
the  banqueting-hall  on  one  side,  and  to  the  kitchen  on  the  other.  The 
kitchen  further  communicates  with  this  entrance  by  two  service  openings 
in  the  wall,  with  elliptic  arches  (Fig.  374).  This  unusual  form  of  arch  is 


FIG.  374.— Donne  Castle.    View  in  Service  Room. 

much  employed  in  every  part  of  this  castle,  from  the  basement  to  the  top 
floor.  The  kitchen  is  vaulted,  and  there  are  openings  in  the  vaults  over 
the  windows,  probably  intended  for  ventilation.  There  is  one  large 
opening  into  the  kitchen  chimney  at  the  apex  of  the  vault,  which  is 
certainly  provided  for  that  purpose.  Another  straight  outside  stair  leads 
from  near  the  postern  door  in  the  west  wall  to  the  kitchen  (Fig.  373), 
and  from  the  top  of  this  stair  a  newel  stair  leads  to  the  parapet  of  the 
west  enceinte.  Another  newel  stair,  corbelled  out  near  the  entrance  to 
the  banqueting-hall,  leads  to  a  series  of  rooms  over  the  entrance  lobby 
and  kitchen.  The  apartment  over  the  kitchen  (Fig.  369)  seems  to  have 
been  a  principal  guest-chamber,  having  a  handsome  fireplace  (one  jamb 
of  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  368)  and  a  large  window.  Two  small  rooms 
(one  with  a  garde-robe)  enter  off  it. 


TANTALLON  CASTLE  429    THIRD  PERIOD 

Probably  the  idea  was  to  limit  strangers  and  guests  to  this  part  of  the 
castle,  the  isolated  residence  or  keep  over  the  entrance  passage  being 
reserved  for  the  owner  and  his  family  only. 


TANTALLON  CASTLE,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

The  castle  of  Tantallon  is  another  magnificent  specimen  of  the  edifices 
erected  about  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  or  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  in  the  form  of  a  quadrangle.  This  castle,  like  Doune,  belonged 
to  Murdoch,  Duke  of  Albany.  Here  also,  as  there,  the  entrance  passes 
under  a  large  building,  which  formed  an  independent  castle  or  keep. 

The  fortress  of  Tantallon  occupies  a  bold  promontory  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Firth  of  Forth,  and  about  three  miles  eastwards  from  North  Berwick. 
Being  sufficiently  protected  on  three  sides  by  the  nature  of  its  site 
(Fig.  375),  which  consists  of  a  lofty  peninsula  with  perpendicular  rocks, 
washed  at  their  base  by  the  German  Ocean,  it  was  only  necessary  to 
defend  it  artificially  on  the  fourth  or  western  side.  There  it  is  protected 
by  a  deep  ditch  cut  in  the  rock,  and  by  enormous  curtain  walls  12  feet 
thick  and  about  50  feet  high  (Fig.  376),  crowned  with  battlements,  but 
without  machicolations.  In  front  of  this  is  a  large  level  court  about 
500  feet  long  by  220  feet  wide,  beyond  which  there  is  another  deep 
ditch  and  high  mound.  On  the  north  side  this  platform  is  protected  by 
perpendicular  rocks  and  the  sea,  and  on  the  south  side  by  a  rocky  ravine, 
through  which  a  small  burn  discharges  into  the  sea. 

Still  further  westwards,  by  about  200  feet,  there  is  another  mound 
and  ditch  running  from  the  rocks  on  the  north  to  near  the  ravine  on  the 
south,  when  its  turns  eastwards,  and  runs  parallel  to  the  burn  till  it  joins 
the  first  enclosure. 

The  entrance  road  to  the  castle  lay  between  the  last  mound  and  the 
burn,  and  was  thus  carried  round,  and  commanded  by  a  considerable  part 
of  the  outworks  before  it  reached  the  gateway  at  the  south  end  of  the 
outer  court.  The  entrance  to  the  castle  itself  (Fig.  377)  was  by  a  draw- 
bridge over  the  ditch,  and  a  lofty  gateway,  10  feet  wide,  with  pointed 
arch  and  good  mouldings  (Fig.  378).  The  groove  for  the  portcullis  may 
be  seen  in  the  centre  of  the  archway.  Although  not  so  ornate  as  the  gate- 
way of  St.  Andre  (Fig.  28),  still  this  archway  of  Tantallon  was  similar  in 
style,  and  must  have  had  a  correspondingly  grand  and  imposing  effect. 
There  was  a  guard-room  on  the  south  side  of  the  vaulted  passage,  and  a 
straight  stair  in  the  north  wall  leading  to  the  rooms  above  and  to  the 
battlements.  Unfortunately  the  interior  of  the  keep  is  now  so  entirely 
demolished  that  its  arrangements  cannot  be  made  out. 

The  curtain  walls  running  north  and  south  from  the  entrance  fall 
backwards  at  an  angle  from  the  central  keep,  part  of  which  is  projected 
so  as  to  flank  the  curtains.  These  are  also  strengthened  by  large  towers 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    430    — 


TANTALLON  CASTLE 


at  the  northern  and  southern  extremities,,  where  the  building  touches 
the  perpendicular  rocks.     The  curtains  were  perforated  with  staircases 


PIG.  375.— Tantallon  Castle.    Plan  of  Site. 


and  passages  communicating  between  the  keep  and  the  north  and  south 
towers,  but,  as  afterwards  to  be  explained,  these  are  now  built  up. 


TANTALLON  CASTLE 


—    431    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    432     — 


TANTALLON  CASTLE 


The  hall  and  other  apartments,  which  are  of  more  recent  construc- 
tion, were  situated  along  the  north  side  of  the  enceinte,  with  vaulted 


cellars  below  and  bedrooms  above.  The  hall  was  roofed  with  strongly 
framed  timbers,  the  design  of  which  may  be  traced  in  the  recesses 
formed  for  the  principal  rafter  next  the  west  wall  (Fig.  379)-  But  it 


TANTALLON  CASTLE 


—    433 


THIRD  PERIOD 


does  not  seem  to  have  been  an  open  timber  roof,  as  there  are  windows 
in  the  side  wall  which  appear  to  have  belonged  to  small  rooms  in  the 
roof.  There  were  also  numerous  rooms  in  the  angle  towers. 

The  buildings  were  probably 
continued  all  round  the  quadrangle. 
There  are  distinct  tracers  of  them 
on  the  south  side,  but  those  on  the 
east  or  seaward  side  have  been 
undermined  by  the  waves,  and 
are  now  washed  away. 

There  is  a  historical  event  con- 
nected with  Tantallon  which  is  very 
interesting  in  relation  to  its  archi- 
tecture and  defences.  In  the  year 
1528  the  castle  belonged  to  the  Earl 
of  Angus.  James  v.,  who  hated  the 
Douglases,  by  whom  he  had  so  long 
been  held  in  subjection  as  a  youth, 
laid  siege  to  Tantallon  with  all  the 
artillery  he  could  command,  but  he 
found  it  useless  against  the  great 
strength  of  the  walls.  The  castle 
was  however  soon  afterwards 
yielded  up  by  its  commandant  to 
the  King,  who  immediately  enlarged 
and  fortified  it.  Lindsay  of  Pit- 
scottie  relates  that  "  the  King  gart 
garnish  it  with  men  of  war  and  artillery,  and  put  in  a  new  captain, 
to  wit,  Oliver  Sinclair,  and  caused  masons  to  come  and  ranforce  the 
walls,  which  were  left  waste  before  as  trances  or  through  passages, 
and  made  all  massey  work,  to  the  effect  that  it  should  be  more 
able  in  time  coming  to  any  enemies  that  would  come  to  pursue  it." 
This  work  of  James  y.  is  very  visible  to  the  present  day.  His  object 
has  been  to  make  the  walls  as  solid  as  possible,  by  building  up  all 
the  passages  and  apertures  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  so  as  to 
prevent  them  from  being  breached  by  cannon.  Thus  the  entrance 
tower  (Figs.  376  and  377)  has  the  fine  ancient  gateway  blocked  up  with  a 
wall  in  front  of  it,  with  only  a  small  door  and  narrow  passage  left,  while 
embrasures  for  guns  are  formed  at  each  side  to  sweep  the  ditch  and 
protect  the  curtains.  Similar  embrasures  have  been  inserted  in  the 
north  and  south  towers.  The  west  front  of  the  central  tower  has  been 
entirely  cased  with  new  masonry.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  distinguishing 
the  new  work  from  the  old,  as  the  latter  is  of  a  fine  hard-grained  free- 
stone, while  the  newer  work  is  of  a  softer  greenish  tufa,  which  was  pro- 

2  E 


FIG.  378. — Tantallon  Castle.    Entrance  Gateway. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  434  — 


TANTALLON  CASTLE 


t&ESORK 


I  I 


DIRLETON  CASTLE  4-35    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

bably  used  as  being  better  suited  for  resisting  cannon  balls,  and  less 
liable  to  splinter. 

The  outworks  at  Tantallon  are  also  of  great  interest  in  connection 
with  the  above  siege  and  the  use  of  artillery.  Although  cannons  were 
used  by  James  u.  at  the  siege  of  Threave  Castle,  where  Mons  Meg  was 
employed,  and  at  the  siege  of  Roxburgh  Castle,  where  James  was  killed 
by  the  bursting  of  a  cannon,  still  we  have  few  traces  of  guns  being 
used  for  purposes  of  siege  till  the  instance  above  quoted  at  Tantallon 
in  1528. 

The  means  there  adopted  to  resist  the  siege  operations  are  still 
distinctly  traceable  (Fig.  375).  As  above  mentioned,  the  outer  court, 
beyond  the  great  curtain  and  ditch,  was  defended  by  a  deep  ditch  and 
high  mound  extending  across  the  full  width  of  the  peninsula  in  front  of 
the  castle.  The  mound  was  faced  with  stone,  so  as  to  present  a  perpen- 
dicular wall  to  the  outside.  Most  of  this  wall  has  fallen  and  disappeared, 
but  some  parts  still  remain,  together  with  the  gateway  and  gatehouse  at 
the  south  end.  At  the  time  of  James  v.'s  alterations  the  latter  has  been 
provided  with  embrasures  for  guns  (Fig.  376)  to  flank  the  gate  and 
sweep  the  ditch  and  the  roadway,  and  there  are  traces  of  older  works  in 
this  locality  which  these  have  superseded.  The  ditch  itself  has  been 
provided  with  traverses  to  protect  it  from  being  enfiladed  from  the 
ground  on  the  north  or  south ;  while  in  the  outer  court  to  the  west, 
earthworks  in  the  form  of  a  modern  ravelin  have  been  thrown  up,  and 
are  still  preserved. 

In  1639  Tantallon  was  taken  and  destroyed  by  the  Covenanters.  It 
is  now  the  property  of  Sir  Hew  Dalrymple,  Bart. 


DIRLETON  CASTLE,  HADDINGTONSHIRE. 

Dirleton  Castle  is  a  fine  example  of  a  thirteenth-century  building 
restored  in  the  fifteenth  century.  The  earlier  portions  of  this  castle 
have  already  been  described  (pp.  114-116).  As  then  pointed  out,  some 
fragments  of  the  original  buildings  remain,  and  have  been  incorporated  in 
the  new  work,  and  probably  the  remainder  is  erected  on  the  old  founda- 
tions. The  entrance  gateway  and  moat  are  well  preserved,  and  give  a 
good  idea  of  that  kind  of  defence  (Fig.  380).  The  moat  has  been  at 
least  50  feet  wide,  and  to  enable  this  to  be  spanned,  four  piers  are  built 
to  carry  a  wooden  bridge,  which  no  doubt  was  moveable  (Fig.  381). 
Between  the  nearest  piers  and  the  building  there  is  an  aperture  of 
1 1  feet,  which  was  spanned  by  a  drawbridge,  and  the  sill  of  the  door- 
way under  the  drawbridge  slopes  so  steeply  that  no  one  could  stand  on 
it  when  the  drawbridge  was  raised.  The  ingoing  of  the  gateway  is 
further  defended  with  gates  and  portcullis  (see  Fig.  89,  page  114),  and 


THIRD  PERIOD  -    43t>    -  DIRLETON  CASTLE 

there  are  machicolations  in  the  walls  above,  and  an  aperture  in  the  floor 


of  the  ])ortcullis-ro:)m  (Figs.  381  and  382),  from  which  assailants  may  be 


DIRLETON  CASTLE 


—    437    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


attacked.  On  the  east  side  there  is  a  great  range  of  buildings,  with  an 
enormously  thick  outer  wall  (Fig.  382).  Part  of  the  basement  floor  is 
hollowed  out  of  the  solid  rock,  and  the  great  and  irregular  thickness  of 
the  east  wall  may  have  been  caused  by  some  inequality  in  the  foundations. 
The  basement  is  lofty  and  vaulted  (section,  Fig.  383),  and  contains  the 
bakery,  with  ovens  and  draw-well  and  large  vaulted  cellars.  Above  the 


FIG.  381. — Dirleton  Castle.    Section. 

bakery  is  the  kitchen,  which  is  very  lofty  (Fig.  383),  and  is  vaulted,  with 
a  ventilation  opening  formed  in  the  roof.  It  has  two  great  fireplaces, 
and  a  service  room  leading  to  the  hall.  The  hall  has  been  72  feet  long 
by  25  feet  wide,  and  had  probably  an  open  timber  roof.  The  screens, 
with  minstrels'  gallery,  would  be  at  the  south  end,  and  the  dais,  with 
fireplace,  at  the  north  end.  At  the  screens  there  is  a  stair  leading  down 
to  a  hatch  in  the  vault  of  the  bakery,  by  which  the  viands  could  be 
sent  up,  and  there  is  a  small  pantry  next  the  hall,  where  they  could  be 
kept.  There  is  also  a  handsome  stone  seat  in  the  screens,  with  a  carved 
canopy. 

At  the  north  end  are  the  apartments  of  the  lord,  having  a  stair  com- 
municating with  the  hall  and  the  cellars  on  one  side,  and  on  the  other 
side  a  private  outer  door  and  a  stair  down  to  the  prison  or  guard-room 
(shown  on  Fig.  383,  and  also  on  Fig.  89,  p.  114),  beneath  which,  for  the 
more  dangerous  culprits,  there  is  a  dungeon  entered  from  a  hatch  in  the 
floor.  In  the  lord's  room  there  is  an  ambry,  which  has  had  some  good 
carving  round  it,  but  it  has  been  sadly  destroyed.  The  private  room  has 
also  a  window  overlooking  the  cellar,  from  which  orders  and  instructions 
might  be  given.  The  same  kind  of  window  communicating  with  the  cellar 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  438 


DIRLETON  CASTLE 


occurs  at  Linlithgow.  This  part  of  the  building  was  probably  carried 
higher,  and  contained  the  family  bedrooms.  There  has  also  been  a  wing 
along  the  north  side  of  the  court,  which  may  have  contained  additional 
family  accommodation.  At  a  later  date  (sixteenth  century)  another  hall 
has  been  built  in  connection  with  the  old  towers  at  the  south-west  corner 


(the  elevation  of  which  towards  the  courtyard  is  shown  in  Fig.  381),  with 
a  separate  staircase  leading  to  bedrooms  on  the  upper  floor.  These 
belong  to  the  period  when  private  dining-rooms  and  reception-rooms 
were  introduced,  and  the  common  hall  to  a  great  extent  disused. 


SPYNIE  CASTLE 


—  439  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


This  block  contains  an  archway  leading  to  a  small  courtyard  between 
the  new  buildings  and  the  ancient  towers  at  the  south-west  angle.  Walls 
enclosing  an  outer  courtyard  have  been  erected, 
probably  in  the  seventeenth  century.  A  circu- 
lar arched  gateway  and  a  fine  circular  dovecot, 
with  some  fragments  of  the  walls,  are  still 
preserved  on  the  north-east  side.  These  are 
not  shown  on  the  plan,  being  at  a  consider- 
able distance  away.  They  are  late  erections, 


PIG.  383.—  Dirleton  Castle.    Section  through  Kitchen. 


probably  of  the  seventeenth  century  or  end  of  the  sixteenth.-    Dirleton 
has  been  a  ruin  since  it  was  battered  by  Monck'in  1650. 


SPYNIE  PALACE,  MORAYSHIRE. 

This  has  been  one  of  the  finest  of  our  fifteenth-century  castles. 
Spynie  was  the  original  seat  of  the  Cathedral  of  Moray,  but  it  was 
removed  to  Elgin  as  a  more  suitable  situation  by  a  Bull  of  the  Pope  in 
1224.  The  chief  palace  of  the  Bishops  of  Moray,  however,  remained  at 
Spynie,  which  is  about  2j  miles  north  from  Elgin. 

The  present  building  consists  of  a  large  strong  keep,  with  other 
buildings  surrounding  an  extensive  courtyard.  Such  keeps  were 
frequently  erected  in  connection  with  monasteries  and  other  ecclesi- 
astical foundations,  as  a  place  of  security  for  the  occupants  and  their 
treasures  in  troublous  times.  The  palace  is  situated  on  a  rising  ground 
which  was  formerly  close  to  the  loch  of  Spynie,  but  the  loch  has  now 
almost  entirely  disappeared,  the  water  having  been  drained  away. 

The  keep  (Fig.  384)  is  placed  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  palace. 
It  is  62  feet  5  inches  from  north  to  south,  and  44  feet  3  inches  from 
east  to  west.  The  walls  are  10  feet  6  inches  thick,  and  the  height  of  the 
corbels  which  carried  the  battlements  is  70  feet. 

The  tower  contained  six  stories  (section,  Fig.  385),  the  basement  and 
the  top  story  but  one  being  vaulted,  and  the  intermediate  floors  of  wood. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    440    — 


SPVNIE  CASTLE 


Iii  the  thickness  of  the  eastern  wall  there  was  a  series  of  five  vaulted 
chambers,  6  feet  8  inches  wide,  placed  over  one  another,  one  on  each 
floor,  but  these  have  now  disappeared.  Although  the  exterior  walls  are 
well  preserved,  the  interior  building,  including  these  vaulted  chambers, 
is  entirely  demolished.  The  basement  floor,  however,  is  in  fair  preserva- 
tion. There  are  two  entrances  on  this  level,  one  inside  the  western 


FIG.  384.— Spynie  Castle.    Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

wall  of  enceinte  giving  access  to  the  basement,  and  the  other  outside 
the  wall,  and  leading  by  a  stair  to  the  hall  on  the  first  floor.  The  latter 
would  thus  serve  as  a  means  of  escape  in  case  of  need,  or  as  a  passage 
for  private  ingress  or  egress.  The  basement  is  divided  into  two  com- 
partments, with  a  separate  passage  conducting  to  each,  the  south  one 
being  evidently  the  wine-cellar,  as  it  is  provided  with  a  hatch  at  the 


SPYNIE  CASTLE 


—  441   — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


south-east  corner  for  hoisting  up  supplies  to  one  of  the  small  chambers 
adjoining  the  hall.  This  cellar  has  also  been  u  sed  for  purposes  of 
defence,  being  provided  with  two  port-holes  for  guns,  one  to  the  south 
and  the  other  to  the  west.  The  form  of  these  port-holes  is  remarkable. 
They  are  of  the  shape  first  adopted  on  the  intro- 
duction of  artillery,  having  an  enormous  splay  to 
the  exterior.  The  external  aperture  of  these  em- 
brasures (Fig.  386)  is  fully  6  feet  wide  and  2  feet 
6  inches  high. 

The  other  compartment  of  the  ground  floor  is 
circular,  17  feet  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  is  some 
steps  down  from  the  entrance  door.  It  has  only  one 
very  small  and  narrow  opening  for  air,  carried  dia- 
gonally through  the  wall,  probably  for  the  purpose 
of  making  communication  between  the  exterior  and 
interior  as  difficult  as  possible,  as  well  as  to  throw 
the  faint  gleam  of  light  which  enters  by  it  on  the 
entrance  door.  From  the  general  features  of  its 
construction  this  cellar  would 
seem  to  have  been  the  prison. 

The  principal  entrance  to 
the  keep  is  on  the  first  floor 
(Fig.  385),  close  to  the  wall  of 
enceinte,  with  which  it  was  no 
doubt  connected  by  a  draw- 
bridge. Adjoining  it  on  the 
north  is  a  newel  stair  in  the 
thickness  of  the  wall,  leading 
to  the  upper  floors  and  the  roof. 
The  steps  are  4  feet  6  inches 
long.  This  stair  also  gives 
access  to  an  entresol  in  the 
north  wall,  containing  a  guard- 
room, from  which  there  is  a 
door  to  the  battlements  of  the 
west  wall  of  enceinte  (see  Plan 
of  Entresol,  Fig.  385). 

The  hall,  which  is  42  feet  by  22  feet  6  inches,  occupies  the  whole  of 
the  first  floor,  except  the  wall  chambers  in  the  east  wall  already  men- 
tioned. The  chamber  at  the  south  end,  with  the  hatch  to  the  cellar,  was 
probably  the  private  room.  The  other  small  apartments  on  the  various 
floors  on  this  side  were  no  doubt  bedrooms.  Their  width  (6  feet  6  inches) 
is  just  sufficient  for  a  bed.  There  are  remains  of  two  flues,  which  were 
probably  those  of  garde-robes,  connected  with  these  apartments. 


FIG.  385.— Spynie  Castle.     Section  and  Plan  of 
First  Floor  of  Keep. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


SPYNIE  CASTLE 


SPYNIE  CASTLE  443    THIRD  PERIOD 

The  windows  of  the  hall  are  large,  and  have  stone  seats  in  their  deep 
bays. 

The  keep  is  so  placed  as  to  form  a  main  defence  on  the  landward 
side,  from  which  attack  would  be  chiefly  apprehended,  and  it  is  pro- 
jected in  such  a  manner  beyond  the  enceinte  as  to  protect  it  both  on 
the  east  and  north. 

The  elevation  (Fig.  386)  is  very  simple  and  plain.  The  bold  double- 
splayed  base  is  an  unusual  feature,  while  the  large  triple  corbels  at  the 
parapet  are  of  the  style  frequently  adopted  at  that  period,  as  at  Dun- 
notter,  Clackmannan,  etc. 

On  the  south  front  there  are  three  panels  for  coats-of-arms.  The 
upper  one,  which  probably  contained  the  Royal  arms,  is  empty,  and  the 
two  lower  ones  contain  the  arms  of  Bishops  David  Stewart  and  Patrick 
Hepburn. 

The  keep  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  Bishop  David  Stewart,  who  died 
in  1475.  The  Earl  of  Huntly  had  threatened  to  "pull  him  out  of  his 
pigeon-holes,"  and  the  Bishop  replied  that  he  would  build  a  house  out 
of  which  the  Earl  and  his  whole  clan  should  not  be  able  to  pull  him. 
If  this  is  a  true  tale,  the  keep  may  thus  have  been  erected  at  a  later 
date  than  some  other  portions  of  the  palace.  Indeed,  we  shall  find 
immediately  that  this  probably  was  so.  But  it  should  be  observed  that 
the  keep  corresponds  in  style  with  the  south-east  tower,  and  it  is 
possible  that  Bishop  Stewart,  when  he  built  the  keep,  also  added  the 
towers  at  the  angles  of  the  enceinte. 

The  quadrangle  has  been  of  considerable  extent,  and  the  buildings 
appear  to  have  been  of  an  unusually  fine  character,  but  unfortunately 
only  portions  of  the  wall  of  enceinte  and  a  few  fragments  attached  to  it 
now  remain. 

We  have  seen  that  the  keep  occupies  the  south-west  corner.  The 
other  three  corners  were  also  each  defended  by  a  smaller  tower.  One 
wall  of  that  at  the  south-east  angle  still  survives  (Fig.  386).  This  tower 
has  the  same  immense  port-holes  for  guns,  and  the  same  style  of  corbels 
at  the  parapet,  as  the  keep,  and  is  undoubtedly  of  about  the  same  period. 
The  north-east  tower  is  almost  entirely  demolished,  and  of  the  north- 
west tower  only  about  one-half  remains. 

Fortunately  a  very  fine  and  quite  unique  feature  in  this  palace  is  still 
in  fair  preservation,  viz.,  the  gateway  in  the  eastern  wall  (Fig.  387).  It 
is  of  fine  design,  and  of  a  style  most  unusual  in  Scotland.  It  bears  the 
arms  and  initials  of  Bishop  John  Innes,  who  was  consecrated  in  1406, 
and  may  thus  be  older  than  the  keep.  Itjvvas  defended  by  a  portcullis, 
and  a  small  stair  led  to  battlements,  from  which  the  portcullis  was 
worked.  The  mouldings  and  design  generally  have  more  affinity  with 
the  architecture  of  England  or  France  than  of  Scotland.  It  is  natural 
to  expect  that  a  Bishop's  palace  should  partake  to  some  extent  of  the 


THIRD  PERIOD 


444    


SPYNIE  CASTLE 


superior  architecture  of  ecclesiastical  buildings,  and  there  are  other 
indications  in  the  ruins  that  Spynie  did  so.  Thus  in  the  south  wall  of 
enceinte  there  are  the  remains  of  arches  (Fig.  384),  which  seem  to  have 
contained  large  traceried  windows,  said,  with  probability,  to  have  been 
the  windows  of  the  chapel.  •  These  have  been  built  up  at  a  later  time, 
and  smaller,  but  still  church-like  windows  substituted  for  them. 


FIG.  387. — Spynie  Castle.    Gateway  to  Courtyard. 

As  the  Cathedral  was  rebuilt  (after  its  destruction  by  the  Wolf  of 
Badenoch  in  1390)  during  the  episcopate  of  Bishop  John  Innes,  he  would 
not  want  for  architectural  assistance  in  the  erection  of  his  palace,  and  we 
may  safely  attribute  the  superior  and  unusual  style  of  the  palace  to  the 
presence  of  architects  from  a  distance,  who  were  engaged  in  the  rebuild- 
ing of  the  Cathedral. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE  -    445    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

There  has  been  a  large  range  of  buildings  for  residential  purposes 
along  the  northern  wall  of  enceinte.  These  probably  contained  the  hall 
and  reception-rooms,  which,  in  addition  to  the  keep,  were  commonly 
erected  in  the  courtyard  of  the  castles  of  the  nobles  in  the  fifteenth 
century.  But  these,  as  well  as  the  buildings  which  ran  along  the  east 
and  west  walls  of  the  courtyard,  are  now  so  completely  destroyed  that 
their  bare  outline  can  scarcely  be  traced. 

In  1590  King  James  vr.  created  the  Church  lands  into  a  temporal 
barony,  and  bestowed  them  on  Alexander  Lindsay,  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Crawford,  with  the  title  of  Lord  Spynie. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE. 

As  might  be  inferred  from  the  natural  strength  of  its  situation,  the 
^  Castle  of  Edinburgh  is  of  very  ancient  date.  Its  name  is  attributed  to 
Edwin,  the  Northumbrian  king,  who  is  said  to  have  rebuilt  the  Castle  in 
the  year  626.  The  name  of  the  "  Maiden  Castle,"  or,  in  its  Latinised 
form,  "  Castrum  Puellarum,"  has  also  been  frequently  applied  to  the 
Castle.  This  name  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  reference  to  a  nunnery 
which  is  believed  to  have  existed  within  the  walls  at  an  early  period  ; 
but  Dr.  Robert  Chambers  thinks  that  it  is  of  Celtic  origin,  the  word 
"  Maiden  "  being  of  frequent  use^  as  applied  to  fortifications,  and  is  pro- 
bably a  corruption  of  Mai  Dun,  signifying  "  a  fort  commanding  a  wide 
plain  or  district." 

Edinburgh  Castle  was  used  as  a^fortress  by  the  Scottish  kings  from    ,,   ^ 
an  early  period.  ^  It  was  occupied  by  Malcolm  Canmore,  and  at  his  death 
was  besieged  byTDonald  Bane  in  1093,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  posses- 
sion of  Malcolm's  son,  the  young  King  Edgar. 


Queen  Margaret  died  in  the  Castle  the  same  year.  Her  body  was 
conveyed  to  Dunfermline,  and  Edgar  made  his  escape  by  the  postern, 
which  was  no  doubt  situated  at  the  west  side,  somewhat  in  the  position 
of  the  more  recent  postern  now  built  up,  but  still  distinctly  visible  in  the 
wall.  In  1107  occurs  the  first  notice  of  the  tower  as  a  royal  habitation,  y 
under  Alexander  i.,  and  in  the  reign  of  David  i.  the  Castle  is  for  the  first 
time  designated  a  royal  residence.  Under  his  successors,  William  the 
Lion,  Alexander  n.,  and  Alexander  in.,  it  became  the  principal  resi- 
dence of  the  King,  and  the  depository  of  the  national  records  and  the 
regalia.  The  Castle  was  besieged  and  taken  by  Edward  i.  in  1291,  and 
was  frequently  taken  and  retaken  during  the  War  of  Independence. 

What  the  appearance  of  the  Castle  was  in  those  early  times  we  have 
no  means  of  knowing,  as  it  was  entirely  demolished  by  Bruce]  in  pursu- 
ance of  his  usual  policy  of  leaving  no  place  of  strength  standing  which 

.i^U^ 

/ 

.        A)  ' 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    446    — 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


could  form  a  point  of  support  to  the  enemy.  This  was  undoubtedly  its 
condition  in  1333,  when  Guy,  Count  of  Namur,  an  ally  of  Edward  Baliol, 
was  driven  by  Randolph  to  the  Castle  rock,  and  had  to  surrender,  as  the 
Castle  was  so  entirely  dismantled  as  to  be  indefensible. 

The  only  building  of  the  early  period  which  appears  to  have  escaped 
is  the  small  chapel  in  the  Norman  style,  called  St.  Margaret's  Chapel, 
which  was  probably  founded  by  David  i.,  the  great  church  builder,  in. 
memory  of  the  sainted  Queen — at  least  its  style  is  that  of  the  first  half 
of  the  twelfth  century.1 

In  primitive  times  the  Castle  would  110  doubt  consist  of  an  enceinte 
or  enclosure  of  mingled  turf  and  rocks,  taking  in  the  highest  and  most 
defensible  part  of  the  rock,  and  would  contain  some  wooden  huts  for  the 


FIG.  388.— Edinburgh  Castle.     General  Plan  (from  the  Ordnance  Survey). 

accommodation  of  the  garrison.  This  enceinte  would  in  course  of  time 
be  superseded  by  a  stone-and-lime  wall,  with  towers  at  intervals  after 
the  manner  of  mediaeval  fortresses.  There  was  also  probably,  as  usual, 
a  keep  or  tower,  larger  and  stronger  than  the  others,  serving  as  the 
residence  of  the  commander,,  and  as  the  last  refuge  of  the  garrison  in 
case  of  siege. 

1  Mr.  Blanc,  who  has  made  a  very  careful  examination  of  this  building,  with  a  view  to  its 
restoration,  is  of  opinion,  judging  from  the  crudeness  of  the  details  and  manner  of  execution, 
that  it  was  probably  built  during  Queen  Margaret's  lifetime,  i.e.  before  1093. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


447 


THIRD   PERIOD 


From  the  natural  configuration  of  the  site  the  general  disposition  of"V*jOx 
the  various  parts  must  at  all  times  have  been  much  the  same. 

The  entrance  would  always  be  by  the  same  narrow  pass  by  which  the       (X  r  V 
Castle  is  now  approached  (Fig.  388).     This  would  lead  to  the  outer  or  \ 
lower  court  (where  the  Governor's  house,  the  barracks,  armoury,  etc., 
are  now  situated),  while  the  inner  court  would  occupy  the  highest  point 
(where  the  Palace  yard  now  is),  the  only  access  to  which  seems  to  have 
been  by  a  flight  of  steps  in  the  face  of  the  rock. 

The  Castle  was  rebuilt  by  Edward  in.  in  1344,  as  one  of  a  chain  of 
fortresses  to  hold  the  south  of  Scotland  in  subjection.  It  is  most 
probable  that  the  buildings  would  then  be  erected  on  the  same  plan  and 
in  the  same  style  as  the  numerous  fortresses  erected  by  the  Edwards  in 
Wales,  viz.,  a  great  enclosing  wall  with  towers  at  intervals.  There  would 
be  comparatively  slight  erections  within  the  enceinte  for  the  garrison, 


FIG.  389.—  Edinburgh  Castle. 


From  a  Drawing  by  T.  Sandby  about  1750,  in  Maitland's 
EdijibwrgU. 

• 


and  no  large  building  for  a  residence.  When  David  u.  returned  from  his 
captivity  he  made  the  Castle  his  chief  abode.  He  added  greatly  to  the 
fortifications,  and  built  a  large  keep,  called  David's  Tower,  which  occupied 
a  position  above  where  the  Half-moon  Battery  now  stands,  and  which 
remained  till  the  siege  by  Drury  in  1573.  In  1368  and  1371  there  are 
various  entries  in  the  Exchequer  Rolls  of  payments  for  the  building  of 
the  new  towers  ("  ad  fabricam  nove  turris  de  Edynburgh  et  ad  emen- 
dum  bordas  ad  eandem  "),  also  for  the  construction  of  a  sink,  vat,  and 
basin.  In  137.9  the  kennels  were  erected  for  the  King's  dogs;  in  1382 
a  kitchen  was  built  near  the  great  tower  "  et  aliis  domibus  necessariis  ad 
modum  vaute  factis."  David's  Tower  was  evidently  at  that  time  the 
keep  or  chief  building  in  the  Castle.  It  was  60  feet  in  height,  and  con- 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


448  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


tained  a  lord's  hall  and  a  new  court  kitchen,  besides  chambers  and  lofts. 
At  one  time  there  were  thirty  culverins  mounted  on  the  battlements, 
but  these  were  removed  in  1540,  and  in  1562  a  piece  of  ordnance,  styled 
a  "  Moyane  "  was  hoisted  to  the  top  of  the  tower. 

In  1385  the  town  of  Edinburgh  was  burned  by  the  Duke  of  Lan- 
caster, but  the  Castle  repelled  his  siege.  It  was  probably  in  conse- 
quence of  the  risk  they  ran  from  similar  conflagrations  that,  under 
Robert  u.,  the  townspeople  were  allowed  to  build  houses  for  security 
within  the  Castle  walls,  which  must  therefore  have  been  of  considerable 
extent. 

With  the  accession  of  the  Stewarts  to  the  throne,  Edinburgh  became 
the  chief  burgh  of  the  kingdom.  The  Jameses  resided  chiefly  here,  and 
it  would  appear  that  they  considerably  extended  the  accommodation  by 
building  a  hall  and  Royal  apartments  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the 
Castle  rock.  This  building  is  well  seen  from  the  Esplanade,  whence 
also  may  be  observed  the  corbels  which  mark  the  former  height  of  its 
parapet  at  the  floor  line  of  the  top  story,  which  is  evidently  a  late 
addition  (Fig.  389). 


FIG.  390. — Edinburgh  Castle.    Restoration  by  Dr.  Robert  Chambers. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Scottish  nobles  began  to  find  the 
accommodation  of  their  keeps  or  donjons  too  restricted,  and  when  they 
commenced  to  build  halls  and  more  commodious  residences  within  the 


EDINBURGH   CASTLE 


—    449    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


enceintes  of  their  castles.  We  know  that  this  course  was  pursued  by 
the  Jameses  at  their  other  castles,  such  as  Stirling  and  Linlithgow,  and 
the  same  plan  seems  to  have  been  followed  here.  From  the  Exchequer 
Accounts  for  1433, 1434,  etc.,  we  find  that  considerable  sums  were  expended 
for  the  construction  of  a  "  magna  camera,"  or  great  hall,  for  the  King. 
In  1438  lead  for  the  roof  of  the  King's  great  chamber  is  brought  from 
Berwick  to  Leith,  and  in  1458  there  are  payments  for  repairing  the  hall 
of  the  Castle,  and  providing  linen  cloth  for  the  windows  and  other 
decorations,  in  preparation  for  the  meeting  of  Parliament.  The  hall 

referred  to  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  Palace  yard. 

James  11.  when  a  boy  resided   in  the   Castle,  in  the  custody  of  the 
Chancellor,  Crichton,  when  the  well-known  incident  of  the  entertainment 

of  Lord  Douglas  and  his  brother  before  their  slaughter  is  said  to  have 

taken  place  in  this  hall  in  the  year  1440. 

In  consequence  of  that  event  Crichton  was  besieged  in  the  Castle  for 

nine  months,  but  held  out  successfully. 

Considerable  additions  were  made  to  these  Royal  apartments  at  various 

times,  especially  during  the  reigns  of  Queen  Mary  and  James  vi.,  some 

of  which  still  remain,  and  will  be  afterwards  referred  to ;  but  in  Mary's 

time  the  Castle  also  sustained  immense  injury,  and  almost  all  traces  of 

its  earlier  form  were  at  that  time  obliterated. 

In  1572  the  Castle  was  held  for  Mary  against  her  son's  Government 

by  Sir  William  Kirkcaldy  of  Grange.     The   drawing  (Fig.  390)  of  the 

east  part  of  the   Castle,   restored  by   Dr.  R.    Chambers  as  before  1573, 

shows  his  idea  of  the  appearance  which  the  east  front  of  the  Castle  then 

presented.     On  the  left  (or  south)  stands  the  Palace  (part  of  which  still 

remains),   then  comes  David's 

Tower  and   the    high    curtain 

wall,     with     the     Constable's 

Tower  at  the  north  end,  and  a 

smaller  tower   in   the   centre. 

The  Constable's  Tower  was  50 

feet  high,  and  was  approached 

by   a  flight  of  steps,  forming 

the  only  access  to  the  upper 

platform  of  the  rock,  and  was 

provided     with     a    portcullis. 

This  drawing  shows,  no  doubt, 

in  a  general  way,  the  positions 

of  these  various  buildings,  but 

the  restorations  are  to  a  large  extent  imaginary,  and  it  must  not  be  sup- 
posed that  they  give  a  reliable  representation  of  the  demolished  towers. 
Fig.  391  also  shows  the  Castle  as  it  existed  before  the  siege  of  1573, 

while  the  drawing  (Fig.  392)  is  traced  from  a  facsimile,  published  by  the 

2  F 


FIG.  391.— Edinburgh  Castle.    From  Wilson's 
Memorials  of  Edinburgh. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


450    — 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


Bannatyne  Club,  of  a  plan   of  the  siege   of   1573,  which    accompanied 
a  report   prepared    at   the    time  by   command   of  Sir   William    Drury. 


*bM» 
SO 


FIG.  392.— Edinburgh  Castle.    Siege  by  Sir  William  Drury. 

The  following  is  the  description  of  the  Castle  contained  in  that  report, 
which  is  entitled 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE  451     -  THIRD  PERIOD 

"  A  Survey  taken  of  the  Castle  and  Towne  of  Edinbrogh  in  Scotland 
by  us  Rowland  Johnson  and  John  Fleminge  servantes  to  the 
Q.  Matie  by  the  Comandement  of  Sir  William  Drury,  knighte, 
Govemor  of  Berwicke  and  Mr  Henry  Killigrave  Her  Maties 
Embassadors  as  followethe  [27  January  1572-3]  : 

"  Furste,  We  fynde  the  Castle  standinge  upon  a  natural  mayn  rocke 
on  greate  hightes  like  vjc  foote  longe  and  iiij  hunderethe  foote  brode. 

"  On  the  fore  parte  estwarde,  next  the  towne  stands  lyke  iiijxx  foote 
of  the  waule,  and  next  unto  the  same  stands  Davyes  Towre  and  from  it  a 
courten  with  vj  cannons  or  such  lyke  peaces  in  loopes  of  stone  lookinge 
in  the  Streatwarde ;  and  behynd  the  same  standes  another  teare  of 
ordinance  lyke  xvj  foote  clym  above  the  other,  and  at  the  Northe  side 
stands  the  Constables  Towre  and  in  the  bottom  of  the  same  is  the  way 

into  the  Castle  with  steppes. 

"  Also  we  fynd  upon  the  said  este  syde  a  Spurre  lyke  a  bulwarke  stand- 
ing befor  the  foot  of  the  rocke  that  the  said  courten  stands  on,  which 
spurre  incloseth  that  syde  flanked  out  on  both  sydes ;  and  on  the  Southe 
syde  is  the  Gaite  where  they  enter  into  the  Castle,  which  spur  is  like 
xx  foote  hye,  vamyred  with  turfe  and  baskets  set  up  and  furnished  with 
Ordinance. 

"  The  lowest  parte  on  this  syde  of  this  courten  waule  is  xxiiij  foote 
hye  and  the  rocke  under  the  foute  of  the  waule  where  it  is  lowest  is 
xxx  foote.  Davyes  Towre  is  about  Ix  foote  hye,  the  Constables  Towre 
is  lyke  1  foote.  We  fynd  that  there  is  no  myndinge  can  prevaile  in  this 
rocke  but  only  battery  with  ordinance  to  beat  downe  the  waules  and  so 
to  make  the  clyme." 

From  this  description,  and  the  contemporary  drawing,  it  is  possible 
to  make  out  that  the  general  position  of  the  buildings,  batteries,  etc., 
fronting  the  east  was  not  unlike  that  shown  in  Dr.  Chanibers's  restora- 
tion. The  form  of  David's  Tower  is  peculiar,  and  is  evidently  taken  from 
that  shown  in  Drury's  report ;  but  it  should  be  noticed  that  the  other 
contemporary  drawing  (Fig.  391)  shows  this  tower  as  a  plain  square  keep, 
with  flat  top,  of  the  form  universally  adopted  at  that  time  in  Scotland. 

In  1573  Elizabeth  sent  a  force  to  the  Regent's  assistance  under  Sir 
William  Drury,  who  opened  five  batteries  against  the  Castle,  and  in  nine 
days  almost  completely  demolished  the  eastern  front,  including  David's 
Tower  and  the  Constable's  Tower,  so  that  "  the  ruins  ran  like  a  sandy 
brae  "  and  choked  up  the  well,  and  so  compelled  the  garrison  to  sur- 
render. 

The  ancient  Castle  was  almost  completely  destroyed  during  this 
siege,  and  it  is  from  the  date  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  Castle  by  the 
Regent  Morton  after  the  siege  that  the  existing  modern  Castle,  whose 
appearance  is  so  familiar,  begins. 


THIRD  PERIOD  452    

We  shall  therefore  now  proceed  to  describe  the  various  buildings  as 
we  find  them,  with  reference,  where  possible,  to  those  which  preceded 
them. 

Commencing  at  the  Esplanade,  it  should  be  kept  in  mind  that  its 
present  extended  appearance  is  of  very  modern  date,  having  been  formed 
with  the  rubbish  removed  from  the  site  of  the  Royal  Exchange,  when  it 
was  built  in  1753.  Before  the  siege  of  1573  this  ground  was  at  the  level 
of  the  bottom  of  the  dry  ditch,  and  was  occupied  with  a  triangular  court 
bounded  by  a  wall  about  20  feet  high,  called  the  "  Spur,"  above  alluded 
to  in  Drury's  report  and  plan.  This  was  removed  in  1649,  being  con- 
sidered a  bad  defence,  and  requiring  too  many  men  to  hold  it. 

The  Spur  is  shown  on  Dr.  Chambers's  restoration  (Fig.  392),  and  also 
on  Gordon's  map  of  1647  (Fig.  393).  Gordon's  map  likewise  shows  the 
position  of  the  city  wall  in  connection  with  the  Castle.  The  first  wall 
was  built  in  1450.  It  commenced  at  the  Wellhouse  Tower  (the  remains 
of  which  still  exist,  see  Fig.  388)  on  the  north  side  of  the  Castle,  and 
ran  for  some  distance  along  the  south  side  of  the  Nor'  Loch,  then,  turning 
at  right  angles,  it  ran  southwards  and  crossed  the  Castle  Hill  at  the  east 
end  of  the  Esplanade,  where  there  was  a  gate,  called  the  Barrier  Gate. 
It  is  supposed  that  the  Castle  was  supplied  with  water  from  the  Well- 
house  by  ladders,  etc.,  communicating  with  a  rock-cut  stair  at  a  high 
level  leading  to  "  Wallace's  Tower  "  (which  Wilson  considers  a  corrup- 
tion of  Wellhouse  Tower),  a  fragment  of  which  may  still  be  seen,  and 
from  the  style  of  its  masonry  seems  to  be  very  old. 

There  was  also  a  sally-port  at  this  point, adjoining  the  Wellhouse  Tower. 

In  the  Rolls  for  136l  there  is  a  payment  of  £l60  for  the  construction 
of  a  well  and  "  turris  fortis."  This  was  no  doubt  the  well  at  the  Well- 
house,  and  the  "  turris  "  is  probably  the  tower  called  Wallace's  Cradle, 
or  it  may  have  been  the  original  Wellhouse  Tower. 

In  1381,  Robert  11.,  wishing  to  have  a  good  water-supply  within  the 
walls,  searched  for  and  discovered  the  ancient  well,  and  restored  it  at  a 
cost  of  £95. 

After  the  removal  of  the  Spur,  and  before  the  formation  of  the 
Esplanade,  the  Castle  was  approached  by  a  narrow  raised  roadway,  and 
a  drawbridge  at  the  gateway.  This  is  shown  on  a  drawing  (from  Mait- 
land's  History  of  Edinburgh'}  by  T.  Sandby  about  1750  (Fig.  389). 

Before  entering  the  Castle  let  us  look  at  the  Half-moon  Battery,  the 
chief  feature  erected  by  the  Regent  Morton  after  the  surrender  of  the 
Castle.  David's  Tower  is  supposed  to  have  stood  about  the  centre  of 
it,  and  the  remains  of  one  of  the  smaller  old  towers  and  part  of  the 
curtain  wall  may  be  traced  imbedded  in  the  masonry  of  the  present 
building.  This  is  also  shown  in  Sandby's  view  (Fig.  389). 

Immediately  within  the  drawbridge  there  was  formerly  a  highly 
ornamental  gateway,  which  was  removed  early  in  this  century,  being 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE  453    THIRD  PERIOD 

found  too  narrow  for  modern  vehicles.     On  the  lintel  there  was  a  basso- 


relievo  of  Mons  Meg  and  other  pieces  of  artillery,  part  of  which  is  pre- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


454    — 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


served  over  the  entrance  to  the  Ordnance    Office,  and  part  is  in  the 

Antiquarian  Museum. 

We  next  come  to  the  arched  gateway,  built  by  the   Regent  Morton, 

below  the  site  of  the  Constable's 
Tower.  This  building  is  shown  on 
Gordon's  map  and  Sandby's  view,  but 
it  had  then  a  flat  crenellated  roof  for 
artillery,  the  present  top  story  being 
a  modern  addition.  The  archway 
was  very  strongly  defended  with 
three  gates  and  two  portcullises.  The 
mouldings  quite  correspond  with 
those  of  the  period  (1574)  (Fig. 
394),  as  at  Aberdour  and  Drochil 
Castles,  both  built  by  the  Regent 
Morton.  In  the  oblong  panel  formed 
by  two  Ionic  pilasters  over  the  arch, 
there  were  originally  the  Royal  arms, 
and  in  the  entablature  alternating 
with  the  triglyphs  may  be  seen  the 
heart  and  star  of  the  Douglas.  The 
author  of  the  Historic  of  King  J canes 
the  Sixt  accuses  Morton  of  disloyalty 
in  thus  purposely  placing  his  own 
arms  above  the  Lion  of  Scotland. 
The  Royal  arms  are  said  to  have 
been  removed  by  Cromwell,  and  the 
inscription  chiselled  out  from  the 
stone  below.1 

It  is    frequently    said    that    the 
upper  room  in  this  tower  was  used 
as  a  State  prison,  and  that  both  the 
Regent  Morton's     Argylls  and  many  others  were  con- 
fined here  before  their  execution. 
On  passing  through  the  archway  a  flight  of  steps  is  seen  on  the  left, 


FIG.  394.— Edinburgh  Castle. 
Gateway. 


1  Mr.  Blanc  informs  us  that  he  has  ascertained  from  inspection  of  the  walls  that  this 
building  seems  to  be  a  part  of  the  work  executed  in  the  time  of  King  David  n.,  the  walls 
being  more  massy  than  those  of  any  other  part  of  the  Castle,  viz.,  10  and  20  feet  thick.  He 
says  :  "The  west  face  is  rough  rubble  of  early  character.  During  the  siege  of  1573  the  east 
and  north  fronts  would  be  injured,  which  would  necessitate  repairs  afterwards.  Morton 
seems  therefore  to  have  veneered  them  with  ashlar,  and  introduced  a  new  moulded  gate  front, 
with  contemporaneous  detail."  It  should  however  be  noted  that  the  archway  through  the 
tower,  with  the  portcullis  grooves,  and  the  vaulted  room  above  which  contained  the  apparatus 
for  working  the  portcullises,  are  also  of  the  Regent  Morton's  time.  The  great  thickness  of 
the  walls  of  the  gate  tower  at  Borthwick  shows  that  such  buildings,  after  the  introduction  of 
artillery,  were  usually  built  with  very  thick  walls. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


—    455    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


indicating  where  the  original  access  to  the  upper  platform  by  the  Con- 
stable's Tower  probably  was. 

Advancing  further  we  pass  on  the  right  the  Argyll  Battery,  and  see 
before  us  the  Governor's  house,  built  in  Queen  Anne's  time,  and  a 
passage  flanked  with  two  quaint  vases  leading  to  the  Armoury  and  Stores. 
These  small  plain  buildings  are  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  great  block  containing  the  soldiers'  barracks  was  built  at  the 
beginning  of  this  century.  The  position  of  these  buildings  on  the  Castle 
rock  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  plan  (Fig.  388). 

In  Gordon's  view  the  ground  occupied  by  these  buildings  is  shown 
as  entirely  open,  with  only  a  battery  of  two  guns  at  the  west,  and  other 
two  guns  at  the  south-east  corner. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  walls  of  the  enceinte  on  Gordon's  plan 
are  quite  different  in  form  from  those  of  the  views  before  the  siege 
(Figs.  391  and  3.92).  They  are  broken,  with  re-entering  angles  and 
bastion-shaped  projections  adjusted  for  mutual  defence  in  a  manner  such  as 
might  be  expected  to  be  erected  about  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

We  now  ascend  to  the  upper  platform  on  which  the  principal  parts 
of  the  Castle  have  always  stood.  Commencing  with  the  quadrangle  or 
Palace  yard,  we  find  the  oldest  portions  at  the  south-east  corner,  imme- 
diately over  the  most  precipitous  parts  of  the  rock.  These  consist  of  the 
private  apartments  of  the  Palace,  already  referred  to  as  belonging 
originally  to  the  fifteenth  century.  Dr.  Chambers  thinks  he  can  trace 
the  remains  of  an  ancient  tower  at  the  south-east  angle,  which  may  have 
been  the  primitive  palace  of  Malcolm  Canmore ;  but  as  we  have  seen 
that  the  Castle  was  entirely  dilapi- 
dated at  the  time  of  Bruce,  we  cannot 
fix  on  an  earlier  date  than  that  of 
the  Jameses  for  the  building  of  any 
part  of  this  palace. 

The   breadth  of  the  platform  of 
the   courtyard  seems   to  have  been 
widened  at  an  early  date  by  building 
extensive  vaults  to  the  southwards, 
in  some  places  two  stories  in  height, 
so   as  to  raise  the  pavement  of  the 
courtyard  to  near  the  top  of  the  wall 
of  enceinte.       Above   part   of  these 
vaults  the  great  hall,  called  also  the 
Parliament  House,  was  erected,  apparently  at  a  subsequent  date,  for  it 
should  be  noticed  that  the  hall   does  not  occupy  the  full  width  of  the 
vaults,   its  north   wall   being  partly  built  on  the  arches  of  the  vaults, 
J\   which  extend  further  northward  under  the  pavement  of  the  courtyard. 
\X01'         i  T^16  hall  *s  84>  feet  long  by  33  feet  wide,  and  seems  to  have  been 


FIG.  395.— Edinburgh  Castle.    Corbel  in 
Staircase  of  Parliament  Hall. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


456    — 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


originally  lighted  by  large  mullioned  windows  on  the  south  side,  some 
traces  of  which  still  remain  (see  Fig.  393).  There  were  probably  similar 
windows  on  the  north  side,  but  the  building  has  been  so  much  altered 
that  it  is  now  scarcely  possible  to  recall  any  of  its  original  features.  The 
gabled  crow-steps  which  still  remain  on  the  west  gable  are  evidently 
original.  The  roof  of  the  hall  is  old.  Of  the  corbels  which  supported 
the  ends  of  the  principal  rafters  only  one  (Fig.  395)  is  now  visible  in  the 
staircase,  the  others  having  been  either  destroyed  or  covered  up  by 
the  floors  which  have  been  inserted  in  order  to  convert  the  hall  into  a 
modern  hospital.  From  openings  recently  made  in  the  floors,  it  has 


EDINBURGH   CASTLE 
ROOF  OF  PARLIAMENT   HALL 


FIG.  396.—  Edinburgh  Castle.    Roof  of  Parliament  Hall. 

been  ascertained  that  some  of  the  corbels  are  still  preserved,  and  are 
similar  in  design  to  the  one  in  the  staircase.  These  corbels  are  of 
good  Renaissance  design,  and  of  a  style  very  rare  in  Scotland.  They 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


457 


THIRD  PERIOD 


and  the  gabled  crow-steps  are  almost  the  only  original  features  left  in  the 
"  building  from  which  an  idea  of  the  date  of  its  different  parts  may  be 
formed.  Judging  from  these  and  the  parapet  on  both  sides,  the  date  of 
the  roof  and  upper  part  of  the  building  can  scarcely  be  earlier  than  the 
reign  of*  James  v.  Some  good  specimens  of  similar  early  Renaissance 
work  at  Stirling  belong  to  that  date,  and  are  probably  the  work  of 
French  artists  brought  over  by  King  James.  The  hall,  as  above  pointed 
out,  was  begun  by  James  i. ,  and  seems  to  have  been  roofed  about  1438. 
But  this  THay  have  been  a  plain  roof,  and  at  a  later  date  a  finer  roof  may 
have  been  desired,  when  that  still  existing  was  probably  erected,  and  the 
corbels  to  receive  the  ends  of  the  principal  rafters  were  inserted. 

From  the  sections  (Fig.  396)  it  will  be  seen  that  the  design  is  not  a  V 
good  specimen  of  carpentry,  and  it  may  be  observed  that  the  thrust  of 
^/the  roof  has  forced  the  south  wall  considerably  off  the  perpendicular. 
Fig.  397  shows  the  present  appearance  of  the  roof  as  plastered  over. 
But  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  when  seen  in  its  entirety  this  must  have 
been  a  magnificent  hall,  of  a  similar  type  to  those  of  the  other  Royal 
palaces  at  Linlithgow  and  Stirling ;  and  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that 
the  persevering  endeavours  of  Major  Gore  Booth  and  others  to  have  it 
so  far  as  possible  restored  and  fitted  up  as  an  armoury  and  military 
museum,  are  likely  to  be  crowned  with  success. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 
ROOF    OF    PARLIAMENT    HALL 


Fio.  397.—  Edinburgh  Castle.     Present  appearance  of  the  Roof  as  Tlasterecl  over. 

According  to  the  usual  arrangement  of  such  palaces,  the  hall  com- 
municates with  the  Prince's  private  apartments  at  one  end  —  in  this  case 
the  east  end  ;  but  these  have  also  been  so  much  altered  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  distinguish  the  original  arrangements. 

The  vaults  beneath  this  range  are  said  to  have  been  used  as  State    \ 
prisons,  one  being  called  Argyll's  Dungeon.     At  all  events  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  employed  for  the  purpose  of  confining  the  French  \ 


. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  458  — 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


prisoners  at  the  beginning  of  this  century.  Owing  to  the  sudden  fall  of 
the  rock  at  the  west  end,  these  vaults  are  partly  two  stories  in  height. 
The  original  parapet  walk  along  the  top  of  the  wall  still  remains  outside 
the  wall  of  the  hall,  and  gives  access  to  these  vaults. 

The  vaults  beneath  the  hall  and  other  buildings  have  recently  been 
carefully  explored  by  Major  Gore  Booth,  with  the  result  that  the  kitchen 
seems  to  have  been  situated  on  the  basement  floor  at  the  west  end  of 
the  hall,  and  communication  between  the  two  was  obtained  by  means  of 
a  staircase,  long  built  up,  but  still  partly  existing. 


FIG.  398.— Edinburgh  Castle.    View  of  East  Side  of  Courtyard. 

We  now  proceed  to  the  east  wing  of  the  Palace  (Fig.  398).      Here 
are  the  apartments  occupied  by  Queen  Mary,  and  the  room  in  which 
King  James  vi.  was  born.     This  wing  was  renovated  in  Queen   Mary's 
i  \  time.     Over  the  entrance  doorway  (Fig.   399)  there  is  a  monogram  of 
l  M.  and  H.,  for  Mary  and  Henry  Darnley,  with  the  date  1566,  besides  a 
^shield  higher  up  containing  the  Royal  arms.    From  the  style  of  this  door- 
way, and  the  panel  above,  it  is  however  very   doubtful  whether  they 
, belong  to  Queen  Mary's  time.     We  think  it  much  more  likely  that  they 
were  inserted  by  her  son  as  a  memorial  of  his  parents  and  his  own  birth- 
place, at  the  time  when  other  alterations  were  carried  out  during  his 
reign,  as  indicated  by  the  date  (1615)  over  the  doorway  to  the  staircase 
in  the  central  turret  (Fig.  4-00).     This  date  is  shown  in  this  position  on 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


—  459  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


the  drawing  for  convenience.      It  belongs  to  the  same  building,   and 
indicates  when  it  was  erected,  but  its  real  position  is  on  the  north  eleva- 

/J& 


''-=='' 


FIG.  399.— Edinburgh  Castle.    Entrance  to 
Queen  Mary's  Room. 


FIG.  400. — Edinburgh  Castle.    Doorway  to 
Staircase  Turret. 


tion,  shown  on  the  left-hand  side  of  Fig.  398,  and  is  referred  to  further  on. 
The  whole  of  the  east  elevation  of  the  courtyard  (shown  in  Fig.  398)  is 
built  with  fragments  from  old  buildings,  and  is  entirely  a  thing  of  shreds 
and  patches.  The  upper  part  of  the  tower  above  the  roof  is  modern. 

•The  two  corbelled  projections  opposite  the  eastern  windows  of  this 
division  are  noteworthy.  It  is  said  that  they  supported  balconies,  to 
which  access  could  be  got  from  the  windows,  but  it  seems  probable  that 
they  were  originally  intended  to  support  oriel  windows,  such  as  that  in 
the  private  apartments  at  Linlithgow,  which  was  of  a  similar  character 
(see  Linlithgow).  The  oriels  however  not  having  been  completed,  the 
projecting  bases  were  utilised  as  balconies,  the  holes  for  the  iron  rail- 
ings of  which  are  visible  in  the  window  rybats.  A  somewhat  similar 
balcony  exists  at  Crichton  Castle. 

The  corbels  of  the  original  parapet  on  the  exterior  of  the  east  front 
show,  as  already  mentioned,  that  the  building  was  formerly  a  story  lower 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    460    — 


EDINBURGH   CASTLE 


than  now,  the  heightening  having  apparently  been  done  subsequently  to 
the  time  of  Gordon's  map  in  1647.  Dr.  Chambers  gives  reasons  for 
believing  that  the  upper  floors  of  this  building  were  used  as  State  prisons 
in  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  northern  part  of  this  wing  is  in  fair  preservation,  and,  as  above 
mentioned,  bears  the  date  1615,  with  which  date  its  style  corresponds, 
being  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  Heriot's  Hospital  and  the  Old  Parlia- 
ment House.  The  mouldings  and  other  details  (Fig.  401)  have  not 

escaped  from  the  effects  of  the 
subsequent  sieges  by  Cromwell 
and  others,  to  which  the  Castle 
was  subjected ;  but  as  none  of 
these  were  of  a  very  serious 
character,  the  buildings  erected 
after  the  date  of  the  Regent 
Morton  have  suffered  more  from 
violence  from  within  than  from 
without.  This  block  contains  the 
Regalia  Room,  which  appears  to 
have  been  constructed  as  a  strong- 
room for  keeping  these  insignia 
in  safety.  The  vaults  below  the 
east  wing  seem  to  be  ancient,  and 
to  have  survived  Drury's  siege, 
more  modern  buildings  having, 
been  erected  partly  on  the  top  of 
them. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  quadrangle  stood  originally  the  Garrison 
Church,  founded  as  early  as  the  time  of  David  i.,  but  it  seems  to  have 
been  rebuilt  shortly  before  1366,  by  David  n.,  as  there  is  an  entry  of  pay- 
l v  t  ment  of  .£10  to  the  chaplain  of  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  newly  constructed. 
This  chapel  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  and  was  quite  distinct  from  St. 
Margaret's  Chapel.  Maitland  describes  it  as  a  very  long  and  ancient 
church,  and  as  being  in  his  day  used  as  a  magazine  and  armoury.  Its 
appearance  in  1750  is  seen  in  Sandby's  view  (Fig.  389),  the  gable 
appearing  over  the  centre  of  the  Half-moon  Battery.  As  the  block  of 
buildings  now  stands,  it  is  a  specimen  of  the  handiwork  of  the  late  R.  W. 
Billings. 

The  buildings  on  the  west  side  of  the  courtyard  are  evidently  very 
modern,  probably  about  the  beginning  of  last  century,  and  contain 
nothing  of  importance  architecturally. 

We  now  pass  to  the  northern  portion  of  the  upper  platform,  on 
which  the  little  Chapel  of  St.  Margaret  has  stood  uninjured  through  all 
the  various  shocks  and  changes  which  have  so  altered  all  the  other 
features  of  the  Castle.  But  it  has  suffered  severely  at  the  hands  of  those 


Fio.  401.-Edinburgh  Castle.    Details,  East 
Side  of  Courtyard. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


461 


THIRD  PERIOD 


in  charge  of  the  Castle,  having  been  at  one  time  divided  into  two  stories, 
with  a  floor  let  into  the  masonry,  so  as  to  convert  it  into  a  powder- 
magazine.  Some  years  ago,  however,  it  was  revealed  by  Professor 


FIG.  4C2.— Edinburgh  Castle.    Chapel. 

Daniel  Wilson,  and  was  fortunately  rescued  by  the  efforts  of  the  Anti- 
quarian Society  of  Scotland  from  this  unworthy  fate,  and  restored  to  its 
original  shape  and  use,  and  we  understand  that  through  the  munificence 
of  Mr.  William  Nelson,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Edinburgh,  it  is  about 


THIRD  PERIOD 


462    — 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


\ 


to  be  entirely  restored  to  its  original  form,  under  the  superintendence  of 
Mr.  Hippolyte  J.  Blanc,  architect. 

The  illustrations  of  the  chapel  (Figs.  402,  403,  and  403n)  are  from  very 
careful  drawings,  made  by  Mr.  Blanc.  The  building  is  one  of  the  most 
unique  and  interesting  specimens  of  Norman  work  in  Scotland.  It 
consists  of  a  chancel  with  a  circular  apse  to  the  eastward,  separated 
from  the  chancel  by  a  wall  pierced  with  an  enriched  Norman  arch.  The 
total  length  of  the  interior  is  27  feet  9  inches,  that  of  the  chancel  being 
16  feet.  The  side  walls  of  the  chancel  are  not  parallel,  the  width 
being  9  feet  9  inches  at  the  west  end,  increasing  to  10  feet  6  inches  at 
the  east  end.  This,  which  would  not  be  perceptible  in  a  large  building, 
is  here  quite  apparent,  where  the  dimensions  are  so  small.  The  apse  is 


1 


PIG.  403.— Edinburgh  Castle.    Chapel :  South  Elevation. 


remarkable  from  its  being  circular  internally  and  square  externally,  an 
arrangement  very  uncommon  in  this  country,  but  of  which  examples 
occur  in  the  south  of  France.  It  will  be  observed  from  the  south  eleva- 
tion (Fig.  403)  that  the  external  masonry  is  not  of  the  same  style  of 
workmanship  throughout.  The  central  part  where  the  windows  occur 
is,  according  to  Mr.  Blanc,  the  oldest,  and  originally  rested  on  the  rock, 
which  having  at  a  later  time  been  lowered  and  partly  cut  away,  rendered 
necessary  the  facing  of  masonry  which  has  been  inserted  beneath  it. 
The  upper  part  of  the  wall  (see  section,  Fig.  402)  rises  clear  above  the 
vault,  and  thus  has  no  influence  on  the  chapel  inside,  and  may  therefore 
be  of  a  much  later  date. 


EDINBURGH  CASTLE 


—    463    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The   porch    forming   the   entrance  to  the  chapel   (shown  on   Plan, 
Fig.  403B)  is  modern. 


•I  I    I    I    11     I  II    I 


FIG.  403B.— Edinburgh  Castle.    Chapel. 

Adjoining  the  chapel  is  the  battery  named  after  the  celebrated  cannon  jf^r* 
"  Mons  Meg,"  which  is  there  preserved.  This  gun  (contrary  to  the 
legend  on  the  carriage)  is  said  by  Wilson  and  others  to  have  been  made 
by  the  M'Lellands  in  Kirkcudbrightshire,  and  by  them  presented  to 
James  n.,  when  he  went  to  besiege  Threave  Castle,  belonging  to  Earl 
Douglas,  in  1455.  The  story  goes  that  the  gun  was  made  at  a  place 
called  Mollance  in  Kirkcudbrightshire,  hence  the  name  Mollance  Meg, 
corrupted  into  Mons  Meg. 

But  this  story  has  in  its  turn  been  called  in  question.  Mr.  Burnet, 
the  Editor  of  the  Exchequer  Rolls,  thinks  it  very  unlikely  that  any 
country  smith  in  Kirkcudbrightshire  would  have  the  necessary  skill  and 
appliances  for  the  manufacture  of  such  a  piece  of  ordnance.  He  refers 
to  several  entries  for  the  expenses  of  conveying  the  guns,  especially  for 
one  gun  called  the  King's  great  Bombard,  from  Linlithgow  to  the 
siege  of  Threave  Castle.  It  also  appears  from  the  Rolls  that  the  King 
imported  his  bombards  from  Flanders,  and  it  seems  most  likely  after  all 
that  Mons  Meg  is  of  foreign  extraction. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    464 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


J 


STIRLING  CASTLE. 

The  Castle  of  Stirling,  which  occupies  so  important  a  place  in 
connection  with  the  civil  history  of  Scotland,  is  of  no  less  interest  in 
connection  with  the  architectural  history  of  the  country. 

The  first  occupation  of  the  Castle  rock  as  a  place  of  strength  is  of 
unknown  antiquity,  but  the  naturally  strong  site  must  have  pointed  it 
out  at  an  early  period  as  a  suitable  position  for  a  stronghold,  and  it  was 
no  doubt  originally  crowned  by  a  hill  fort  similar  to  those  so  frequently 
found  on  the  tops  of  heights  in  this  and  other  parts  of  Scotland. 

The  value  of  the  site  in  a  strategic  point  of  view,  forming  as  it  does 
the  key  to  the  passage  from  the  Lowlands  to  the  North,  would  probably 
also  be  soon  discovered,  and  would  tend  to  make  its  careful  fortification 
a  matter  of  great  moment,  particularly  at  the  time  when  the  country 
north  of  the  Forth  formed  a  separate  kingdom  from  that  of  Lothian,  south 
of  the  river.  The  original  walls  of  mixed  stone  and  earth,  with  their 
surrounding  ditches,  would  then  probably  be  of  unusual  height  and 
depth. 

In  the  twelfth  century  the  Castle  of  Stirling  was  considered  a  place 
of  great  importance.  Stirling,  along  with  Edinburgh,  Roxburgh,  and 
Berwick,  formed  the  four  chief  fortresses  of  the  kingdom,  which  were 
pledged  to  England  for  the  payment  of  the  ransom  of  William  the  Lion, 
who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English  in  1174,  but  these  castles  were 
afterwards  restored  to  the  Scots,  along  with  their  King,  by  Richard  i. 

We  have  no  information  as  to  when  walls  of  stone  and  lime  were 
substituted  for  the  primitive  ramparts,  but  we  find  that  the  Castle  of 
Stirling  was  amongst  the  strongest  in  the  kingdom  at  the  time  of  the 
invasion  of  Edward  i.  It  was  then  surrounded  with  high  and  strong 
walls,  which  enabled  the  garrison,  in  1304,  to  offer  an  obstinate  resistance 
to  all  Edward's  means  of  attack,  and  to  keep  his  army  at  bay  for  several 
months  with  a  garrison  which  finally  consisted  of  only  twenty-eight 
men.  The  account  of  this  siege,  like  that  of  Caerlaverock  Castle,  also 
undertaken  by  Edward,  shows  how  inferior  the  means  of  attack  at  that 
time  were  to  those  of  defence.  Being  unable  to  reduce  the  Castle  with 
the  stones  hurled  against  it  from  his  catapults,  the  King  ordered  the 
roofs  of  the  Churches  of  St.  Andrews  and  Dunfermline  to  be  stripped 
of  their  lead  coverings  in  order  to  obtain  the  means  of  making  heavier 
balls  to  be  launched  against  the  walls  from  his  engines. 

It  seems  doubtful  whether  any  part  of  the  walls  existing  at  that  time 
can  now  be  traced,  but  the  present  walls  are  probably  in  great  part  on 
the  old  foundations.  The  oldest  part  appears  to  be  that  adjoining  the 
postern  (Fig.  404)  at  the  north-east  angle.  The  arch  of  this  postern  is 
certainly  of  old  date,  and,  together  with  the  steep  vaulted  passage  pass- 
ing below  the  buildings,  and  ascending  to  the  upper  platform  of  the 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


—    465    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Castle,,  forms  a  picturesque  and  interesting  feature  of  the  structure.  The 
most  ancient  buildings  appear,  as  usual,  to  have  been  on  the  highest 
point  of  the  rocky  site,  situated  at  the  north-west  angle  of  the  inner 
courtyard  (Fig.  405),  where  the  rock  is  about  250  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  plain. 

The  Castle  first  became  a  Royal  residence  after  the  accession  of  the 
Stewarts.     James  n.  was  born  and  frequently  resided  there. 


Fio.  404.— Stirling  Castle.    North-East  Postern. 

The  Royal  residence  stood  at  this  time  at  the  north-west  angle. 
There  Douglas  was  induced  to  visit  the  King,  and  there  met  his  doom. 
The  buildings  now  called  the  "  Douglas  Room,"  etc.,  are  modern,  but  no 
doubt  occupy  the  site  of  the  original  castle  or  keep,  and  possibly  contain 
some  of  the  original  walls.  The  inner  court  was  probably  the  space  now 
occupied  by  the  courtyard,  bounded  on  the  south  and  east  by  the  Palace 

2  G 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—    466    — 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


and  Parliament  Hall,  while  the  latter  buildings  were  erected  in  what 
was  the  outer  courtyard  of  the  Castle.  These  are  now  the  most  interest- 
ing portions  of  the  buildings,  and  date  from  the  times  of  James  m., 
James  iv.,  and  James  v. 

The  Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  Scotland,  1473-98, 
edited  by  Dr.  Dickson,  of  the  General  Register  House,  throw  a 
good  deal  of  light  on  the  dates  when  some  of  these  buildings  were 

erected.  Thus  we  find  a  payment 
made  on  8th  June  14-96  to  Walter 
Marlyonne,  mason,  "in  erlis  of  his 
condiciun  (or  contract)  of  biggin  of 
the  king's  hous,"  which  probably 
marks,  as  Dr.  Dickson  observes,  the 
commencement  of  the  erection  of 
the  Palace,  generally  assigned  to  the 
reign  of  James  v. 

This  contract  was  undertaken  by 
Walter  and  John  Merlioun,  under 
the  direction  of  Sir  Thomas  Smyth, 
a  Churchman,  as  Master  of  Works. 

He  was  succeeded  in  1496-97 
by  the  Abbot  of  Lindores  (who  was 
also  Keeper  of  the  Palace  of  Linlith- 
gow),  and  in  the  end  of  the  same 
vear  ^7  Sir  W.  Betoune  and  Andrew 
Atoune.  On  one  occasion  the . 
Master  Mason  is  sent  for  from  Lin- 
lithgow  to  "  gif  his  devis  to  the 
werk."  There  are  numerous  entries 
of  payments  for  the  works,  but  they 
are  not  sufficiently  detailed  to  enable 
the  different  parts  of  the  building  to 
which  they  apply  to  be  identified. 
At  the  same  period  (1490-1503) 
there  was  considerable  outlay  in  con- 
nection with  the  formation  of  a  large 
garden  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Castle.  There  can  thus  be  no  doubt 
that  the  erection  of  the  Palace  and 
the  general  improvement  of  the  Castle  were  begun  by  James  iv., 
although  probably  they  were  chiefly  erected  under  the  reign  of  his  son. 
The  Parliament  House,  however,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the 
quadrangle,  is  evidently,  from  its  style,  of  a  somewhat  earlier  date  than 
the  Palace,  and  may  reasonably  be  assigned  to  the  time  of  James  in. 


FIG.  405. — Stirling  Castle.    General  Plan  of 
Oastle  (from  the  Ordnance  Survey). 


STIRLING  CASTLE  -    467    —  THIRD  PERIOD 

James  HI.  is  also  said  to  have  built  a  chapel  on  the  north  side  of  the 
quadrangle,  "which,"  says  Grose,  "he  largely  endowed,  and  procured  to 
be  made  collegiate."  This  chapel  was  pulled  down  by  James  vi.,  in  order 
to  erect  on  the  site  the  existing  chapel  for  the  baptism  of  his  son,  Prince 
Henry,  which  took  place  there  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony  in  1594. 

The  outer  bailey  was  enclosed  with  the  wall,  part  of  which  still 
remains,  and  in  which  is  situated  the  entrance  gateway,  flanked  by  two 
round  towers.  To  the  west  of  this  is  the  basement  of  another  round 
tower,  which  was  standing  when  Slezer  made  his  views  of  the  Castle,  about 
1690.  This  outer  gateway,  wall,  and  towers  are  probably  the  work  of 
James  in. 

Outside  of  the  above  entrance  gateway  other  works  have  been  added 
at  different  times.  The  battery  to  the  east,  which  commands  Stirling 
Bridge,  is  said  to  have  been  erected  by  Mary  of  Lorraine,  and  is  still 
called  the  "  French  Battery."  The  other  works  connected  with  the 
outer  gate  were  built  under  Queen  Anne,  whose  initials  they  bear.  These 
are  of  some  interest  as  being,  we  believe,  along  with  the  fortifications  of 
Berwick-on-Tweed,  the  only  specimens  of  batteries  of  this  description 
north  of  the  Tweed.  The  walls  are  of  great  thickness,  and  are  provided 
on  the  top  with  embrasures  for  guns,  lined  with  ashlar,  while  the  parapet 
is  formed  of  earthwork,  and  covered  with  turf.  The  platforms  for  work- 
ing the  guns  are  broad,  and  are  supported  on  arches,  forming  casemates. 
Several  of  these  are  designed  as  flanking  works,  and  are  provided  with 
loopholes  for  cannon.  We  also  find  here  the  peculiar  watch-turrets  or 
sentry-boxes  of  stone  which  distinguish  the  period.  Similar  watch- 
turrets  are  conspicuous  objects  on  the  walls  of  Edinburgh  Castle. 

The  Parliament  Hall  (Fig.  406),  as  above  mentioned,  is  the  most 
ancient  part  of  the  existing  buildings,  with  the  exception  of  the  tower  at 
the  south-west  angle  of  the  Palace,  and  of  some  of  the  walls  of  enceinte, 
and  other  walls  now  concealed  by  more  modern  buildings.  The  general 
design  of  this  hall  corresponds  with  that  of  the  English  halls  of  the 
period,  having  two  large  oriels  at  the  south  or  dais  end  of  the  hall,  and 
having  originally  an  open  timber  roof  (now  removed).  The  hall  is 
125  feet  long  by  36  feet  6  inches  wide.  The  oriels  were  roofed  with 
groined  vaulting,  and  that  of  the  west  window  is  still  preserved.  The 
hall  enters  from  the  level  of  the  inner  court,  but  has  a  story  below  that 
level  towards  the  outer  court  on  the  east.  The  lower  floor  is  vaulted, 
and  divided  into  a  number  of  apartments,  which  were  used  as  kitchen 
offices,  guard-rooms,  etc.  A  turret  stair  on  the  east  side  leads  from  the 
ground  to  the  roof,  with  a  door  communicating  with  the  hall  on  the 
upper  floor. 

The  principal  entrance  to  the  hall  was  from  the  inner  ward  qn  the 
west  side,  where  there  has  been  a  covered  way  or  cloister  extending 
along  that  side  of  the  building.  Some  of  the  corbels  which  supported 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    468    — 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


FIG.  406.— Stirling  Castle.    Plan  of  Palace  and  Parliament  Hall. 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


469  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD  470    STIRLING  CASTLE 

. 

the  wall-plate  of  the  roof  of  the  corridor  still  remain,  but  it  is  difficult  to 
determine  what  was  the  nature  of  the  corridor.  It  was  however  very 
likely  an  arcade  of  masonry,  supporting  a  wooden  roof.  Similar  corridors 
exist,  or  have  existed,  at  Castle  Campbell  and  St.  Andrews  Castle.  This 
structure  necessarily  curtailed  the  height  of  the  windows  on  this  side, 
but  those  on  the  east  side  were  of  greater  height.  The  external  wall 
spaces  between  the  windows  were  relieved  with  canopied  niches  contain- 
ing statues.  The  mutilated  remains  of  the  niches  and  canopies  may  still 
be  traced  (Fig.  407). 

These  side  windows  and  niches  have  unfortunately  been  very  much 
destroyed  in  consequence  of  the  various  alterations  the  building  has  been 
subjected  to,  the  original  noble  hall  having  been  divided  into  several  floors, 
and  staircases  and  partitions  having  been  introduced  so  as  to  convert  it 
into  modern  barracks.  The  original  roof,  which  was  of  fine  open  timber- 
work,  has  also  disappeared,  and  a  modern  roof  has  been  substituted. 

Grose  speaks  of  the  Parliament  Hall  as  being  "very  high,  with  a 
timbered  roof,"  when  he  visited  it  in  1797.  The  removal  of  the  ancient 
roof,  and  the  insertion  of  the  floors  and  staircase,  seem  thus  to  have 
taken  place  about  the  beginning  of  this  century. 

The  two  oriels  have  suffered  less  than  the  other  parts  of  the  building, 
and  all  the  elaborate  and  beautiful  details  of  their  architecture,  that  on 
the  east  being  especially  fine,  can  be  quite  distinctly  made  out,  as  the 
annexed  illustration  shows  (Fig.  408).  The  flat  segmental  arch  over  the 
windows  on  each  side,  and  at  the  south  end  of  the  hall,  and  the  very 
deep  external  bay  of  these  windows,  are  remarkable  features.  A 
similar  deep  bay  may  be  observed  in  many  of  the  windows  in  Linlithgow 
Palace,  and  at  Crookston  and  Niddrie  Castles.  The  cornice  and  parapet, 
with  the  angle  bartizans  shown  in  the  general  view  (Fig.  407),  are  partly 
suggested  restorations ;  but  for  these  the  data  are  obtained  from  Slezer's 
views,  which  show  that  the  gables  had  crow-steps  and  angle  bartizans, 
and  that  the  eastern  staircase  turret  had  a  conical  roof  in  his  time  (1693). 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  whole  character  of  the  work  at  the 
Parliament  Hall  is  of  a  decidedly  earlier  style  than  that  of  the  Palace. 
It  is,  in  fact,  purely  Late  Gothic,  while,  as  we  shall  see  presently,  the 
Palace  has  a  distinct  feeling  of  Renaissance  in  its  details. 

It  would  therefore  appear  that  the  usual  tradition  which  ascribes  the 
hall  to  James  in.  is  probably  correct. 

Tradition  is,  however,  not  quite  so  accurate  as  regards  the  entrance 
gateway,  which  is  popularly  said  to  be  of  Norman  date.  The  style  of 
this  gateway  is  undoubtedly  the  same  as  that  of  the  hall  (Fig.  409).  The 
mouldings  of  the  doorways,  and  the  hood  mouldings  over  the  doors  and 
windows,  are  all  of  the  same  period  as  those  of  the  hall.  In  Slezer's  time 
the  two  round  towers  had  projecting  battlements  supported  on  corbels, 
and  were  finished  with  a  smaller  turret  above  with  a  conical  roof,  in  the 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


471   — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Fio.  408. — Stirling  Castle.    South  Oriel  of  Parliament  Hall. 


THIRD  PERIOD  472    —  STIRLING  CASTLE 

style  of  the  gateway  at  Falkland,  and  the  north-west  portion  of  Holyrood. 


The  towers  were  afterwards  considerably  demolished,  and  their  upper  part 


STIRLING  CASTLE  -    473    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

with  the  battlements,  is  modern.  This  gateway  contained  three  entrances 
— a  wide  central  one,  and  a  narrow  passage  for  foot-passengers  on  each 
side. 

The  central  gateway  was  provided  with  a  portcullis  and  folding  gates 
at  both  the  outer  and  inner  archway.  The  entrance  passage  was  vaulted, 
and  there  was  a  room  above  for  working  the  portcullis.  The  side 
entrances  seem  to  have  been  provided  with  a  portcullis  as  well  as  strong 
doors  at  both  the  inner  and  outer  archways.  The  inner  doorway  of  the 
eastern  passage  still  preserves  the  groove  for  the  portcullis,  while  that  on 
the  west  side  is  built  up.  Both  passages  are  in  connection  with  the 
round  towers  adjoining,  which  formed  guard-rooms.  The  passage  on  the 
left  on  entering  has  been  at  a  subsequent  time  converted  into  a  guard- 
room with  a  fireplace,  and  a  doorway  opened  from  it  into  the  central 
passage.  The  east  and  west  towers  are  provided  with  long  loopholes 
commanding  the  entrance.  These  towers,  both  in  their  general  con- 
struction and  in  the  form  of  the  loopholes,  bear  considerable  resemblance 
to  the  outer  round  towers  at  the  north-east  angle  of  Linlithgow  Palace. 
The  latter  are  sometimes  attributed  to  the  time  of  Edward  i.,  but  they 
have  no  features  which  specially  connect  them  with  that  period,  while 
their  general  character  and  the  buildings  to  which  they  are  attached 
rather  point  to  their  being  of  the  time  of  James  HI. 

The  Palace  lies  to  the  south-west  of  the  hall,  and  forms  a  complete 
square,  with  central  courtyard.  It  approaches  within  13  feet  of  the 
hall,  with  which  it  was  probably  connected  by  an  archway  and  covered 
passage,  but  the  present  covered  archway  is  modern.  The  courtyard 
is  67  feet  by  40  feet,  and  is  known  as  the  "  Lions'  Den,"  the  tradition 
being  that  James  iv.,  who  was  fond  of  wild  animals,  kept  his  lions 
there.  These  animals  were  kept  by  the  King  as  an  emblem  of  royal 
state  and  dignity. 

The  Palace  enters  from  the  south-west  angle  of  the  inner  ward,  on 
the  level  of  the  upper  floor,  where  there  are  a  porch  and  the  original  door- 
way, with  a  sliding  bar.  This  porch  gives  access  to  an  inner  lobby,  from 
which  a  large  apartment  opens  on  the  left.  This  was  probably  a  general 
reception-room,  leading  to  an  inner  hall  or  audience-chamber,  and  to  the 
King's  private  rooms  beyond.  From  the  entrance  lobby  a  corridor  runs 
along  the  west  side  of  the  quadrangle,  lighted  with  windows  towards 
the  courtyard.  It  has  been  intended  to  construct  rooms  to  the  west, 
entering  from  this  corridor,  but  this  has  never  been  carried  out.  The 
corridor  conducts  to  a  suite  of  apartments  running  along  the  south  side  of 
the  quadrangle.  These  appear  to  have  been  the  more  private  reception- 
rooms  of  the  Palace.  The  first  entered  may  have  been  the  "  salon  "  or 
drawing-room,  and  the  next  the  dining-room,  the  rooms  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square  forming  the  private  apartments  of  the  Royal  Family. 
The  apartments  of  the  Palace  were  all  richly  carved  and  decorated,  the 


THIRD  PERIOD 


474    


STIRLING  CASTLE 


ceiling  of    the   "  presence-chamber "   being    adorned  with    carved   oak 
panels  representing  the  heads  of  Wallace,  Bruce,  and  other  Scottish 


FIG.  410. — Stirling  Castle.    Details  of  Fireplaces  in  Palace. 

kings  and  worthies.  These  were  all  removed  in  1777,  as  some  of  them 
had  fallen  through  decay,  and  unfortunately  were  much  damaged  and  dis- 
persed. But  some  of  them  are  still  preserved  in  the  Smithsonian  Institute 
in  Stirling,  and  in  the  Antiquarian  Museum  in  Edinburgh,  where  there 
are  two  of  the  original  heads,  and  copies  of  several  others. 

The  fireplaces,  of  which  some  examples  are  given  in  Fig.  410,  are 
almost  the  only  portions  of  the  internal  ornamentation  remaining,  and 
even  these  are  much  injured  and  defaced.  They  are  executed  in  free- 


STIRLING  CASTLE  475    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

stone.  The  two  upper  jambs  in  the  sketch  are  distinctly  Renaissance  in 
design,  and  have  a  striking  similarity  to  the  fireplace  of  "  Queen  Mary's 
Room  "  at  Linlithgow,  leading  to  the  inference  that  the  same  hand  may 
have  been  engaged  on  both  these  buildings. 

The  basement  floor  is  now  so  filled  with  stores  and  difficult  of  access 
that  the  use  of  each  portion  cannot  be  distinctly  ascertained.  The  apart- 
ments are  all  vaulted,  and  seem  to  have  been  chiefly  cellars,  but  the 
rooms  on  the  south  side,  where  the  aspect  is  open,  were  devoted  to  the 
kitchen,  and  offices  connected  with  it.  The  remains  of  a  straight  stair- 
case can  be  distinctly  traced  in  the  corridor  lying  on  the  inside  of  the 
eastern  member  of  the  square.  This  staircase  led  from  the  kitchen  to 
the  principal  floor,  and  seems  also  to  have  been  continued  from  that 
floor  to  the  upper  or  attic  floor  above.  The  latter  contained  good  rooms, 
which  were  no  doubt  used  as  the  apartments  of  the  officers  and  others  con- 
nected with  the  Court.  The  upper  floor  was  originally  lighted  by  means 
of  dormer  windows  behind  the  parapet.  Some  of  these  still  exist,  with 
the  initials  M.  R.,  and  one  contains  the  date  1557.  These  may  either 
stand  for  Queen  Mary,  or  her  mother,  Mary  of  Guise,  who  was  Regent  at 
the  above  date,  while  Queen  Mary  was  still  in  France.  At  a  later  date, 
probably  during  the  last  century,  while  these  rooms  were  occupied  by 
the  Governor,  windows  were  cut  through  the  wall,  in  order  to  give  better 
light  in  the  rooms,  but  sadly  to  the  disfigurement  of  the  building,  as  seen 
in  Figs.  411  and  412. 

The  exterior  of  the  Palace  (Fig.  411)  is  of  very  fantastic  design,  but 
it  is  interesting  as  being  probably  the  earliest  example  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  Renaissance  style  into  Scotland.  We  here  find  in  the  flat 
arched  recesses,  enriched  with  cusped  work,  some  last  traces  of  the 
Gothic  design  which  is  so  apparent  in  the  Parliament  Hall,  while  in  the 
round  and  baluster-shaped  columns,  and  in  their  caps  and  enrichments, 
we  have  clear  evidence  of  the  Renaissance  style.  The  mode  in  which 
the  statues  are  placed  upon  the  building,  being  set,  as  it  were,  in  shallow 
niches,  is  rather  Gothic  than  classic,  but  in  the  grotesque  figures  them- 
selves there  is  no  difficulty  in  tracing  a  rude  attempt  to  imitate  some  of 
the  well-known  models  of  antiquity.  Some  of  the  figures  on  the  south 
front  (Fig.  412)  are  more  native,  and  better  worth  attention.  One  of 
these  represents  a  crossbow-man  bending  his  bow,  another  a  soldier 
taking  aim,  a  third  one  bearing  a  sword,  and  a  fourth  one  with  a  fanciful 
shield,  while  some  of  the  other  figures  are  effective,  but  somewhat  coarse 
grotesques.  Here,  as  we  shall  see  was  the  case  at  Falkland,  there  are 
clear  evidences  of  the  work  of  Frenchmen  brought  over  by  James  v. 
after  his  sojourn  and  marriage  in  France.  The  cusped  work  round 
the  arches,  the  Renaissance  details  mixed  with  Gothic  forms,  and  the 
free  use  of  sculpture,  are  all  features  which  were  much  in  vogue  in 
France  at  the  time  of  James's  visit,  and  we  may  remark  in  this  Palace 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    476 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


an  attempt  to  reproduce  the  same  kind  of  work  which  he  had  admired 
at  Loches  and  Blois.     But  the   Renaissance  work  here  introduced  was 


m*  rtjw&m-  mm  \ 
Ky$  m  ^m 


far  in  advance  of  the  style  generally  in  use  in  Scotland.     It  was  not 
till  fifty  years  later  that  the   Renaissance  style  became  common,  and 


STIRLING  CASTLE 


477  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


then    it    was    of  a    very    inferior   description    to   that    of  Stirling   and 
Falkland. 

The  square  tower  (Fig.  409)  attached  to  the  Palace  on  the  south  side 
is  of  older  date  than  the  Palace,  the  latter  having  been  designed  so  that 
its  windows  should  avoid  the  tower,  while  a  fireplace  is  inserted  in  its 


north  wall ;  and  the  tower  has  a  distinct  staircase  from  top  to  bottom 
(Fig.  406).  This  was  probably  the  angle  tower  at  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  Castle  wall  before  the  Palace  was  thought  of.  The  outer  wall  is 


THIRD  PERIOD  —    478    STIRLING  CASTLE 

connected  with  it,  and  the  style  both  of  it  and  the  wall  is  older  than  that 
of  the  Palace  (Fig.  409).  When  the  latter  was  built  the  space  between 
the  Palace  and  the  wall  was  covered  over  so  as  to  form  vaults  entered 
from  a  passage  on  the  ground  floor  under  the  Palace,  with  a  handsome 
terraced  platform  above,  on  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  wall,  suitable  for 
guns,  and  useful  both  for  defence  and  enjoyment. 

We  have  in  this  Palace  (as  in  the  other  Royal  palaces  at  Edinburgh, 
Linlithgow,  and  Falkland)  early  examples  of  the  taste  for  more  extended 
and  luxurious  accommodation,  which  about  this  time  began  to  be  intro- 
duced, and  of  which  we  see  so  many  specimens  in  the  later  mansions  of 
the  nobility. 

The  north  side  of  the  inner  ward  is  occupied  with  the  chapel  built 
by  James  vi.  in  1 594.  This  presents  us  with  an  example  of  the  fully 
completed  Renaissance  design  of  that  period.  The  interior  of  this  build- 
ing is  cut  up  with  modern  partitions  and  floors  so  as  to  form  stores,  and 
a  new  roof  has  recently  been  substituted  for  the  old  one,  which  was  pro- 
bably of  open  timber-work,  so  that  the  original  features  of  the  chapel 
are  now  unrecognisable. 

The  west  side  of  the  courtyard,  where  the  oldest  buildings  of  the 
Castle  originally  stood,  is  now  occupied  with  comparatively  modern  and 
uninteresting  buildings. 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE. 

Conveniently  situated  about  half-way  between  Edinburgh  and  Stirling 
Castles,  this  was  the  favourite  residence  of  the  Scottish  kings,  and  is 
thus  intimately  associated  with  the  private  history  of  the  Royal  Family, 
as  well  as  with  a  long  series  of  important  events  connected  with  the 
history  of  the  country. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  site  of  the  castle  was  occupied  by  a  Roman 
station,  being  not  far  from  the  eastern  termination  of  the  Roman  wall. 
But  nothing  certain  is  known  of  the  erection  of  a  castle  here  till  the 
time  of  David  i.,  by  whose  charters  it  is  ascertained  that  early  in  the 
twelfth  century  there  were  at  Linlithgow  a  royal  domain,  with  a  resi- 
dence, a  church  dedicated  to  St.  Michael,  and  a  royal  burgh. 

In  1301-2  Edward  i.  resided  in  the  castle  of  Linlithgow  for  three 
months  during  the  winter,  and  in  1302  he  seems,  from  Barbour's  account, 
to  have  extended  the  works  of  the  castle,  and  made  it  "a  Pele  mekill 
and  stark."  The  castle  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  English  till 
1313,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  bold  and  ingenious  tactics  of  William 
Bunnock.  It  was  then  demolished,  or  at  least  rendered  untenable  by 
Bruce' s  orders,  in  accordance  with  his  usual  policy.  It  seems  to  have 
remained  in  this  state  till  1350,  when  David  n.  caused  it  to  be  repaired, 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE  479    THIRD  PERIOD 

and  gave  John  Cairns,  an  inhabitant  of  Linlithgow,  the  liferent  of  the 
park  round  the  castle  for  so  doing.  From  this  time  Linlithgow  became 
a  favourite  place  of  residence  of  the  Scottish  kings.  Robert  n.  and 
Robert  in.  were  often  here,  and  the  latter  held  a  Parliament  in  Linlith- 
gow in  1399-  In  1424,  the  town,  church,  and  castle  were  all  destroyed  by 
a  great  fire.  From  the  Lord  High  Treasurer's  Accounts  (edited  by  Dr. 
Dickson,  of  the  General  Register  House)  it  would  appear  that  in  1425  pre- 
parations were  made,  under  James  i.,  for  the  building  of  a  new  palace,  and 
that  up  to  1430  the  work  was  actively  carried  on,  and  £2440  expended 
thereon,  under  John  of  Walton  as  Master  of  the  Works.  Under  his  suc- 
cessors, Robert  Wedale,  Robert  Livingston,  John  Holmes,  and  John  Weir, 
the  work  was  continued  till  1451.  The  part  then  erected  was  probably 
the  west  side  (Fig.  413),  and  perhaps  the  north  side,  afterwards  rebuilt 
by  James  vi.  In  1467  the  works  were  resumed  under  Henry  Livingstone, 
and  during  the  next  four  years  considerable  sums  were  expended. 

From  1488  to  1496  the  south  side  seems  to  have  been  erected,  or 
rather  completed,  as  the  purchase  of  timber  for  the  roof  of  the  chapel 
is  mentioned.  At  this  period  frequent  entries  for  materials  and  wages 
show  that  the  reconstruction  was  being  steadily  prosecuted. 

The  palace  was  much  frequented  by  James  in.  and  James  iv.,  under 
whom  a  great  deal  of  the  above  work  was  carried  out.  Extensive  opera- 
tions were  also  undertaken  by  James  v.,  who  seems  to  have  made  con- 
siderable alterations  on  the  palace.  Thus  the  detached  gatehouse  leading 
from  the  town  was  erected  by  him,  and  the  entrance  to  the  castle  was 
changed  to  suit  the  altered  approach.  This  rendered  necessary  the  new 
south  porch  and  entrance  passage.  James  v.  spared  no  pains  to  make 
the  palace  ready  for  the  reception  of  his  bride,  Mary  of  Guise,  who  is 
said  to  have  declared,  when  brought  home  to  it,  that  she  "  had  never 
seen  a  more  princely  palace." 

Linlithgow  Palace  and  lordship  formed  the  jointure  of  the  Queens 
of  James  HI.,  James  iv.,  and  James  v.,  and  in  it  were  born  James  v.  and 
Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

The  palace  is  very  pleasantly  situated  on  a  knoll  which  projects 
from  the  south  into  the  loch  of  Linlithgow.  On  this  knoll  stands 
also  the  church  of  St.  Michael,  while  the  town  lies  in  a  hollow  to  the 
south.  This  residence  has  more  of  the  character  of  a  mansion  than  the 
other  palaces  of  the  King  in  Edinburgh  and  Stirling  Castles.  Such 
designs  indicate  the  tendency  of  the  age.  From  the  time  of  James  i. 
we  find  the  Royal  Family  preferring  mansions  of  this  description  to  the 
more  gloomy  castles  of  their  ancestors,  and  the  pleasant  dwellings  of 
Linlithgow,  Holyrood,  and  Falkland  were  the  result  of  this  desire  for 
improvement  in  accommodation  and  amelioration  of  surroundings. 

The  palace  of  Linlithgow  is  designed  in  the  form  of  a  mansion 
surrounding  a  courtyard. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—     480    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


Fio.  413.-Linlithgow  Palace  and  Gateway,  and  St  Michael's  Church.    Plan  of  Gronnd  Floor, 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


481    


THIRD  PERIOI> 


FIG.  414.— Linlithgow  Palace.    Interior  of  Bow  Window  at  the  North-West  Angle. 

2   H 


Til  I  HI)   PERIOD 


—  482   — 


LINLITHGCMV    PALACE 


FIG.  415.— Linlithgow  Palace.     Exterior  of  Bow  Window  at  the  North-West  Angle. 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE  483    THIRD  PERIOD 

The  oldest  portion  (as  above  mentioned)  is  probably  enclosed  within 
the  existing  walls  at  the  south-west  corner.  The  plan  of  the  ground 
floor  (Fig.  413)  shows  that  there  are  at  this  point  old  walls  inside  the 
present  outside  walls,  that  on  the  south  side  having  been  clearly  added 
in  order  to  continue  the  south  wall  of  the  chapel  straight  along  to  the 
south-west  corner.  The  architectural  details  of  the  various  other  parts 
of  the  building  correspond  with  the  dates  above  assigned  to  each.  The 
north  side,  as  we  shall  afterwards  see,  was  rebuilt  by  James  vi.,  but  was 
probably  originally  one  of  the  oldest  parts  of  the  building. 

The  groined  vaulting  and  bow  window  at  the  north-west  angle  (Figs. 
414  and  415)  and  the  vaulting  of  the  cellar  beneath,  together  with  the 
vaulting  of  the  buttery  at  the  north-east  angle  (which  was  altered  in 
James  vr.'s  time),  indicate  a  date  pretty  early  in  the  fifteenth  century. 
The  same  remarks  apply  to  the  principal  parts  of  the  east  and  south 
fronts.  The  ornaments  of  the  fireplace  of  the  great  hall,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  original  entrance  gateway,  both  to  the  'exterior  and  on  the  side 
next  the  courtyard,  and  the  carved  work  of  the  chapel  and  its  windows, 
all  belong  to  a  period  anterior  to  the  first  introduction  of  the  Renais- 
sance style,  which,  as  we  find  at  Stirling,  probably  occurred  about  the 
year  1500. 

The  principal  entrance  to  the  castle  (Fig.  41 6)  was  originally  from 
the  east.  The  entrance  passage  passes  under  the  great  hall,  and  is 
defended  with  three  folding  gates  and  a  portcullis. 

It  has  also  been  provided  with  a  drawbridge,  which  fell  on  an  outer 
wall  strengthened  with  towers.  It  is  sometimes  supposed  that  these 
towers  are  the  remains  of  the  "  Pele  mekill  and  stark  "  erected  by  King 
Edward.  The  round  form  of  the  towers  (Fig.  417),  and  the  fact  that 
they  are  connected  with  a  wall  of  enceinte,  have  probably  led  to  this 
view ;  but  the  towers  are  too  small  and  the  walls  too  thin  to  represent 
the  round  towers  of  an  Edwardian  castle  ;  besides,  they  strongly 
resemble  in  character  and  details  similar  round  towers  built  by  James  in. 
at  Stirling.  The  loopholes  in  both  are  also  similar  in  style.  The 
towers  appear  rather  to  have  been  part  of  the  outer  wall,  which  no  doubt 
surrounded  the  whole  palace,  and  of  which  traces  are  to  be  seen  at 
several  places.  Such  walls  were  usual  in  similar  buildings ;  those  of 
Borthwick  with  its  great  round  tower,  Craigmillar,  Doune,  and  Threave, 
where  the  round  towers  are  not  unlike  those  of  Linlithgow,  may  be 
referred  to.  In  this  case  the  enclosing  wall  probably  extended  on  the 
south  side  as  far  as  the  churchyard,  and  joined  the  detached  gateway 
which  forms  the  town  entrance  (see  Fig.  413). 

The  entrance  passage  leads  into  a  spacious  courtyard  90  feet  from 
east  to  west,  by  87  feet  from  north  to  south. 

To  the  left  of  the  main  entrance  is  the  guard-room,  from  which  there 
is  a  square  hatch  in  the  floor,  giving  access  to  the  dungeon  below.  A 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  484  — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


FIG.  416. — Linlithgow  Palace.    Original  Entrance  Gateway, 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


—  485  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


small  passage  in  the  outer  wall   leading  to  a  garde-robe  is  loopholed  for 
the  defence  of  the  drawbridge. 


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To  the  right  or  north  side  of  the  entrance  is  a  passage  leading  by  a 
staircase  to  a  lower  floor  (the  ground  at  the  north-east  angle  of  the  site 
being  lower  than  the  rest).  The  chamber  in  the  north-east  angle  was 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    486    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


originally  the  well-room.     It  still  contains  the  well  in  the  centre  of  the 
floor,  and  there  are  square  recesses  in  the  walls  for  the  buckets  contain- 


FIG.  418.— Linlithgow  Palace.    South-AVcst  Angle  of  Courtyard. 

ing  the  water-supply  to  stand  in.     At  a  later  period  a  large  fireplace  has 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE  487    THIRD  PERIOD 

been  built  in  this  room,  which  serves  as  the  foundation  of  the  fire- 
place which  was  subsequently  introduced  into  the  room  above.  The 
adjoining  room  to  the  south,  which  has  the  rather  unusual  form  of  an 
elliptical  barrel  vault,  also  contains  a  large  fireplace  and  oven.  This  was 
probably  the  original  kitchen. 

The  rooms  at  the  south-east  angle  are  said  to  have  been  stables,  and 
have  a  direct  access  to  the  external  courtyard. 

Next  to  these,  in  the  south  side  of  the  quadrangle,  is  the  bakery,  with 
a  peculiar  oven,  heated  from  the  fireplace  of  the  adjoining  room. 

The  south  porch  and  passage  (as  above  suggested)  may  have  been 
added  when  the  town  gatehouse  was  built.  There  has  evidently  been 
a  good  deal  of  alteration  at  this  part  of  the  building,  and  the  corridor 
along  the  interior  of  the  courtyard  (Fig.  418)  was  probably  added  at  the 
same  time.  This  may  account  for  the  fine  fireplace  still  existing  in  the 
guard-room,  which  is  now  so  dark  that  it  cannot  be  seen. 

It  was  to  this  guard-room  that  the  Regent  Moray  was  brought  after 
Hamilton  of  Bothwellhaugh  had  fired  his  fatal  shot,  and  he  here  expired 
in  a  few  hours. 

The  rooms  in  the  south-west  angle  are  those  which  show  the  old  wall 
faced  with  the  new  outer  one  above  mentioned.  These  are  said  to  have 
been  prisons,  but  seem  much  more  likely  to  have  been  beer  and  wine 
cellars.  The  stone  ledge  for  setting  the  casks  on  is  still  visible  in  the 
cellar  in  the  angle.  The  remains  of  the  original  angle  stair  which  was 
used  before  the  corridor  was  added  and  the  new  stair  turret  built  can 
still  be  observed. 

A  large  wine-cellar  runs  along  the  west  side,  with  a  stone  ledge  for 
barrels.  The  only  entrance  to  the  so-called  prisons  was  through  this 
wine-cellar,  a  very  unlikely  arrangement. 

Northwards  from  this  wine-cellar  there  is  another  large  vaulted 
cellar,  the  floor  of  which  is  down  some  steps  from  the  level  of  the  court- 
yard, and  beyond  this,  in  the  north-west  angle,  is  another  cellar,  with 
groined  vaulting,  at  a  still  lower  level. 

The  entrance  to  the  first  of  these  cellars  is  by  an  unusually  wide 
door,  and  the  entrance  and  stair  leading  to  the  second  cellar  are  also  of 
unusual  width.  This  arrangement  has  no  doubt  been  to  admit  large 
tuns,  and  these  have  probably  been  the  cellars  for  the  superior  kinds  of 
wine,  while  the  more  southern  cellars  were  for  common  kinds,  or  beer. 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  is  a  small  staircase  from  the  floor 
above  down  to  these  cellars.  This  is  the  usual  private  stair  from  the 
dining-room  to  the  wine-cellars.  It  gives  access  to  the  south  cellar, 
while  it  commands  the  north  cellars  by  a  window,  from  which  the  pro- 
ceedings in  these  cellars  could  be  superintended  or  watched. 

There  is  a  similar  window  at  Dirleton,  overlooking  from  the  lord's 
private  room  all  the  extensive  range  of  cellars. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  488  — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


The  first  floor  (Fig.  419)  contains  all  the  principal  apartments.  The 
east  side  is  chiefly  occupied  with  the  great  hall,  called  also  the  "  Parlia- 
ment Hall "  from  having  been  the  place  where  several  Parliaments  were 
held.  It  is  100  feet  long  by  30  feet  wide,  and  with  its  lofty  open  timber 
roof  must  have  been  a  spacious  and  imposing  chamber.  A  portion  of  the 
roof  at  either  end,  about  6  or  7  feet  in  length,  is  arched  in  stone,  this 
arching  being  finished  off  with  a  splayed  edge.  The  lower  part  of  the 


FIG.  419.—  Linlithgow  Palace.    Plan  of  First  Floor. 

springing  may  be  observed  in  Fig.  420.  The  original  entrance  was  by  a 
wide  and  enriched  door  near  the  north  end,  to  which  a  handsome  flight 
of  steps  no  doubt  originally  led  from  the  courtyard.  But  these  steps 
seem  to  have  been  removed  and  the  door  disused  when  the  angle  turret 
was  inserted.  This  was  probably  done  when  the  two  southern  angle 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


—  489 


THIRD  PERIOD 


turrets  were  built  and  the  corridors  added  by  James  v.,  being  an  indica- 
tion of  the  desire  for  symmetry  which  was  then  coming  in,  and  of  which 
the  whole  of  the  plan  of  Linlithgow  is  a  good  example. 

At  the  entrance  or  north  end  of  the  hall  we  naturally  find  the 
"  screens  "  or  kitchen  passage,  in  this  case  shut  off  by  a  wall  which 
supported  the  minstrels'  gallery  above.  There  is  a  wheel  stair  leading 
down  to  the  original  kitchen  at  the  east  end  of  the  passages,  but  the 
turret  stair  inserted  in  the  angle  of  the  courtyard  is  also  so  designed  as 
to  give  access  to  the  basement. 


FIG.  420. — Linlithgow  Palace.     Fireplace  in  Hall. 

The  large  room  to  the  north  of  the  screens  has  been  converted  into 
a  kitchen,  probably  at  the  time  when  the  north  side  was  rebuilt  by 
James  vi.  In  earlier  times  this  was  probably  the  buttery.  It  had  a 
groined  vault,  the  springing  and  part  of  the  ribs  of  which  are  still 
visible. 

At  the  south  end  of  the  hall  was  the  dais,  with  the  usual  large 
window,  the  fireplace,  and  doors  leading  to  the  private  rooms  beyond 
and  the  chapel.  The  fireplace  is  very  fine,  having  three  openings  and 
vents,  and  being  richly  ornamented  with  Gothic  shafts,  with  carved  caps 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    490    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


and  bases,  and  foliage  in  the  lintels  (Fig.  420). 
richly  carved  brackets   for   lights,   similar  to 
Knights    Hospitallers   in   Linlithgow,  to   be 
narrow  passage  in  the  thickness  of  the  west 
from  the  north  end  of  the  hall  to  the  angle 
and   also  gives  access  to  the  chamber  from 


On  the  sloping  hood  are 
those  in  the  hall  of  the 
afterwards  described.  A 
wall  gives  communication 
staircase  at  the  south  end, 
which  the  portcullis  was 


FIG.  421. — Linlithgow  Palace.    Plan  of  Second  Floor. 

worked.  The  small  windows  of  this  passage  are  seen  in  Fig.  425.  There 
is  a  similar  passage  over  this  one  in  the  floor  above  (Fig.  421),  forming 
a  means  of  communication  from  the  north  to  the  south  turret  staircase, 
and  being  also  available  as  a  gallery,  from  which  the  members  of  the 
Court  or  others  might  witness  the  proceedings  in  the  hall  below.  This 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


_    491    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


passage  exactly  resembles  the  clerestory  passage  of  a  church,  and  has  the 
same  effect  as  seen  from  the  hall.  The  plan  of  the  second  floor  shows 
this  gallery  with  its  wide  openings  into  the  hall,  and  the  niches  which 
adorned  the  hall  on  the  piers  between.  On  the  opposite  side  are  seen 
the  lofty  windows  (Fig.  41 6),  with  deep  external  bays,  which  lighted  the 
hall.  This  side  also  had  a  row  of  niches  and  statues  between  the  windows 
on  the  inside. 


FIG.  422.— Linlitligow  Palace.     Interior  of  Chapel. 


The  south  side  of  the  quadrangle  contains,  on  the  first  floor  (Fig.  419), 
the  chapel  and  a  large  anteroom  adjoining,  with  a  wide  door  between. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


492    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


The  chapel  has  been  beautifully  decorated,  as  may  be  seen  from  the 
remains  of  the  canopied  niches  and  deep  pointed  windows  along  its  south 
side  (Fig.  422).  The  canopies  are  sadly  decayed,  and  the  statues  gone, 
but  the  corbels  on  which  they  stood  are  still  adorned  with  beautifully 
carved  angels  playing  upon  various  musical  instruments.  The  passage  at 
the  east  end  gives  access  from  the  great  hall  and  the  King's  private  rooms 
to  the  chapel.  There  was  a  gallery  at  the  west  end,  and  there  is  a  wide 
opening  from  the  upper  corridor  into  the  chapel,  making  the  corridor  a 
kind  of  gallery  from  which  the  altar  might  be  seen.  The  corridors  along 
this  side  form  a  convenient  means  of  passing  from  the  hall  to  the  west 
side  of  the  quadrangle  without  passing  through  the  chapel. 


FIG.  423.— Linlithgow  Palace.     North-West  Angle  of  Courtyard. 

Mr.  Joseph  Robertson  has  ascertained  that  "  in  each  of  the  five 
windows  of  the  chapel  at  Linlithgow  Palace  was  a  figure  or  image  of 
what  the  Records  of  1535  call  'made  work,'  i.e.  pieced  work  or  mosaic. 
The  price  of  this  was  6s.  8d.  a  foot,  the  price  of  the  white  or  common 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


—    493    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


glass  being  thirteen  pence  a  foot — both  sums  of  course  being  Scotch 
money.  The  five  images  cost  altogether  less  than  £10,,  the  plain  glass 
in  which  they  were  set  costing  £15.  The  painted  glass  of  the  five 
windows  of  the  Lion  Chamber  (the  Parliament  Hall},  executed  in  the 
same  year,  1535,  cost  £7,  the  common  glass  costing  less  than  £4>." 

Many  of  the  other  entries  in  the  Records  are  most  interesting  in  con- 
nection with  the  furnishing  of  the  building.  Thus  we  find  that  here, 
as  in  England,  the  floors  were  strewn  with  rushes,  and  the  walls  hung 
with  arras.  The  glass  in  the  windows  was  evidently  a  fixture,  but  the 
arras  was  carried  backwards  and  forwards  between  Edinburgh  and  Lin- 
lithgow.  The  furnishings  for  the  chapel,  the  plate-chests,  cupboards, 
etc.,  were  also  carried  about  as  the  King  changed  his  residence.  The 
King's  organ,  or  "  pair  of  organs,"  for  use  in  the  chapel,  also  accompanied 
him  when  he  moved  from  one  palace  to  another. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  quadrangle  are  the  King's  dining-room  and 
drawing-room.  The  private  stair  from  the  dining-room  to  the  wine- 
cellars  has  already  been  referred  to.  The  window,  from  the  ingoing  of 
which  this  is  entered  (Fig.  423),  was  altered  in  the  time  of  James  vi.,  as 
is  evident  from  its  design. 

The  small  room  at  the  south-west  angle  is  apparently  a  private  room, 
to  which  parties  might  retire  from  the  anteroom  or  dining-room,  or  it 
may  have  been  used  as  a  kitchen  or  pantry  in  connection  with  the 
dining-room.  The  dining-room  and  drawing-room  have  stone  seats  in 


FIG.  424. — Liulithgow  Palace.    Fireplace  in  Drawing-Room. 

the  window  recesses.  The  drawing-room  is  usually  called  Queen  Mary's 
Room,  and  it  is  said  that  she  was  born  there.  The  fireplace  (Fig.  424) 
is  interesting  from  being  very  similar  to  those  of  the  palace  at  Stirling, 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    494    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


above  referred  to,  page  475.  The  carving  of  the  caps  is  so  much  in  the 
same  style  that  it  may  have  been  done  by,  the  same  artist  who  designed 
those  of  Stirling,  and  thus  serves  to  connect  the  history  of  the  two  build- 
ings. The  long  low  mullioned  window  (Fig.  423)  to  the  courtyard, 
placed  near  the  ceiling  of  the  drawing-room,  is  remarkable.  It  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  introduced  to  light  up  the  ceiling,  which  was  probably 


FIG.  423.— Linlithgow  Palace.     South-East  Angle  of  Courtyard. 

of  elaborately  carved  work,  like  those  at  Stirling.     The  floor  was  laid 
with  a  design  of  mixed  pavement  and  tiles,  part  of  which  still  remains. 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE  495 THIRD   PERIOD 

The  apartment  at  the  north-west  angle  was  the  royal  bedroom.  The 
bow  window  to  the  north,  with  fine  groined  vault  (Figs.  414  and  415),  was 
probably  an  oratory  adjoining  the  bedroom,  but  has  been  altered  and 
destroyed  by  the  operations  in  1619-  There  is  a  small  room  under  the 
passage,  between  the  bedroom  and  drawing-room,  entering  by  a  trap 
stair  from  the  bedroom.  It  is .  fitted  up  with  bins  like  a  wine-cellar. 
James  HI.  is  said  to  have  been  concealed  here. 

When  James  vi.  visited  Linlithgow  in  1617  he  found  the  north  side 
of  the  quadrangle  in  a  ruinous  and  tottering  condition,  and  ordered  it  to 
be  rebuilt.  The  new  building  seems  to  have  been  carried  out  forthwith, 
as  it  bears  the  dates  of  1619  and  1620.  This  building  is  a  double  tene- 
ment, having  a  central  wall,  and  the  rooms  being  lighted  from  windows 
on  one  side  only  (see  the  Plans).  The  basement  floor  contains  six  rooms, 
apparently  bedrooms.  On  the  first  floor  there  is  a  hall  72  feet  long  by 
16  feet  wide,  called  the  Banqueting-hall.  It  has  two  large  fireplaces 
carved  in  the  Renaissance  style  of  the  rest  of  the  building.  The  rooms 
next  the  court  appear  to  have  been  bedrooms,  and  each  is  provided  with 
a  small  circular  closet  or  garde-robe. 

The  plan  of  the  second  floor  shows  (as  above  mentioned)  the  upper 
part  of  the  Parliament  Hall.  It  also  shows  the  continuation  of  the 
chapel,  with  the  openings  from  the  corridor  into  it.  The  other  apart- 
ments were  apparently  bedrooms  or  sitting-rooms,  but  the  floors  are  now 
nearly  all  gone. 

The  angle  stair  turrets  are  continued  to  the  roof,  and  give  access  to 
the  battlements.  These  run  all  round  the  building  in  the  form  of  wide 
stone  gutters,  which  could  be  speedily  manned,  and  defended  when 
required.  The  angle,  towers  are  carried  a  story  higher  than  the  rest  of 
the  building.  The  north  wing  has  five  stories  in  the  height  of  the  three 
stories  of  the  other  sides. 

The  sketches  of  the  building  show  the  different  styles  of  the  various 
parts.  Those  of  the  east  front  (Figs.  416  and  417)  show  the  great  entrance 
gateway  with  its  rich  decoration.  The  cusped  work  over  the  gateway 
has  some  affinity  with  that  of  the  windows  of  Stirling  Palace,  but  the 
niches  and  figures  are  of  an  earlier  date,  and  have  none  of  the  classic 
feeling  of  those  at  Stirling.  Mr.  Joseph  Robertson,  referring  to  the 
interior  of  this  gateway  (Fig.  425),  finds  from  the  Records  of  the  year 
1535  that  "the  now  empty  niches  above  the  grand  gateway  in  the 
eastern  side  of  the  quadrangle  were  filled  with  statues  of  a  pope  to  repre- 
sent the  Church ;  a  knight  to  indicate  the  Gentry;  and  a  labouring  man 
to  symbolise  the  Commons — each  having  a  scroll  above  his  head,  on  which 
were  inscribed  a  few  words  of  legend,  now  irretrievably  lost.  This  group," 
continues  Mr.  Robertson,  "  together  with  the  group  of  the  Salutation  of 
the  Virgin  upon  the  other  side  of  the  quadrangle  (Fig.  418),  and  certain 
unicorns  and  a  lion  upon  the  outer  gateway,  were  brilliantly  painted." 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    496    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


•111 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE  497    THIRD  PERIOD 

A  good  deal  of  the  external  work  seems  to  have  been  painted  and 
gilded  as  late  as  the  time  of  James  vi.  There  is  an  entry  in  1629,  "  For 
painting  and  laying  over  with  oyle  cullour,  and  for  gelting  with  gold  the 
haill  foir  face  of  the  new  wark  " — the  north  side. 

The  south  side  of  the  palace  (Fig.  426)  is  marked  by  the  long  deeply 
recessed  and  cusped  windows  of  the  chapel,  and  by  the  rather  dwarfed 
porch,  with  its  small  round  towers  and  loopholes.  Internally  this  side 
is  remarkable  for  the  corridor  on  each  floor,  with  windows  of  a  more 
decidedly  English  character  than  those  of  any  other  building  in  Scotland 
(Fig.  418).  They  are  decidedly  "perpendicular"  or  Tudor  in  style,  and 
probably  later  than  the  building  to  which  they  are  attached.  As  above 
suggested,  the  south  porch  is  an  addition,  and  these  corridors  were 
possibly  built  at  the  same  time.  Fig.  427  shows  the  entrance  to  the 
courtyard  by  the  above  porch,  and  the  details  of  the  corridor  windows. 
At  Falkland  Palace  there  are  corridors  added  in  the  same  way,  which 
contain  windows  somewhat  similar  in  style,  and  these  we  know  were 
built  by  James  v.  The  upper  niches  (Fig.  418)  contained  the  Salutation 
of  the  Virgin,  whose  statue  still  stands,  together  with  her  pot  of  lilies, 
but  the  angel  is  gone. 

The  west  side  is  very  plain,  both  externally  and  internally  (Figs.  426 
and  423).  It  should  be  noticed  that  the  corbels  carrying  the  parapet 
(both  inside  and  outside)  are  of  an  older  type  than  those  of  the  other 
sides  of  the  square. 

The  north-west  angle  turret  (Figs.  423  and  428)  is  the  best  pre- 
served, and  was  the  highest.  This  and  the  south-east  or  Tyler's  Tower 
(Fig.  425)  served  as  the  watch-towers,  the  top  being  heightened  with  a 
smaller  tower  crowned  with  battlements,  to  which  access  was  got  by  a 
winding  outside  stair.  The  north-west  tower  contains,  in  the  inside  of 
the  heightened  part,  a  small  octagonal  room,  vaulted  with  groins,  with 
loopholes  on  each  side,  and  a  stone  seat  round  the  wall.  It  is  called 
"  Queen  Margaret's  Bower  "  and  is  referred  to  by  Scott  as  the  seat  in 
which  James  iv.'s  queen  kept  fruitless  vigil  for  her  lord's  return  from 
Flodden.  Mr.  J.  H.  Parker  thinks  that  this  was  probably  the  Queen's 
oratory,  and  refers  to  several  similar  examples  in  England.  The  interior 
is  well  illustrated  by  Billings. 

The  north  side  is  an  excellent  specimen  of  the  style  of  James  vi. 
The  interior  (Fig.  423)  has  a  strong  affinity  with  the  style  of  Heriot's 
Hospital,  which  was  designed  about  the  same  time,  and  may  have  been 
by  the  same  hand, — perhaps  William  Wallace,  the  King's  Master  Mason 
for  Scotland  at  the  time.  The  external  view  (Fig.  417)  of  this  front, 
owing  to  the  great  height  of  the  building,  is  massive  and  imposing,  and 
although  so  late  in  date,  harmonises  well  with  the  earlier  work. 

Fig.  428  is  a  view  taken  from  the  battlements  of  the  west  side,  and 
shows  the  north-west  tower  crowned  with  Queen  Margaret's  Bower  and 

2  i 


THIRD  PERIOD 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


—  499  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


the  upper  part  of  the  north  side  rebuilt  by  James  vi.     It  bears  over  the 
central  staircase  the  date  1620. 

The  fountain  (Fig.  423)  in  the  centre  of  the  courtyard  has  unfortu- 
nately been  terribly  destroyed,  but  must,  when  complete,  have  been  a 


splendid  ornament  to  the  quadrangle.     From  its  style  it  seems  to  belong 
to  the  time  of  James  v.,  whose  work  is  marked  by  the  frequent  use  of 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    500    — 


LINLITHGOW  PALACE 


large  medallions  with  heads,  as  in  the  Stirling  ceilings  and  at  Falkland. 
This  was  most  probably  an  idea  imported  by  him  from  France,  where 
similar  medallions  were  much  in  use  (see  Fig.  42). 

The  gatehouse  leading  to  the  town  (Fig.  429)  was  doubtless  erected 
by  James  v.  It  is  adorned  over  the  archway  with  his  four  Orders  of 
Knighthood.  Three  of  these  were  presented  to  him,  viz.,  St.  Michael 
by  Francis  i.,  the  Golden  Fleece  by  the  Emperor  Charles  v.,  the  Garter 
by  Henry  vm.  of  England,  while  the  fourth,  the  Order  of  the  Thistle,  is 
said  to  have  been  founded  by  James  himself.  These  shields  have  been 
restored  in  this  century. 


FIG.  429. — Linlithgow  Palace.    Entrance  of  Gatehouse. 

After  the  Royal  Family  of  Scotland  had  removed  to  London  the 
palace  was  left  in  charge  of  a  keeper.  During  the  troublous  reigns  of 
the  Stewarts  it  passed  through  many  vicissitudes. 


FALKLAND  PALACE  - —  501  


THIRD  PERIOD 


It  was  fortified  by  Cromwell,  and  was  occupied  by  Prince  Charlie, 
and  finally  burned  by  Hawley's  dragoons  in  1746. 

Since  that  time  the  palace  has  been  a  complete  ruin.  It  has  fortu- 
nately escaped  all  the  numerous  proposals  which  have  been  made  to 
restore  it  and  convert  it  into  barracks,  County  Courts,  Register  House, 
and  what  not,  and  is  now  happily  under  the  careful  guardianship  of 
the  Commissioners  of  Woods  and  Forests,  so  that  there  is  every  prospect 
of  this  most  interesting  of  our  Royal  palaces  being  preserved  from  the 
destructive  hands  of  both  time  and  the  restorer. 

FALKLAND  PALACE,  FIFESHIRE. 

The  castle  and  lordship  of  Falkland  belonged  in  the  fourteenth 
century  to  the  Earls  of  Fife,  and  in  1371  were  in  the  hands  of  Robert 
Stewart,  Earl  of  Fife  and  Menteith,  son  of  Robert  n.  Under  the  title 
of  Duke  of  Albany,  that  Earl  was  Regent  of  Scotland,  and  occupied  the 
castle  of  Falkland  as  his  residence  for  thirty-four  years.  It  was  then 
that  the  title  of  Palace  was  given  to  this  residence  ;  but  the  palace  which 
then  existed  has  been  entirely  removed,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  the 
existing  building  is  even  on  the  site  of  the  old  one. 

It  was  in  the  old  palace  that  David,  Duke  of  Rothesay,  was  imprisoned 
by  his  uncle  Albany,  and  where  he  died,  under  suspicious  circumstances, 
in  1402. 

When  James  i.  returned  from  his  captivity  in  1424,  Murdo,  Duke  of 
Albany,  the  son  and  successor  of  Duke  Robert,  was  executed,  and 
Falkland  was  annexed  to  the  Crown.  The  domain  is  pleasantly  situated 
in  the  valley  of  the  Eden,  in  the  centre  of  Fifeshire,  at  a  convenient 
distance  from  Edinburgh  and  Stirling,  and  was  surrounded  with  a  forest 
which  afforded  ample  scope  for  the  practice  of  the  chase.  Hence  it 
became  a  favourite  retreat  for  the  Scottish  kings.  The  three  first 
Jameses  often  resorted  to  it,  and  the  town  of  Falkland  was  erected  into 
a  royal  burgh  by  James  n.  in  1458. 

James  in.  and  James  iv.  are  both  said  to  have  carried  on  works  at  the 
palace,  and  one  would  say.  from  the  style  of  the  south  front  (Fig.  430), 
that  it  belongs  to  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  interior  of  the  existing  building  fronting  the  courtyard  was 
added  by  James  v.,  who  was  particularly  attached  to  this  residence.  It 
was  from  here  he  escaped  out  of  the  hands  of  Angus  in  1528,  and  here 
he  died,  in  1542,  broken-hearted  at  the  rout  of  Solway  Moss. 

After  James's  death  Mary  of  Guise  often  lived  at  Falkland,  and 
Queen  Mary  was  fond  of  retiring  to  it  as  a  hunting-seat. 

James  vi.  resided  much  here  for  his  favourite  pastime  of  the  chase, 
and,  to  judge  from  the  style  of  what  remains,  he  seems  to  have  added 
considerably  to  the  size  of  the  building. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    502    — 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


The  palace  was  occupied  both  by  Charles  i.  and  Charles  n.  After 
the  battle  of  Sheriffmuir,  in  1715,  it  became  the  abode  for  a  short  period 
of  a  very  different  sort  of  personage.  Rob  Roy  Macgregor  took  posses- 


sion of  it,  harried  the  country  around,  and  carried  off  much  booty  to  the 
Highlands. 

In  Charles  ii.'s   time  the  building  was  greatly  injured  by   fire,  and 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


—    503    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


stood  for  long  in  a  ruinous  state ;  but  it  has  now,  so  far  as  it  remains, 
been  put  into  good  order  by  the  proprietor,  Mr.  Bruce,  and  is  partly 
occupied  as  a  residence  by  his  factor. 

When  complete,  the  palace  is  said  to  have  comprised  buildings  on  the 
south,  east,  and  north  sides  of  the  quadrangle,  the  west  side  being 
enclosed  with  a  high  wall.  The  only  portions  remaining  (Fig.  431) 
consist  of  the  south  side  of  the  square  and  some  remnants  of  the  east 
side. 

At  the  west  end  of  the  southern  side  between 
two  round  towers  is  situated  the  archway  to 
the  courtyard.  It  is  9  feet  wide,  and  has  a  stone 
seat  on  each  side. 

There  is  no  portcullis,  showing  that  this 
palace  was  regarded  rather  as  a  pleasant  country 
residence  than  as  a  castle.  On  either  side,  how- 
ever, there  is  a  guard-room,  and  in  the  western 
tower  a  dungeon,  with  the  usual  trap  and  stone 
cover.  From  the  apartment  on  the  east  side  of 
the  entrance  a  staircase  is  carried  up  in  the  east 
tower  to  the  upper  floors  and  the  roof.  The 


WVy 


r  w*~ 

Kpfr- 
mA 

mwfw- 


Fio.  431.— Falkland  Palace.    Ground  Plan. 

plan  of  this  gateway  has  some  resemblance  to  the  gatehouse  of  Stirling 
Castle,  and  the  elevation  is  also  very  like  that  of  Stirling,  as  shown  in 
Slezer's  views. 

The  basement  of  the  main  building  contains  the  usual  vaulted  cellars. 
The  ground  floor  is  now  divided  as  a  modern  house,  but  the  first  floor 


THIRD  PERIOD 


504 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


(Fig.  431)  contains  the  original  large  hall,  about  80  feet  long  by  24  feet 
6  inches  wide. 

There  was  probably  originally  a  turret  stair  at  the  west  end  of  the 
corridor,  near  the  entrance  to  the  courtyard,  giving  access  to  the  hall  and 
to  the  rooms  over  the  gateway ;  but  this  would  be  removed  when 
James  v.  added  the  corridor  along  the  inside  of  the  building.  It  was 
no  doubt  intended  to  erect  a  stair  turret  at  the  west  end  to  correspond 
with  that  at  the  east  end,  but  this  part  of  the  building  does  not  appear 
to  have  ever  been  completed. 

The  large  apartment  on  the  first  floor  seems  to  have  been  the  hall 
of  the  palace,  from  its  having  "  the  screens  "  at  the  west  end.  The  oak 
screen  separating  the  passage  from  the  hall  still  exists  (Fig.  432),  and  is 

a  good  specimen  of  the  wood-work  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  Over  the  screens  is 
the  gallery  for  musicians. 

The  hall  is  well  lighted  with  four  large 
mullioned  windows,  and  the  ceiling,  which  is 
of  about  the  same  date  as  the  screens,  is  of 
wood,  and  is  ornamented  with  wooden  ribs 
and  mouldings.  Some  traces  of  painting 
of  a  rather  coarse  kind  are  still  observable. 

The  door  shown  in  Fig.  432  belonged  to 
the  collection  of  antiquities  formed  by  the 
late  Mr.  Paton  of  Dunfermline,  where  it  was 
simply  marked  as  from  Falkland  Palace. 

The  rooms  over  the  entrance  gateway 
may  have  been  used  by  the  attendants. 
The  stair  in  the  eastern  turret  adjoining  the  gateway  runs  from  the 
basement  to  the  battlements,  and  may  have  been  in  connection  with 
the  kitchen  on  the  ground  floor ;  but  the  remains  are  so  fragmentary 
that  the  dispositions  of  the  building  cannot  now  be  certainly  ascertained. 
Turning  to  the  elevations,  it  has  been  often  remarked  that  the 
entrance,  with  its  towers,  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  north-west 
part  of  Holyrood.  We  have  also  seen  that  in  plan  and  elevation  this 
portion  is  very  similar  to  the  gateway  at  Stirling,  thus  showing  a  striking 
resemblance  in  the  design  of  these  three  royal  abodes,  which  were  pro- 
bably all  erected  about  the  same  time.  It  will  be  observed  that  the 
cornice  of  this  portion  of  the  building  is  continued  along  the  whole 
of  the  south  front,  which  is  supported  with  buttresses  in  a  rather 
unusual  manner.  These  buttresses  are  ornamented  with  canopied  niches 
and  pinnacles  similar  in  style  to  the  earlier  parts  of  Linlithgow.  There 
can  be  little  doubt,  from  all  these  indications,  that  the  gateway  and  hall 
are  of  one  date,  which  was  probably  in  the  reign  of  James  iv.,  towards 
the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 


PIG.  432.— Door  from  Falkland 
Palace. 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


—    505    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  south  front  of  the  palace  is  quite  unique,  and  is  very  effective. 
While  the  introduction  of  the  buttresses  is  unusual,  and  rather  foreign 
to  Scottish  work,  the  forms  of  the  cornice,  pinnacles,  etc.,  are  quite 
Scotch,  and  seem  to  indicate  the  attempt  of  a  native  architect  to  intro- 
duce a  novelty,  rather  than  the  work  of  a  foreign  designer.  The  gables 
over  the  entrance  block  have  crow-steps,  each  of  which  is  "  gabled,"  a 
form  occasionally,  but  not  generally,  employed  in  Scotland.  It  is  how- 
ever to  be  seen  at  the  hall  of  Edinburgh  Castle. 


FIG.  433.— Falkland  Palace.    Interior  of  Hall. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  corridor  along  the  inside  of  the  courtyard 
(Fig.  434)  was  added  by  James  v.  On  the  plinth  under  each  column 
occur  alternately  the  inscriptions  I. R.5.D.G.  and  MRIA.D.G.,  i.e.  Jacobus 
Rex  v.  Dei  Gratia  and  Maria  Dei  Gratia,  the  latter  being  for  Mary 
of  Guise,  the  Queen  of  James  v. 

This  part  of  the  palace  was  therefore  added  between  1539,  when 
James  brought  Mary  home,  and  1542,  the  date  of  his  death.  The  design 
is  very  pure  early  Renaissance,  and  has  considerable  affinity  with  the 
similar  work  at  Stirling.  There  is  probably  no  other  building  in  Scot- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    506    — 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


land  with  such  fine  Renaissance  details  (Fig.  435).     The  corbels  support- 
ing the  roof  of  the  great  hall  of  Edinburgh  Castle  are  of  similar  work. 


•  ' •' 


The  circular  panels  containing  carved  heads  are  well  designed,  and 
although  much  decayed  are  still  most  effective.  These  strongly  recall 
the  well-known  "  Stirling  Heads."  The  work  generally  suggests,  in 
both  cases,  a  foreign  artist,  and  we  know  from  the  Treasurer's  Accounts 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


507    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


that  both  James  iv.  and  James  v.  employed  Frenchmen  on  their  build- 
ings. 

James  v.  visited  France,  and  spent  some  time  at  the  Court  of  Francis  i., 
to  whose  daughter  Madeleine  he  was  married  at  Loches  in  1537.  He 
was  no  doubt  much  impressed  with  the  magnificent  buildings  he  then 
saw  in  the  district  of  the  Loire,  and  was  smitten  with  the  passion  for 
the  erection  of  splendid  palaces  in  the 
Renaissance  style  which  was  then  so  pre- 
valent in  France.  The  result  seems  to 
have  been  that  he  brought  back  with  him, 
on  his  return  to  Scotland,  French  workmen 
to  carry  out  his  designs.  We  find  traces 
of  their  handiwork  both  at  Stirling  and 
Falkland.  The  "  Stirling  Heads,"  and 
those  in  the  medallions  on  the  north  front 
of  Falkland  Palace,  are  precisely  similar 
to  those  which  form  a  leading  feature  in 
the  designs  of  most  of  the  French  chateaux 
of  the  period,  while  the  details  of  the 
Falkland  corridor  have  a  very  striking  re- 
semblance to  those  of  early  French  Renais- 
sance work. 

In  the  caps  and  bases  of  the  columns 
and  pilasters,  for  instance,  we  see  the  same 
peculiar  reminiscence  of  the  Late  Gothic 
method  of  interpenetration  of  mouldings 
which  is  characteristic  of  French  work, 
while  the  foliage  of  the  caps  and  the  forms 
of  the  mouldings  strongly  resemble  similar 
work  of  this  period  in  France. 

In  illustration  of  this,  compare  the  de- 
tails of  Falkland  with  those  of  the  so-called 
House  of  Francis  i.  (Fig.  42)  in  Paris.  There 
is  a  similar  interpenetration  of  the  caps,  and 
the  heads,  surrounded  with  wreaths,  are 
identical  in  character  in  both. 

In  the  French  example  these  heads  are 
all  portraits  of  kings  and  queens  of  the 
period.  Possibly  those  at  Falkland  were 
also  copied  from  the  life. 

These  are  clear  instances  of  work  executed  by  foreign  artists.  But 
they  stand  quite  alone  in  the  history  of  Scottish  Architecture,  and 
they  anticipate  by  about  half  a  century  the  Renaissance  work  of  the 
"  Fourth  Period  "  in  the  time  of  James  vi.,  so  frequently  spoken  of  by 


FIG.  435.—  Falkland  Palace.    Details 
of  Corridor  in  Courtyard. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    508    — 


FALKLAND  PALACE 


Billings  and  others  as  "  French."  The  details  of  the  latter  period  are 
quite  different,  and  they  very  timidly  and  slowly  encroached  upon  the 
old  native  style  ;  whereas  here  we  have  fine  French  detail  and  good 
carving  suddenly  introduced  in  a  manner  which  can  only  be  accounted 
for  in  some  such  way  as  that  above  described. 

The  corridor  at  Falkland  is  added  in  a  similar  manner  to  that  at 
Linlithgow,  and  the  design  of  the  lower  windows  in  the  former  is  some- 
what in  the  same  style  as  those  of  the  latter. 

Of  the  east  side  of  the  quadrangle  only  part  of  the  inner  wall 
remains  (Fig.  434).  This  is  sometimes  ascribed  to  James  v.,  but  the 
work  is  altogether  coarser  than  and  inferior  to  that  of  the  south  side. 
It  is  evidently  an  imitation,  but  a  very  imperfect  one,  of  the  south  side, 
and  is  more  probably  of  the  time  of  James  vi. 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  KNIGHTS  HOSPITALLERS  OF 
ST.  JOHN  OF  JERUSALEM,  LINLITHGOW. 

Town  houses  of  this  period  are  rare  in  Scotland,  but  we  have,  or 
rather  had,  an  excellent  example  in  this  building,  which  we  regret 
to  observe  has  quite  recently  been  entirely  demolished  and  removed  to 
make  way  for  "  modern  improvements."  This 
took  place  notwithstanding  strong  protests  from 
the  Antiquarian  Society  of  Scotland  and  the 
Glasgow  Architectural  Association,  and  we 
understand  that  even  the  Town  Council  of 
Linlithgow  were  aroused  by  the  Vandalism 
which  threatened  to  sweep  away  from  their 
good  town  this  unique  and  important  edifice. 
But  all  protests  were  in  vain. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  there  is  no 
historical  ground  for  maintaining  the  ordinary 
tradition  that  this  building  was  the  Hotel  of 
the  Knights  Hospitallers.  Mr.  Waldie,  in  his 
minute  and  valuable  little  work  on  the  history 
of  Linlithgow,  is  of  opinion  that  it  was  either 
an  almshouse  or  a  leper-house. 

Like  all  the  town  mansions  in  Scotland  pre- 
vious to  the  last  century,  and  like  the  private 
residences  or  hotels  on  the  Continent  still,  this 
mansion   consisted   of  buildings   surrounding  a 
courtyard   (Fig.   436).     There  was  a  block    of 
buildings  fronting  the  main  street,  with  an  arch- 
way leading  to  the  courtyard.      At  the  height  of  one  story  above  the 
inner  archway  there  occurred  (Fig.  437)  three  projecting  corbels,  with 


Fio.  436.— Plan  of  First  Floor. 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  KNIGHTS  —    509    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

weather  table  above,  which   seemed  to  mark  the  top  of  the  roof  of  a 


FJG.  437.—  Interior  of  Courtyard. 
projecting  wooden  erection,  which  may  have  served  as  a  hoarding  for 


THIRD  PERIOD  510    —  RESIDENCE  OF  THE  KNIGHTS 

defence,  the  hoarding  being  entered  from  the  window.    The  street  front 


FIG.  438.— Interior  of  Hall. 

of  this  block  had,  to  a  large  extent,  been  rebuilt  and  modernised. 


HOSPITALLERS  OF  ST.  JOHN  511    THIRD  PERIOD 

A  square  tower,  with  crow-stepped  gables,  containing  a  circular  stair- 


case  leading  to  the  upper  floors,  was  placed  in  the  angle  of  the  court- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    512    — 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  KNIGHTS 


yard  adjoining  the  entrance,  of  which  a  view  is  given  looking  through 
the  archway  towards  the  street  (Fig.  437). 

The  basement  floor  was  vaulted,  and  extended  along  both  sides  of  the 
court,  and  no  doubt  contained  the  kitchen  and  offices.  On  the  first  floor 
on  the  west  side  was  the  great  hall,  which  was  the  most  interesting  part 
of  the  building.  It  contained  a  beautiful  fireplace,  with  finer  mouldings 
and  better  carving  than  are  generally  found  in  the  castles  or  mansions 
of  Scotland  (Figs.  438  and  439).  This  fireplace  was  about  9  feet  wide  and 
5  feet  10  inches  in  the  height  of  the  opening.  The  lintel  was  a  double 
one,  composed  of  three  stones  (Fig.  440),  fitted  together  with  radiating 
joints;  and,  in  order  to  strengthen  this  lintel,  a  malleable  iron  bar, 


FIG.  440.— Section  through  Hall. 

1^  inch  by  If  inch,  was  checked  into  the  soffit,  having  a  rest  on  the 
jambs  at  each  end  (Fig.  439).  This  bar  was  undoubtedly  a  part  of  the 
original  construction  of  the  fireplace,  and  is  interesting  as  being  a  rare 
example  of  iron  used  in  this  manner  before  modern  times.  The  jambs 
consisted  of  the  bead  and  hollow  mouldings,  with  carved  caps  and  a 
peculiar  base,  which  will  be  understood  from  the  drawings.  On  the 
sloping  hood  of  the  fireplace  there  were  three ,  beautifully  carved 
brackets,  probably  meant  for  holding  figures  or  lamps.  The  hall  had 
also  one  of  the  few  remaining  open-timbered  oak  roofs  in  Scotland, 


HOSPITALLERS  OF  ST.  JOHN 


—    513    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


the    construction    of   which    is    explained    by    the    measured    drawings 
(Fig.  440). 

At  the  south  end  of  the  courtyard  stood  the  old  tower,  which  formed 
a  prominent  object  in  the  view  of  Linlithgow  from  the  railway  (Fig.  441). 
It  possessed  some  unique  features  in  its  projecting  windows  (Fig.  439) 
and  internal  arrangements.  It  was  five  stories  in  height,  the  ground 
floor,  the  first  floor,  and  the  third  floor  being  vaulted  (Fig.  442).  The 
ground  floor  had  a  wide  archway  next  the  court,  so  as  to  form  an  open 
vaulted  shed,  probably  for  vehicles,  with  a  door  at  the  south  end,  the 
top  of  which  is  seen  in  the  view  (Fig.  441).  The  first  floor  was  entered 


FIG.  441.— -View  from  the  South-East. 

by  an  outside  staircase  from  the  courtyard.  From  this  floor  a  newel  stair 
in  the  south-west  angle  led  to  the  upper  floors.  There  was  a  hatch  in 
the  vault  between  the  first  floor  and  the  second  floor,  as  well  as  the 
wheel  stair.  Hatches  are  common  in  the  vaults  over  ground  floors,  and 
their  purpose  is  easily  understood  when  they  are  in  that  position. 
To  have  so  placed  a  hatch  here  would  have  exposed  the  buildings  to 
invasion ;  for,  as  already  explained,  the  ground  floor  is  not  enclosed. 
There  was  little  difficulty  in  lifting  heavy  goods  up  the  straight  stair  from 
the  courtyard  to  the  first  floor,  therefore  the  hatch  was  here  introduced, 

2  K 


THIRD  PERIOD 


514 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  KNIGHTS 


in  the  vault  between  the  first  and  second  floors,  where  the  wheel  stair 
rendered  this  operation  almost  impossible. 

Probably  this  tower  was  the  residence  of  the  superior,  and  formed  a 
kind  of  keep,  and  the  hatch  in  the  floor  was  to  enable  valuables  to  be 
hoisted  up  hastily  in  case  of  need.  There  was  a  door  from  the  principal 
room  on  the  second  floor  (in  which  the  corbelled  windows  were), 
which  looked  into  the  hall  from  a  high  level, 
and  commanded  a  view  of  all  that  went  on 
there.  The  position  of  this  doorway  is  shown 
on  the  plan  and  section  (Figs.  436  and  442). 

Of  the  history  of  this  building  absolutely 
nothing  seems  to  be  certainly  known.  It  is 
said  to  have  belonged  to  the  Knights  Templars  ; 
but  this  is  impossible,  as  that  order  was  broken 
up  long  before  the  date  of  this  building,  which 
is  probably  of  the  second  half  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  or  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury. It  is  also  said  to  have  been  the  town 
residence  of  the  Knights  Hospitallers  of  St. 
John  of  Jerusalem,  and  this  seems  to  be  the 
general  opinion.  Their  principal  place  in  Scotland  being  at  Torphichen, 
about  four  miles  distant  from  Linlithgow  (where  the  ruins  of  their  church 
still  stand),  favours  this  idea.1 


Fio.  442.— Section  through 
Tower. 


DUNFERMLINE  PALACE,  FIFESHIRE. 

The  town  of  Dunfermline  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  Scottish 
history.  The  locality  was  a  favourite  resort  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  and 
the  foundations  of  a  tower,  said  to  have  been  built  by  him,  may  still  be 
traced  on  a  rocky  eminence  which  projects  into  the  valley  on  the  south 
of  the  town.  It  was  here  that  he  was  married,  in  1070,  to  Margaret,  the 
sister  of  Edgar  Atheling,  who  exercised  so  great  an  influence  in  the 
introduction  of  civilisation  and  religion  from  the  south. 

The  Abbey  of  Dunfermline  was  founded  by  Malcolm  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood, and  became  in  after  times  one  of  the  richest  and  most  exten- 
sive of  the  monastic  institutions  of  the  country. 

Here  the  sainted  Margaret  and  her  husband  were  buried,  as  well  as 
a  long  succession  of  kings  and  princes. 

From  Malcolm's  time  Dunfermline  became  a  constant  residence  of 
the  Scottish  kings,  and  the  monastery  was  enlarged  and  endowed  by 
Alexander  i.  and  his  successors.  The  buildings  must  have  been  of 

1  This  church  is  illustrated  and  described  in  the  Building  News  of  26th  March  1886  ; 
and  also,  with  greater  fulness,  in  the  second  volume  of  the  Sketch  Book,  published  by  the 
Edinburgh  Architectural  Association. 


DUNFERMLINE  PALACE 


—     515 


THIRD  PERIOD 


considerable  extent  at  the  time  of  Edward  i.'s  invasion  in  1296,  though 
whether  they  as  yet  included  a  Royal  palace  is  unknown. 

Edward  passed  some  months  of  the  winter  of  1303  in  Dunfermline 
Abbey,  and  on  leaving  set  fire  to  and  completely  destroyed  the  buildings 
which  had  sheltered  him  and  his  army. 

The  abbey  was  restored  by  Robert  the  Bruce,  and  he  is  stated  to 
have  added  a  Royal  palace.  His  son  and  successor,  David  n.,  was  born 
here  in  1323. 

There  does  not  seem  to  be  much  recorded  regarding  the  visits  of 
Royalty  during  the  fifteenth  century,  but  from  dates  of  charters  it  is 
ascertained  that  till  the  time  of  James  i.  it  was  a  frequent  residence  of 
the  Kings.  James  iv.  stayed  in  the  palace,  and  James  v.  visited  it  during 
a  Royal  progress,  with  his  bride,  Mary  of  Lorraine. 


Pio.  443. — Dunfermline  Palace  and  Abbey.    Plan. 

Dunfermline  was  a  principal  residence  of  James  vr.,  and  here  were 
born  Charles  i.  (1600),  and  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  Bohemia  (1596).  Queen 
Anne  of  Denmark  lived  much  at  Dunfermline,  where  she  had  a  private 
house  of  her  own  (now  removed),  which  stood  between  the  palace  and 
the  abbey  church. 

The  palace  is  situated  to  the  south-west  of  the  abbey  (Fig.  443), 
but  was  connected  with  it  by  a  tower  through  an  archway,  under  which 
still  passes  the  public  road  to  the  town  from  the  south. 


THIRD  PERIOD  5l6    DUNFERMLINE  PALACE 

The  palace  has  been  greatly  demolished,  the  only  part  now  remain- 
ing being  the  south-west  wall,  which  overlooks  the  ravine  below,  and 
some  ruins  at  the  east  end  containing  the  King's  kitchen,  etc.  It  was 
adjoining  the  latter  that  the  connection  between  the  monastery  and  the 
palace  was  situated.  The  kitchen  still  contains  two  fireplaces  and  traces 
of  vaulting,  and  there  are  also  the  ruins  of  a  scullery  adjoining.  In  this 
easteni  part  of  the  building,  and  under  the  above,  there  is  a  vaulted  and 
groined  chamber  supported  on  two  octagonal  pillars.  This  was  probably 
used  as  a  storehouse.  It  is  44  feet  long,  24  feet  broad,  and  14  feet  high, 
and  from  the  style  of  the  sculptured  work  may  be  even  older  than 
Bruce's  time.  All  this  part  of  the  building  (on  the  right  in  Fig.  444)  is, 
from  its  style,  clearly  ancient.  The  mixture  of  round  and  pointed  arches 
seems  to  point  to  the  "transition"  period  from  Norman  to  Early  English, 
or  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century.  The  lower  part  of  the  walls 
of  the  whole  south  front  most  likely  represent  the  work  done  by  Bruce, 
and  perhaps  continued  by  his  successors  during  the  fourteenth  century. 
The  upper  part  of  the  south  wall  is  in  a  totally  different  style.  The  large 
mullioned  windows,  with  buttresses  between  (Fig.  445),  recall  the  designs 
of  Falkland  and  Linlithgow,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  portion 
belongs  to  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  There  is  110  trace  of 
the  Renaissance  details  which  James  v.  introduced  at  Stirling  and  Falk- 
land. It  rather  resembles  the  earlier  work  of  James  in.  and  James  iv. 

The  whole  length  of  the  wall  overlooking  •  the  glen  is  205  feet.  It 
is  60  feet  high  externally,  but  the  wall  of  the  palace  next  the  courtyard 
is  only  about  30  feet  in  height.  On  the  level  of  the  courtyard,  and  at 
the  eastern  end,  was  situated  the  hall,  92  feet  long  by  28^  feet  wide, 
while  the  western  end  was  occupied  with  another  large  apartment,  51^ 
feet  long,  containing  a  large  projecting  oriel.  This  may  have  been  the 
salon  or  withdrawing-room.  On  the  upper  floor  were  bedrooms,  the  fire- 
places of  some  of  which  still  remain.  All  the  other  parts  of  the  palace, 
which  formed  a  court  to  the  northwards,  have  entirely  disappeared ;  and 
from  the  grand  design  of  the  south  wall  we  may  infer  that  the  loss  of 
the  rest  of  the  palace  is  greatly  to  be  regretted. 

The  lower  story,  of  which  the  pointed  windows  are  visible,  no  doubt 
formed  the  cellars  of  the  palace,  but  they  are  now  choked  with  rubbish 
and  quite  inaccessible. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Chalmers,  in  his  History  of  Dunfermline,  has  a  long 
dissertation  on  a  sculptured  stone  (of  which  he  gives  an  illustration), 
exhibiting  a  representation  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Virgin,  and  having 
on  it  the  date  1100  in  Arabic  numerals ;  but  from  the  style  of  the  sculp- 
ture, and  also  from  the  fact  of  the  stone  containing  the  arms  of  Abbot 
Dury  (1530-41),  there  can  be  no  hesitation  in  assigning  its  age  to  the 
latter  date. 

Mr.  Chalmers  also  explored  a  subterranean  passage  which  runs  from 


DUNFERMLINE  PALACE 


—    517    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—    518 


DUNFERMLINE  PALACE 


FIG.  445.— Dunfermline  Palace.    Western  Part  of  South  Front. 


BISHOP'S  PALACE  519    THIRD  PERIOD 

the  storeroom  above  mentioned  under  some  of  the  buildings.  It  seems 
to  have  formed  a  connection  between  the  palace  and  the  abbey,  with 
occasional  openings  to  the  surface  for  ventilation.  Several  branches 
radiate  from  this  subway,  and  there  is  a  central  vaulted  chamber  where 
these  passages  meet,  one  connecting  with  the  abbey,  another  with  the 
storerooms,  and  the  third  with  the  western  extremity  of  the  palace. 

After  the   time  of  Charles   u.   the   palace  was  allowed  to  fall   into 
decay. 


BISHOP'S  PALACE,  KIRKWALL,  ORKNEY. 

The  ancient  Bishop's  palace  at  Kirkwall  is  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Cathedral,  from  which  it  is  distant  about  30  yards.  Between 
it  and  the  Cathedral  is  the  churchyard  and  a  public  street.  Entering 
from  the  latter  the  approach  to  the  palace  was  by  an  archway  about 
7  feet  4  inches  wide  through  an  enclosing  wall.  This  wall  and  archway 
are  now  removed,  the  latter  being  built  into  a  broken  part  of  the  south 
side  of  the  palace  wall,  about  30  feet  from  its  north  end. 

The  palace  is  a  long  narrow  building  (Fig.  446),  partly  in  ruins  and 
partly  inhabited.  The  ruinous  part  is  109  feet  long  by  27  feet  6  inches 
wide,  with  a  large  projecting  round  tower  about  27  feet  6  inches  diameter, 
at  the  north-west  corner.  The  inhabited  portion  is  57  feet  long,  and 
beyond  this  the  structure  has  extended  at  least  other  15  feet.  Thus  the 
total  length  of  the  building  has  been  about  196  feet.  Such  a  long, 
narrow  plan  is  unusual  in  a  building  standing  alone.  It  seems  quite  likely 
that  it  formed  one  side  of  a  quadrangle,  or  of  an  intended  quadrangle. 

The  ground  on  the  west  front  is  lower  than  the  street  level  on  the 
east  side,  thus  admitting  of  an  arched  cellar  floor  on  the  lower  level 
entering  by  the  round  tower.  Above  this,  in  the  ruined  part,  there  are 
two  stories  and  an  attic  floor,  while  the  round  tower,  with  its  square 
chamber  on  top,  contains  five  stories,  the  ground  floor  being  up  a  few 
steps  above  the  floor  of  the  main  range. 

The  building  is  entirely  empty  inside,  with  neither  floors  nor  roof. 
A  view  of  the  south  front  is  given  by  Billings,  in  which  are  seen  two 
round  arched  openings,  now  built  up,  with  a  square  central  pillar.  The 
position  of  these  may  be  seen  on  plan  (Fig.  446).  This  was  in  all 
probability  the  passage  into  an  entrance  hall,  which  would  have  doors 
leading  off  it  on  either  hand.  Above  this  entrance,  and  resting  on  the 
pillar,  is  the  corbelling  of  a  fine  ruined  oriel,  semi-octagonal  on  plan  ; 
and  on  the  opposite  side,  indicated  by  dotted  lines  on  plan,  is  a  semi- 
circular oriel,  also  seen  on  view  (Fig.  447).  From  these  it  will  be  seen 
that  there  is  a  great  similarity  in  detail  to  the  Earl's  palace  adjoining, 
although  this  palace  dates  about  sixty  years  earlier.  There  is  a  narrow 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    520    — 


BISHOP  S  PALACE 


Q 
LJ 

I- 
02 


AT  KIRKWALL 


—    521    — 


THIRD   PERIOD 


'•'f  '.•'-,•••• 

:       ' 


THIRD  PERIOD  522    BISHOP'S  PALACE,  KIRKWALL 

entrance  (now  blocked  up)  on  the  east  side  near  the  projecting  fire- 
place. 

A  narrow  wheel  staircase  in  the  angle  of  the  tower  led  to  all  the 
upper  floors,  with  doors  of  communication  between  the  tower  rooms  and 
the  other  parts  of  the  building.  The  rooms  of  the  tower  are  all  square  on 
plan  internally,  and  each  is  provided  with  a  fireplace,  except  that  on  the 
fourth  floor.  The  square  chamber  on  the  top  of  the  tower  is  remarkable. 
It  is  provided  with  corbels  all  round,  which  have  evidently  supported 
a  lean-to  roof,  which  covered  in  the  parapet  walk.  We  have  here, 
therefore,  an  admirable  example  of  the  process  by  which  the  parapets 
came  to  be  raised,  and  the  eaves  of  the  roof  rested  on  them,  so  as  to 
convert  the  space  occupied  by  the  parapet  walk  into  rooms.  From  a 
minute  description  of  the  palace  by  Sir  Henry  Dryden,  Bart.,  it 
appears  that  in  the  upper  chamber  of  the  palace  there  is  a  panel  con- 
taining a  shield  bearing  the  Reid  arms,  a  stag's  head,  and  over  it  a 
mitre  and  the  letters  R.R.  On  the  north  face  of  the  tower  outside  is 
an  arched  panel  containing  a  wasted  statue,  and  beside  it  another  panel 
with  a  shield  and  mitre.  This,  taken  in  connection  with  the  shield 
and  initials  inside,  tends  to  confirm  the  popular  belief  that  the  statue 
represents  Bishop  Reid,  the  builder  of  the  palace,  who  occupied  the 
See  between  1540  and  1558. 

The  main  part  of  the  palace  has  been  divided  into  three  apartments, 
which  have  evidently  undergone  various  alterations,  such  as  the  enlarg- 
ing of  windows  and  alteration  of  floor  levels.  Two  of  the  windows  on 
the  west  side  are,  it  will  be  seen,  very  small,  and  set  very  high,  a  plan 
frequently  adopted  to  admit  of  furniture,  such  as  a  sideboard,  being 
placed  beneath  them.  In  the  thickness  of  this  wall  are  two  projecting 
garde-robes,  entering  from  the  rooms  at  a  level  two  or  three  feet  above 
the  ground  floor ;  one  of  these  has  been  absorbed  into  a  large  buttress, 
as  shown  in  illustrations. 

How  the  upper  floors  were  divided  nothing  remains  to  show.  The 
inhabited  part  is  two  stories  high,  and  there  are  indications,  as  will 
be  seen  on  Fig.  447,  that  part  of  this,  as  well  as  the  portion  we  have 
called  the  entrance  hall,  had  been  continued  higher,  the  oriel,  it  will 
be  observed,  being  broken  off. 

The  great  square  buttresses  seen  on  this  view  and  on  the  plan  are 
late  additions. 


INTRODUCTORY  523    THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD— EXCEPTIONAL  MODIFICATIONS 
OF  THE  KEEP  PLAN. 

The  important  castles  of  Hermitage  and  Crookston  belong  chiefly  to 
the  fifteenth  century.  These  are  exceptional  examples  of  the  applica- 
tion of  the  "  keep  "  plan,  and  their  peculiarities  will  be  explained  under 
the  description  of  each. 

There  are  also  a  few  castles  of  this  period  which  form  an  intermediate 
Jink  between  the  ordinary  keeps  and  the  castles  built  round  courtyards. 
Such  are  the  castles  of  Rave,nscraig,  Morton,  Tullyallan,  and  Rait. 
These  are  all  buildings  of  a  superior  class  to  the  ordinary  keeps,  and 
rather  resemble  the  enlarged  and  commodious  keeps  of  castles  like 
Tantallon  and  Doune  ;  but  although,  like  the  latter,  they  have  courtyards 
attached  to  them,  there  do  not  appear  to  have  been  buildings  of  import- 
ance surrounding  the  enceinte.  They  are  really  enlarged  and  improved 
keeps,  with  extended  accommodation,  and  for  the  most  part  with  the 
defences  carefully  considered.  The  design  and  details  are  also  of  a 
better  description  than  those  of  the  ordinary  keeps,  and  have  more 
affinity  with  those  of  the  Royal  castles  already  described.  But  these 
castles,  although  they  have  a  certain  resemblance  to  one  another,  and 
may  be  regarded  as  a  class  by  themselves,  still  vary  considerably  in  the 
details  of  their  arrangements,  as  will  be  pointed  out  in  the  descriptions. 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE,  ROXBURGHSHIRE. 

Hermitage  Castle  is  situated  about  four  miles  from  Riccarton  Junction, 
amongst  the  wild  uplands  and  morasses  of  Liddesdale,  on  a  platform  of 
ground  on  the  left  side  of  the  Hermitage  Water.  The  reason  for  the 
selection  of  this  site  has  apparently  been  the  fact  that  two  streams  join 
the  Hermitage  Water  at  this  point,  one  on  each  side  of  the  castle. 
These  would  give  an  ample  supply  of  water  for  filling  the  numerous 
ditches  which  surrounded  the  castle,  the  outline  of  which  is  still  traceable 
(Fig.  448). 

In  the  thirteenth  century  the  country  of  Liddesdale  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  De  Soulis  family. 

Mr.  Armstrong,  in  his  History  of  Liddesdale,  points  out  that  the 
original  castle  of  the  Lords  of  Liddesdale  was  built  by  Randolph  de 
Soulis,  about  the  time  of  David  i.,  in  a  different  position  from  that  of 
the  present  castle. 

It  was  placed  on  a  strong  situation  near  the  junction  of  the  Hermitage 
Water  with  the  Liddel.  Mr.  Armstrong  gives  a  plan  of  this  fortress,  with 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    524   — 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE 


its  ditches,  etc.,  and  mentions  that  some  years  ago  a  portion  of  the  walls 
was  still  standing. 

A  castle  was  first  built  on  the  present  site  by  Nicholas  de  Soulis, 
who  lived  in  the  reigns  of  Alexander  n.  and  Alexander  in.,  or,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Fraser,  in  his  Scotts  of  Buccleuch,  by  Walter  Comyn,  Earl  of 
Menteith.  The  erection  of  the  castle  was  one  of  the  alleged  causes  of 
the  assembling  of  an  army  by  Henry  in.,  in  1243,  for  the  invasion  of 
Scotland.  He  maintained  that  this  fortress  was  too  near  the  Border 
(which  at  that  time  was  the  Liddel  Water),  and  would  be  a  constant 
menace  to  England.  The  castle  was  no  doubt  originally  intended  for  a 
Royal  fortress,  but  was  afterwards  possessed  by  the  lord  of  the  district. 
On  a  map  of  about  the  year  1300  Hermitage  appears  as  one  of  the  few 
great  fortresses  on  the  frontier. 


FIG.  448.— Hennitage  Castle.    Plan  of  Site. 

William  de  Douglas,  Knight  of  Liddesdale,  got  a  grant  of  the  castle 
from  David  n.  Thereafter  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Earls  of 
Angus  in  1398,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  castle  was  enlarged  by  them 
about  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

In  1470,  David  Scott  of  Buccleuch  was  appointed  by  Angus  governor 
of  the  castle,  and  subsequent  Scotts  held  the  same  office.  In  1492, 
Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  exchanged  Hermitage  Castle  and  Liddesdale 
for  Bothwell  Castle  on  the  Clyde. 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE 


—  525  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


I* 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  526  — 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE 

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HERMITAGE  CASTLE  527    THIRD  PERIOD 

In  1 540  the  castle  was  in  the  keeping  of  Lord  Maxwell,  who  repaired 
it  at  a  cost  of  £100,  and  introduced  artillery  into  it. 

The  castle  as  seen  externally  is  for  the  most  part  probably  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  but  there  are  really  few  features  observable  whereby  its 
approximate  age  may  be  determined.  The  exterior  is  wonderfully  per- 
fect, and  presents  a  very  striking  contrast  to  the  interior,  which  has  been 
almost  entirely  demolished.  The  external  character  (Figs.  449  and  450) 
has  considerable  affinity  with  such  castles  as  Doune,  part  of  Dirleton, 
Tantallon,  etc. 

It  has  the  same  massive  walls,  built  with  strong  partly  coursed  rubble- 
work,  the  same  numerous  and  large  apartments  ;  but  it  differs  from  them 
in  not  being  built  round  a  quadrangle  such  as  would  be  formed  by 
erecting  buildings  against  a  wall  of  enceinte.  Indeed  there  is  difficulty 
in  detecting  traces  of  a  regular  wall  of  enceinte. 

There  have,  no  doubt,  been  enclosing  walls  and  ditches,  but  these 
have  been  all  altered  at  a  later  date,  in  order  to  adapt  them  to  artillery. 

To  ascertain  their  true  character  excavations  would  be  required,  as 
the  enclosures  and  ramparts  are  now  reduced  to  green  mounds,  some  of 
them  however  of  considerable  size  and  extent. 

On  entering  by  the  existing  doorway  (marked  "postern"  in  Fig.  451), 
which  is  modern,  but  in  the  place  of  an  old  one,  we  find  ourselves  in  a 
small  courtyard,  25  feet  9  inches  by  14  feet  2  inches,  enclosed  with 
what  are  evidently  very  ancient  walls  (shaded  black  011  Plan,  Fig.  451), 
only  one  story  of  which  now  remains  (Fig.  452).  These  are  carefully 
built  with  red  freestone  ashlar,  and  the  side  walls  have  each  a  plain 
flat  buttress  in  the  centre.  The  doors  and  windows  all  open  into  this 
courtyard,  and  have  broad  splays,  the  doors  having  semicircular  arches, 
and  the  windows  square  lintels  externally  (with  a  central  mullion),  while 
the  window  recess  is  arched,  with  splayed  ribs  (Fig.  453).  The  lower 
flight  of  the  newel  stair  is  of  the  same  date,  the  steps  being  built  into 
the  wall,  while  the  steps  of  the  continuation  of  the  stair  to  the  upper 
floors,  which  is  more  recent,  were  not  built  into  the  wall,  and  have  all 
been  removed.  On  the  inside  of  the  walls  opposite  the  buttresses  there 
are  large  corbels  (Fig.  453)  forming  the  springing  of  arches  which 
spanned  the  apartments,  and  carried  a  wooden  floor  (as  in  the  basement 
of  the  donjon  at  Bothwell). 

This  would  appear  to  be  a  remnant  of  the  original  castle  erected  by 
Nicholas  de  Soulis  before  1244.  What  its  complete  plan  was  we  have 
now  no  means  of  knowing,  but  it  is  probable  that  the  castle  which  next 
occupied  this  site,  and  which  incorporated  the  existing  portions  of  the 
old  walls,  was  built  on  the  old  foundations. 

This  may  have  been  erected  by  William  Douglas,  Knight  of  Liddes- 
dale,  in  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  who  would  naturally  erect 
a  rectangular  keep  in  the  style,  then  prevalent.  But  having  the  walls 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—  528  — 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE 


of  the  old  castle  to  deal  with,  the  usual  form  had  to  be  modified,  the 
result  being  that  the  keep  assumed  the  very  uncommon  form  of  a  double 
tower  with  a  small  central  courtyard  (shown  by  cross  hatching  on  Plan). 

The  next  transformation  of  the  castle's  appearance  was  effected  by 
the  addition  of  the  towers  at  the  four  angles.  This  extension  of  the 
castle  probably  took  place  early  in  the  fifteenth  century.  It  was  then 


STONE    B01U 


PIG.  451.— Hermitage  Castle.    Plan  of  Ground  Floor. 

that  the  simple  keeps  began  to  be  extended  by  buildings  round  the 
courtyards,  and  when  castles  containing  large  and  numerous  apartments, 
such  as  Doune,  were  erected.  Here  we  have  the  same  result  produced 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE  529    THIRD  PERIOD 

in  a  different  way  by  the  erection  of  additions  at  the  four  angles.     These 


not  only  provided  the  extended  accommodation  required,  but  also  served 

2  L 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    530    — 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE 


to  defend  the  building  as  flanking  works.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
these  towers  are  additions,  as  three  of  the  square  angles  of  the  earlier 
oblong  keep  jut  into  the  corner  towers  in  a  way  they  would  not  have 
done  had  they  formed  part  of  the  same  design.  A  wet  ditch  was  also 
introduced  between  the  two  northern  towers,  and  the  drain  from  it  under 
the  north-west  tower  still  exists.  The  ditch  was  probably  carried  round 
the  west  side  also. 


FIG.  453. — Hermitage  Castle.    Interior  of  West  Wall  of  Eastern  Division. 

The  north-east  tower  contained  a  dungeon  with  vaulted  roof  and 
small  hatch  (detached  Plan,  Fig.  451).  In  it  and  in  the  small  guard-room 
above  there  are  garde-robes.  Tradition  points  to  this  small  dungeon  as 
that  in  which  the  Knight  of  Liddesdale  confined  Sir  Alexander  Ramsay, 
Sheriff  of  Teviotdale,  until  he  was  starved  to  death.  But  this  scarcely 
carries  out  the  whole  story,  according  to  which  Sir  Alexander  was  enabled 
to  live  for  some  time  on  the  grains  of  corn  which  fell  through  the  floor  of 
a  granary  above  his  prison.  Here  there  is  only  a  very  small  stone  hatch 
in  the  vault,  and  no  granary  above. 

The  south-east  tower  contained  a  circular  draw-well,  carefully  built 
with  ashlar,  and  with  a  drain  through  the  wall  adjoining.  It  now 
measures  9  feet  6  inches  to  the  surface  of  the  water.  This  tower  also 
contained  a  postern  door,  which  had  an  outer  door  with  sliding  bar,  and 
within  it  a  portcullis.  A  small  stair  leads  from  the  well-room  to  the 
place  for  working  the  portcullis,  and  was  continued  to  the  floor  above. 

The  south-west  tower  or  wing  is  much  larger  than  the  other  towers, 
and  seems  to  have  contained  the  private  apartments  of  the  warden.  On 
the  ground  floor  there  still  remains  a  large  oven  7  feet  in  diameter,  and, 


HERMITAGE  CASTLE 


—    531    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


recessed  in  the  adjoining  wall,  there  is  a  singular  stone  boiler  or  tub, 
built  of  most  careful  masonry,  and  fashioned  exactly  like  the  coppers 
used  in  washing-houses  for  boiling  clothes ;  it  measures  about  3  feet 
7  inches  in  diameter,  and  has  an  aperture  beneath  on  the  floor  level. 
This  structure  and  the  oven  are  situated  in  the  south-west  angle,  and 
are  contained  under  a  diagonal  arch,  shown  by  dotted  lines  on  plan, 
Fig.  45 1 .  This  has  obviously  been  the  bakehouse.  It  has  a  good  stair  lead- 
ing down  to  it  from  the  western  entrance  door  hereafter  described.  The 
upper  floors  have  large  windows,  more  ornamental  than  usual  (Fig.  454), 
and  there  seems  to  be  no  doubt  that  these 
were  the  principal  family  apartments.  The 
vents  of  the  fireplaces  are  curiously  all  carried 
up  in  one  corner.  Owing  to  the  entire  gutting 
of  the  interior,  no  trace  is  found  of  the  kitchen 
or  the  hall.  The  latter  must  originally  have 
occupied  one  of  the  divisions  of  the  central 
castle,  but  would  probably  be  on  the  first  floor 
of  the  south-west  wing  after  it  was  built. 

The  arrangement  for  the  garde-robes  or 
latrines  at  this  point  is  peculiar.  An  aperture 
in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  receives  the 
vents,  which  conduct  through  an  arched 
opening  to  the  outside,  where  there  is  a 
carefully  built  and  vaulted  cesspool  with  door, 
and  there  no  doubt  was  a  drain  to  the  river. 
The  drain  from  the  bakehouse  also  leads  into 
this  cesspool. 

The  north-west  tower  contains  an  access  by  a  carefully  constructed 
doorway  on  an  upper  floor  into  the  space  between  it  and  the  south-west 
wing.  A  pointed  vault  still  remains  at  the  roof  level  over  the  south- 
east and  north-west  towers,  and  it  seems  likely  that  the  whole  top  story 
was  vaulted  and  covered  with  a  stone  roof. 

One  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the  building  externally  is  the 
great  pointed  arches  which  unite  the  two  eastern  and  the  two  western 
towers.  Such  arches  were  not  uncommon  over  gateways  which  entered 
between  towers,  but  here  there  are  no  such  gateways,  the  only  opening 
on  the  ground  level  in  any  of  the  towers  being  the  small  postern  in  the 
south-east  tower  already  referred  to.  The  arrangement  seems  to  have 
been  in  connection  with  the  defences.  These  were  principally  situated 
at  the  top  of  the  building.  It  will  be  observed  that  there  is  a  row  of 
openings  like  gargoyles  all  round  the  castle,  about  the  level  of  the  floor 
of  the  top  story,  exclusive  of  the  attic  in  the  roof.  Each  opening  has  a 
large  projecting  corbel  under  it,  and  has  undoubtedly  been  intended 
for  the  insertion  of  a  putlog  to  carry  a  hoarding.  There  are  doors  also 
leading  from  the  top  story  to  the  hoarding  at  the  proper  level,  and  the 


FIG.  454. — Hermitage  Castle.    Upper 
Windows  of  South-West  Wing. 


THIRD  PERIOD  532    HERMITAGE  CASTLE 

windows  of  that  story  have  all  gibblet  checks  011  the  exterior,  so  that 
they  might  be  protected  by  wooden  shutters,  when  the  hoardings  were 
erected,  and  the  castle  was  undergoing  a  siege. 

The  arches  between  the  towers  would  enable  these  hoardings  to  be  car- 
ried straight  across  the  east  and  west  fronts,  where  the  recess  between  the 
towers  is  too  narrow  for  the  hoardings  to  be  returned  round  the  recess. 

But  these  recesses  seem  to  have  been  still  further  utilised  for 
defensive  purposes.  There  are  corbels  at  three  different  levels  under 
the  western  arch,  showing  that  there  were  floors  inserted  at  these  levels, 
and  the  door  from  the  north-west  tower  above  mentioned  leads  into  one 
of  these  floors.  Several  tiers  of  defenders  could  thus  be  placed  in  good 
positions  for  assailing  the  enemy,  without  exposing  the  castle  to  any 
danger  from  large  windows  or  other  openings  in  the  walls,  for  these 
defences  were  all  really  outside  of  the  main  building.  With  these  appli- 
ances, and  the  hoarding  all  round  the  upper  story,  and  the  battlements 
round  the  roof,  without  taking  into  account  the  wet  ditches  and  out- 
works, this  castle  must  have  been  an  unusually  strong  one  for  defence. 

The  arch  between  the  two  eastern'  towers  had  fallen  at  the  beginning 
of  this  century,  but  has  been  rebuilt,  evidently  in  much  the  same  position 
and  form  as  it  originally  occupied. 

There  would  seem  to  have  been  an  unusual  number  of  entrance  doors 
in  this  building.  First,  there  was  probably  a  postern  at  the  ground  level 
into  the  small  courtyard  where  the  present  door  is.  Another  postern 
was  introduced,  as  above  mentioned,  in  the  south-east  corner  tower.  At 
the  west  end  of  the  castle,  on  the  first  floor,  there  has  been  a  portcullis, 
one  groove  for  which  still  exists  quite  perfect,  the  other  groove  having 
been  removed  along  with  part  of  the  wall  when  the  south-west  wing 
was  added.  This  undoubtedly  marks  the  position  of  an  entrance  door, 
situated,  as  usual  at  the  time,  on  the  first  floor.1 

There  would  appear  to  have  been  a  third  door  in  the  centre  of  the 
north  wall,  also  on  the  first  floor  level,  entering  to  the  newel  stair,  from 
which  access  could  be  had  to  either  portion  of  the  double  tower  by  small 
stairs  and  passages,  which  can  still  be  traced.  But  this  door  has  long 
been  built  up.  At  the  north-west  angle  of  the  main  building  there  is  a 
square  pit,  which  appears  to  have  been  a  draw-well ;  but  from  the  entire 
demolition  of  the  interior  walls  it  is  impossible  to  make  out  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  plan. 

There  are  no  windows  in  the  external  walls  on  the  ground  floor,  and 
the  original  windows  on  the  upper  floors  have  been  very  small.  The 
apartments  were  probably  lighted  by  windows  into  the  small  court, 

1  Mr.  Armstrong  has  been  good  enough  to  point  out  that  there  are  indications  of  the 
grooves  for  another  portcullis  in  the  outer  wall  to  the  west  of  the  above  portcullis,  and  that 
that  corner  of  the  south-west  tower  is  therefore  probably  older  than  the  remainder,  and 
contained  the  entrance  door  to  the  castle,  which  was  thus  defended  with  two  portcullises. 


CROOKSTON  CASTLE 


—    533    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


similar  to  those  which  still  exist  in  the  ancient  walls  on  the  ground  floor. 
There  are  two  loops  in  the  south  wall  adjoining  this  court,  the  form  of 
which  indicates  an  ancient  date. 

As  above  mentioned,  Lord  Maxwell  repaired  the  castle  in  1540,  and 
introduced  artillery. 

There  are  various  signs  of  his  handiwork  easily  traceable.  The  hori- 
zontal loopholes  for  guns  which  occur  in  various  parts  of  the  castle  are 
clearly  insertions,  windows  and  doors  having  been  built  up  to  receive  them. 

The  large  mound  at  the  west  end  of  the  castle,  which  still  retains 
traces  of  walls,  has  probably  been  a  bastion  erected  in  advance  of  the 
castle  to  receive  guns ;  but  it  is  impossible  in  its  present  state  to  make 
out  its  form  or  construction. 


CROOKSTON  CASTLE,  RENFREWSHIRE. 

Situated  on  the  top  of  a  small  hill  or  knoll  about  three  miles  south 
from  Paisley,  this  castle  forms  a   conspicuous  object  in  the  landscape. 


p"j — b~  L.  I  (.'  L  t-  I-  U  I.  ~fcr  t 

Fio.  455.— Crookston  Castle.    Plan  of  Site. 

The   estate   belonged  in  the    twelfth    century  to  Robert  de  Croc,  and 
in  1330  was  purchased  by  Sir  Alan   Stewart,  and  granted  in   1361  to 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    534    — 


CROOKSTON  CASTLE 


J.  Stewart  of  Darnley.  It  thus  came  to  be  held  by  his  descendant, 
Henry,  Lord  Darnley  (1546-67).  The  late  proprietor,  Sir  J.  Maxwell 
of  Pollok,  had  the  ruins  put  in  good  repair,  and  the  top  of  the  tower 
rebuilt  some  years  ago. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  date  of  the  erection  of  this  castle,  and  it 
is  generally  supposed  to  belong  to  the  thirteenth  century.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  the  site  was  occupied  with  a  castle  at  even  an  earlier  date. 
The  great  ditch  (Fig.  455)  and  mound,  which  still  surround  the  summit 
of  the  hill,  seem  to  point  to  this  as  one  of  the  ancient  fortresses  whose 
site  and  defences  were  made  available  in  connection  with  a  castle  of 
later  date.  Some  of  the  features  of  the  existing  castle,  such  as  the 
great  thickness  of  the  walls  and  the  carefully  built  vault  of  the  base- 
ment, with  its  bold  projecting  splayed  ribs,  certainly  indicate  consider- 
able antiquity,  but  the  distinguishing  features  of  the  thirteenth-century 
castles  are  entirely  wanting.  There  is  no  great  wall  of  enceinte  with 
towers  and  donjon,  but  simply  a  central  keep,  no  doubt  of  a  somewhat 
unusual  plan,  but  still  analogous  in  almost  all  its  features  to  the  castles 
of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries,  such  as  Dundonald,  Borthwick, 
and  Hermitage. 


FIG.  456. — Crookston  Castle.    Plans  and  Section. 

Thus  the  main  block  of  the  castle  (Fig.  456)  is  a  parallelogram 
60  feet  long  by  40  feet  wide,  having  on  the  basement  the  finely  vaulted 
hall  (Fig.  457)  above  referred  to.  One  of  the  ribs  is  raised  at  the 
haunch  in  a  peculiar  manner  to  give  height  for  the  door  (Fig.  456u). 
Over  this  vault  is  the  great  hall,  with  pointed  vault  28  feet  high  (Section, 
Fig.  456),  and  the  usual  large  fireplace,  and  windows  with  stone  seats. 


CROOKSTON  CASTLE 


—    535    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


There  is  one  square  tower  still  existing  at  the  north-east  corner,  and  the 
remains  of  a  similar  tower  at  the  south-east 
corner  (Fig.  458).  From  the  arrangement  of 
the  door,  which  opens  outwards,  and  the  thin- 
ning of  the  walls  at  the  west  end,  it  seems 
probable  that  there  were  two  corresponding 
towers  at  the  north-west  and  south-west  angles, 
as  shown  by  dotted  lines  on  the  plan  of  the 
ground  floor.  The  plan  of  the  castle  would  in 
this  respect  resemble  that  of  Hermitage.  Over 
the  door,  from  the  basement  into  the  north- 
west tower,  there  is  a  hole  or  machicolation  in 
the  wall,  from  which  missiles  might  be  cast  on 
assailants  below.  This  is  shown  on  the  plan  of 
the  first  floor,  Fig.  456. 

The  entrance  door  (Fig.  459),  which  is  on         Fl°-  456B.-Crookston  Castle. 

Springing  of  End  Rib. 

the  ground  level,  adjoins  the  north-east  tower, 

and  has  been   strongly  defended  with  two  doors  and  a  portcullis,  the 

inner  door  having  the  usual  sliding  bar,  which,  when  drawn  back,  crosses 


FIG.  457. — Crookston  Castle.    Vault  of  Basement  Floor. 

the  staircase  of  the   north-east  tower  at  such  a   level   as  to  prevent 
entrance  by  it.     The  doorway  projects  from  the  face  of  the  wall,  so  as 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    536    — 


CROOKSTON  CASTLE 
If 


CROOKSTON  CASTLE 


—    537    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


to  leave  ample  room  for  the  portcullis  (see  Section),  and  the  latter  was 
probably  worked  from  the  window  of  the  hall  above.  There  has 
evidently  been  some  alteration  of  the  floor  in  this  window.  It  must 
have  originally  been  about  3  feet  higher,  so  as  to  suit  the  side  seats, 
which  are  now  4  feet  6  inches  above  the  floor.  There  may  have  been 
steps  up  to  it,  such  as  there  still  are  to  the  windows  in  the  basement. 
A  little  west  from  the  entrance  door  there  are  three  long  holes  (Fig.  459), 
one  over  the  other,  from  the  outside  running  through  the  wall,  as  if  for 
sliding  beams.  These  were  probably  in  connection  with  some  other 
defence  of  the  entrance  doorway  now  obliterated. 


FIG.  459. — Crookston  Castle.    View  from  the  South-West. 

A  straight  stair  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall  leads  from  the  entrance 
door  to  the  hall,  and  under  this  stair,  in  a  well-finished  chamber  enter- 
ing from  the  basement,  is  the  well.  The  old  wooden  windlass  is  still  to 
be  seen  lying  at  the  bottom  of  the  well. 


THIRD  PERIOD  538    CROOKSTON  CASTLE 

A  small  stair  in  the  wall  of  the  north-east  tower,  already  referred  to 
in  connection  with  the  bar  of  the  entrance  doorway,  leads  to  a  guard- 
room in  the  tower,  under  which,  entering  from  a  trap  in  the  floor,  is  the 
vaulted  dungeon,  with  the  usual  small  aperture  to  the  exterior  for 
ventilation.  In  the  basement  of  the  south-east  tower  is  a  cellar,  vaulted 
with  ribs  similar  to  the  hall  of  the  basement.  The  access  to  the  upper 
floors  of  the  south-east  and  north-east  towers  is  by  a  newel  staircase 
entering  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  great  hall,  from  which  passages 
run  in  the  thickness  of  the  east  wall  to  the  north-east  tower.  This 
stair  has  also  conducted  to  the  apartments  over  the  great  hall,  where 
remains  of  a  moulded  fireplace  and  mullioned  window  may  be  traced. 

The  upper  part  of  the  north-east  tower  is  new,  having  been  restored, 
as  above  mentioned,  by  Sir  J.  Maxwell.  A  portion  of  this  tower  near 
the  base  is  also  new,  having  been  cut  out  when  it  was  at  one  time 
intended  to  blow  up  the  tower  ! 

Amongst  the  most  interesting  features  connected  with  this  castle  are 
the  great  ditch  and  mound  surrounding  it,  which  are  in  a  wonderfully 
good  state  of  preservation.  The  ditch  is  about  12  or  13  feet  deep,  and 
the  mound  on  the  outside  of  it  is  still  raised  several  feet  (varying  from 
2  feet  to  10  feet)  above  the  level  of  the  surrounding  ground.  Being  on 
the  top  of  the  hill,  the  ground  beyond  the  ditch  slopes  pretty  steeply 
away  from  it,  so  that  the  mound  when  covered  with  a  formidable 
palisade,  as  it  no  doubt  was,  would  afford  a  secure  defence.  A  very  old 
hedge  now  grows  on  the  top  of  the  mound. 

The  entrance  has  been  at  the  south-west  angle,  and  would  be  defended 
with  gates  and  drawbridge.  The  ground  enclosed  within  the  mound 
extends  to  about  two  acres.  There  are  no  outbuildings  remaining,  but 
traces  of  foundations  are  visible  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  enclosure, 
as  shown  in  Fig.  455. 

RAVENSCRAIG  CASTLE,  FIFESHIRE. 

Ravenscraig  Castle,  situated  between  the  towns  of  Kirkcaldy  and 
Dysart,  stands  on  a  rocky  promontory  running  out  into  the  Firth  of 
Forth.  On  three  sides  it  is  protected  by  the  sea,  from  which  the  rock 
rises  sheer  up  about  100  feet,  while  on  the  north  or  land  side  the  pro- 
montory is  isolated  by  a  wide  ditch,  now  partly  filled  up.  The  building 
(Fig.  460)  belongs  to  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  is  all  of 
one  age.  It  consists  of  a  keep  at  the  north-west  angle  (Fig.  46l),  pre- 
senting a  rounded  front  towards  the  mainland.  A  curtain  extends  east- 
wards from  the  keep  for  53  feet,  where  it  joins  a  projecting  round  tower 
44  feet  in  diameter,  forming  the  north-east  angle  of  the  castle.  This 
tower  is  similar  in  outline  to  the  keep,  but  not  so  high.  It  rises,  how- 
ever, from  a  lower  level,  and  contains  the  same  number  ot  floors,  two 


RAVENSCRAIG  CASTLE 


—    539    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


FIG.  460. — Ravenscraig  Castle.    Plans. 


THIRD   PERIOD 


—    540    — 


RAVENSCRAIG  CASTLE 


of  which  are  below  the  level  of  the  courtyard  (Fig.  462),  but  are  above 
the  ground  outside  nearly  all  round.  The  entrance  is  in  the  centre  of 
the  curtain,  through  a  broadly  splayed  round  arched  doorway  (Fig.  463) 
some  8  or  9  feet  above  the  ditch,  which  was  no  doubt  crossed  by  a 
moveable  wooden  bridge  leading  to  the  doorway.  The  door  was  secured 
by  a  sliding  bar,  exposed  when  drawn  back,  in  the  guard-room  adjoining. 
This  room  is  provided  with  a  fireplace,  and  lighted  by  a  long  narrow 
slit.  The  vaulted  entrance  passage,  35  feet  long  and  7  feet  wide,  leads  to 
the  courtyard.  On  either  side  of  the  passage,  and  behind  the  curtain,  are 
vaulted  cellars.  These  cellars  project  12  feet  into  the  courtyard  beyond 
the  inner  face  of  the  keep,  and  this  space  opposite  the  keep  is  occupied 


FIG.  461.— Ravenscraig  Castle.      View  from  the  North-West. 

by  a  fore  court  and  staircase  leading  to  the  first  floor.  This  staircase,  as 
well  as  the  vaulted  basement  of  the  keep,  are  protected  by  the  outer 
door  of  the  fore  court,  which  has  a  portcullis  groove  on  one  side  (the 
other  side  having  been  altered  and  rebuilt),  as  well  as  by  other  doors  at 
the  entrance  to  the  staircase  and  to  the  basement.  At  the  top  of  the 
fore  stair,  and  in  the  south-east  corner  of  the  keep,  a  newel  stair  leads  to 
the  two  upper  floors  and  an  attic.  The  first  floor  (Fig.  460)  contains 
the  hall,  26  feet  by  18  feet,  with  a  large  fireplace  and  three  mural 
chambers.  Over  this  (Fig.  462)  was  a  similar  upper  or  private  hall,  and 


RAVENSCRAIG  CASTLE 


—    541     — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


above  it  the  third  floor  and  the  battlements,  probably  with  a  guard-room 
entering  off  them.  The  top  story  has  at  a  more  recent  time  been 
altered,  and  the  battlements  built  solid,  and  sloped  off  with  a  wide  coping 
(Fig.  464).  There  can  scarcely  be  any  doubt  as  to  this  being  an  altera- 
tion. The  crow-stepped  gables  of  the  roof  look  like  a  late  addition,  and 
the  sloped-off  top  of  the  thick  wall  of  the  keep  would  be  quite  meaning- 
less in  connection  with  a  defensive  keep  of  the  period  of  Mary  of 
Gueldres,  although  quite  in  keeping  with  the  later  date  when  the  gables 
were  built,  and  when  defence  was  no  longer  an  object  of  serious  import- 
ance. All  the  floors  hei'e  and  throughout  the  castle  were  of  timber, 
except  the  ground  floors,  which  were  vaulted.  Each  floor  is  provided 
with  wide  window  recesses,  and  good  windows  looking  over  the  preci- 
pitous parts  of  the  site,  but  towards  the  landward  side  nothing  is  visible 
but  solid  plain  walls  with  narrow  loopholes.  At  the  west  end  of  the 
keep  are  the  latrines,  with  shoots  over  the  rock. 


- 

D 


RAVENSGRAIG   GASTLE 
F1FESHIRE 


D 


LASTE.RN  TOWER 


Pro.  462. — Ravenscraig  Castle.    Section. 

The  north-east  round  tower,  like 
the  keep,  is  square  towards  the  court- 
yard. A  vaulted  passage  rising  a  few 
steps  leads  to  the  room  on  the  ground 

flroo,  which  is  29  feet  by  19  feet  (Figs.  460  and  462).  This 
room  is  well  lighted  with  large  windows,  two  of  which 
have  deep  recesses  with  seats,  and  is  provided  with  a  garde- 
robe  and  small  chamber  with  loophole  commanding  the 
S/.KOS  entrance.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  hall  for  ordinary 
use,  that  in  the  keep  being  probably  reserved,  along  with 

the  other  chambers  therein,  as  the  private  apartments  of  the  proprietor. 

The  above  passage   also   gives  access  to  the  turnpike   leading  to    the 


THIRD  PERIOD  542    

upper  floors  and  battlements  of  this  wing,  as  well  as  to  the  battlements 
behind  the  curtain  over  the  entrance  passage  and  the  curtain  cellars 
(Fig.  462).  In  the  thickness  of  the  east  wall  of  the  vaulted  passage  a 
straight  stair  leads  down  to  the  first  floor  below  the  hall,  and  continues 
in  almost  total  darkness  straight  down  to  the  well-room  on  the  second 
floor.  The  latter  is  a  lofty  vaulted  apartment  partly  cut  out  of  the  rock, 
and  lighted  by  two  long  slits.  The  well,  about  6  feet  in  diameter,  is,  as 
usual,  filled  up.  In  order  to  keep  the  chamber  dry  a  drain  is  placed  at 
the  floor  level,  which  is  several  feet  above  the  ground  outside. 

The  walls,  both  of  the  keep  and  the  north-east  tower,  have  a  thick- 
ness of  14  feet  towards  the  north  or  exposed  side  of  the  castle.  They 
have  no  doubt  been  made  of  this  extraordinary  thickness  for  the  purpose 
of  resisting  artillery,  which  was  then  beginning  to  be  employed.  The 
guns,  however,  were  of  small  calibre,  as  may  be  observed  from  the  size 
of  the  horizontal  embrasures  in  the  walls  and  battlements.  The  battle- 
ments on  the  eastern  round  tower  are  of  considerable  breadth.  Owing 
to  the  thickness  of  the  walls  a  space  of  about  10  feet  in  width  has  been 
obtained,  without  the  necessity  for  projecting  the  parapets.  These  are 
carried  up  flush  with  the  face  of  the  wall,  and  where  they  are  entire  on 
the  circular  tower,  they  are  pierced  with  narrow  upright  loops  and 
horizontal  splayed  gun-holes  alternately.  The  parapet  of  the  keep  was 
probably  finished  in  the  same  way  originally,  or  it  may  have  had  a  boldly 
corbelled  and  machicolated  parapet  like  the  towers  of  Caerlaverock,  or 
a  parapet  pierced  with  sloping  gun-holes  like  the  south-east  tower  at 
Craignethan. 

There  appears  to  have  been  an  open  paved  platform  over  the  entrance 
passage,  and  the  cellars  on  each  side  of  it,  while  the  curtain  is  carried  up 
about  10  feet  high  and  12  feet  thick  as  a  screen  wall, 
and  is  pierced  with  two  horizontal  embrasures  for 
guns.  These  embrasures  are  reached  from  the  in- 
terior by  wide-arched  and  splayed  recesses  like  the 
ingoings  of  a  window,  each  recess  having  a  small 
ambry  for  ammunition.  There  is  also  in  each  recess, 
and  below  the  level  of  the  embrasures  (where 
shown  on  Plan,  Fig.  460),  a  slot-hole  on  each  side 
FIG.  463.— Ravenscraig  Castle.  some  5  or  6  inches  square,  and  about  15  deep. 
Entrance  Doorway.  These  were  in  all  probability  intended  to  receive 
the  ends  of  the  bars  to  which  the  guns  were  attached  to  prevent  their 
recoil,  as  was  done  in  the  old  men-of-war  ships.  The  top  of  the  curtain 
wall  is  ornamented  on  the  outside  with  a  row  of  shallow  corbels  (Fig.  46' 1), 
having  a  moulding  above,  and  was  probably  finished  with  a  high  parapet 
and  a  broad  parapet  walk.  The  height  and  strength  of  the  battlements 
of  this  curtain  may  be  explained  by  the  circumstance  that  the  ground  in 
front  of  the  curtain  and  round  towers  rises  rapidly  from  the  ditch,  and 


RAVENSCRAIG  CASTLE 


—    543    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


XJ*w  SK     S^A  \  f     I 

m  \  •  Mm 


=>' 


THIRD  PERIOD  544    RAVENSCRAIG  CASTLE 

overlooks  the  castle.  The  parapet  wall  on  the  side  of  the  platform  next 
the  courtyard  does  not  now  exist. 

The  enclosing  walls  round  the  top  of  the  rock,  which  are  of  irregular, 
wedge-shaped  form,  remain  only  in  portions  here  and  there.  They  have 
been  ornamented  with  corbels  similar  to  those  of  the  curtain.  Within 
these  walls  were  offices,  now  all  ruined,  the  foundations  only  being  trace- 
able ;  but  several  windows  on  the  east  side,  overlooking  the  sea,  indicate 
the  existence  of  extensive  buildings.  In  all  likelihood  the  kitchen  was 
in  this  quarter,  as  there  is  no  appearance  of  one  in  the  main  buildings. 

At  the  extreme  point  of  the  rock  are  the  remains  of  a  rounded 
bastion,  and  at  the  north-west  corner  there  seems  to  have  been  a  postern 
entering  from  the  ditch,  the  rybats  of  one  side  of  which  still  remain. 
The  passage  from  the  postern  is  between  the  keep  and  enclosing  wall, 
and  has  long  been  built  over.  A  wall  on  the  very  edge  of  the  precipice 
above  the  beach  is  loopholed. 

The  appearance  of  Ravenscraig  from  the  shore  is  most  majestic,  and 
the  ruin,  being  in  tolerable  preservation,  is  well  worthy  of  a  little  care. 
Its  aspect  would  be  greatly  improved  by  being  roofed,  and  its  preserva- 
tion at  the  same  time  would  thus  be  best  secured.  The  eastern  battle- 
ments are  all  overgrown  with  trees  and  shrubs,  which  in  a  short  time  will 
bring  this  part  of  the  castle  to  the  ground. 

In  the  preface  to  the  Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland,  vol.  vii.,  edited 
by  Mr.  George  Burnett,  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  the  following  admirable 
sketch  is  given  of  the  various  incidents  connected  with  the  building  of 
Ravenscraig  by  James  n.  and  his  Queen,  Mary  of  Gueldres : — 

"  The  most  extensive  work  carried  on  by  the  Queen,  to  which  a  large 
share  of  her  income  was  devoted,  was  connected  with  the  Castle  of 
Ravenscraig.  It  was  probably  James  H.  who  conceived  the  design  of 
placing  a  Royal  castle  on  the  cliff  that  protrudes  into  the  Firth  of  Forth 
near  Dysart.  On  8th  March  1459-60,  five  months  before  that  King's 
death,  the  lands  of  Dysart,  specified  as  Wilstoune,  Carbarry,  and  Dubbo, 
and  of  which  this  rocky  promontory  formed  part,  were  resigned  in  the 
Queen's  favour  by  Walter  Ramsay  and  Janet,  his  wife,  who  held  them 
as  vassals  of  the  Earldom  of  Fife,  they  getting  in  exchange  Crounerland, 
Manuelrig  (the  colliery  excepted),  and  Gilleisland,  near  Linlithgow. 

"In  the  Linlithgow  Accounts  of  1466,  1468,  and  1469,  Crounareland 
is  said  to  have  been  granted  to  Archibald  Ramsay  (the  successor  of 
Walter)  in  exchange  for  Ravenscraig.  The  same  family  of  Ramsays  are 
afterwards  designed  from  the  lands  of  Dunnone,  in  Forfarshire. 

"  The  building  operations,  begun  at  the  very  commencement  of 
Mary's  widowhood,  were  carried  on  with  great  vigour  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Master  David  Boys  as  Master  of  Works.  In  the  Accounts  of  the 
Queen's  lands  and  fermes  for  1462  and  1463,  Boys  receives  for  this 
building  sums  amounting  together  to  £600.  Other  entries  tell  us  of 


MORTON  CASTLE  -    545    THIRD  PERIOD 

the  bringing,  in  the  year  1461,  of  fourteen  great  timbers  called  'joists' 
from  the  woods  on  the  banks  of  the  Allan  to  Stirling  at  a  cost  of  7s.; 
of  Andrew  Balfour  (elsewhere  met  with  as  Clerk  of  the  King's  Wardrobe) 
getting  £2,  10s.  for  cutting  and  planing  them  and  transporting  them  to 
Ravenscraig,  six  more  joists  remaining  in  the  wood  in  charge  of  said 
Andrew. 

"  We  have  a  large  supply  of  oats  from  Fife  for  horses  transporting 
building  stones  to  Ravenscraig.  The  already  mentioned  Lesouris  [men- 
tioned in  previous  extracts  not  quoted  here]  is  repaid  £10,  4s.  for  his 
purchase  of  'joists'  and  boards  for  the  same  building.  Two  cart-wheels, 
price  £l,  4s.  6d.,  are  sent  from  Cupar  to  Ravenscraig,  and  a  boat  is  hired 
to  convey  timber  from  Menteith  to  the  works  there.  The  custumars  of 
Perth  send  two  joists  and  two  '  rudis'  of  timber,  costing  £18,  2s.  4d.,  to 
Ravenscraig,  and  pay  5s.  Qd.  for  their  carriage.  In  1461  the  buildings 
were  so  far  advanced  that  Kinghorn,  the  Queen's  Steward,  spends 
twenty-five  days  there,  along  with  other  servants  (familiarii)  of  the 
Queen ;  and  Robert  Liddale  (encountered  in  the  previous  reign  in  the 
various  characters  of  Keeper  of  Tantallon  Castle,  King's  tailor,  constable 
of  Dunbar  Castle,  ranger  of  Yarrow,  and  bailie  of  the  Earldom  of  March) 
receives  £23,  6s.  8d.  for  his  expenditure  while  residing  at  Ravenscraig. 
Whether  or  not  the  castle  was  completed  under  Mary  of  Gueldres  does 
not  appear,  but  the  payments  for  it  cease  at  her  death." 

Ravenscraig  did  not  long  remain  a  Royal  residence,  as  the  castle  and 
lands  were  bestowed  by  James  in.,  in  1470,  on  William  St.  Clair,  fourth 
Earl  of  Orkney,  in  exchange  for  his  castle  of  Kirkwall,  and  "  his  haill 
right  to  the  Earldom  of  Orkney"  (Sibbald's  Histon/  of  Fife). 


MORTON  CASTLE,  DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  buildings  in  Nithsdale.  It  is 
situated  about  three  and  a  half  miles  northwards  from  Thornhill,  amidst 
the  bare  and  solitary  uplands  near  the  mountains  between  Dumfriesshire 
and  Lanarkshire,  and  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  main  road, 
which  no  doubt  at  all  times  led  up  the  valley  of  the  Nith  into  Ayrshire. 
Possibly  the  site  has  been  selected  by  some  early  chieftain  for  his 
stronghold,  partly  on  account  of  its  secluded  situation,  which  would 
afford  a  well-concealed  retreat  in  case  of  pursuit. 

The  castle  stands  on  the  crest  of  a  tongue  of  steep  rocky  ground 
washed  on  three  sides  by  a  loch  artificially  formed  at  some  remote  period 
by  a  dam  thrown  across  the  glen  a  few  hundred  yards  lower  down. 

The  fourth  or  south  side  forms  the  approach,  and  was  no  doubt  cut 
across  by  a  deep  ditch  so  as  to  separate  the  castle  from  the  mainland. 

The  aspect  of  the  grey  but  solid  old  ashlar  walls,  and  the  ruined 

2  M 


THIRD  PERIOD 


546    — 


MORTON  CASTLE 


towers  still  rearing  their  front  in  the  midst  of  the  wild  and  desolate 
moor,  and  above  the  chill  waters  of  the  tortuous  lake,  is  most  unlooked- 
for  and  impressive. 


PIG.  465.— Morton  Castle.     Plan. 

The  castle  (Fig.  465)  consists  of  an  oblong  block  presenting  a  front 
wall  92  feet  long  facing  the  south,  and  was  fortified  with  a  round 
tower  at  the  south-east  angle,  about  one  half  of  which  still  remains, 
while  at  the  south-west  angle  was  the  gateway,  placed  between  two 
large  towers  circular  to  the  outside  and  square  within.  The  eastern  of 
these  two  towers  still  stands,  but  the  western  tower,  together  with  the 
arched  gateway  and  entrance  passage,  have  been  demolished.  The 
foundations  of  the  western  tower,  however,  still  partly  remain,  so  that 
when  laid  down  on  plan  it  is  easy  to  see  what  the  completed  arrange- 
ment originally  was.  One  jamb  of  the  entrance  gateway  and  a  few  of 
the  arch  stones  are  still  standing,  and  show  from  the  grooves  and  rebates 
cut  in  them  that  the  gateway  was  defended — first,  with  a  drawbridge ; 
second,  with  a  portcullis  ;  and  third,  with  folding  gates.  The  sill  of  the 
gate  and  the  floor  of  the  entrance  passage  were  on  a  level  raised  about 
one  story  above  the  ground  without.  The  approach  was  probably  effected 
by  means  of  a  wooden  gangway  crossing  the  ditch  and  rising  gradually 
to  the  gateway,  from  which,  however,  it  would  be  cut  off  by  the  space 
occupied  by  the  drawbridge  when  lowered.  Underneath  the  sill  of  the 
entrance  gateway  there  is  a  carefully  constructed  pit  lined  with  ashlar. 
It  is  possible  that  the  drawbridge  was  balanced  on  pivots,  so  that  when 
raised  part  of  it  would  be  below  the  level  of  the  passage  and  part  above, 
and  when  lowered  part  would  be  outside  the  gate  and  would  form  the 


MORTON  CASTLE 


—    547 


THIRD   PERIOD 


drawbridge,  while  part  would  be  inside  and  would  form  a  portion  of  the 
passage.  The  drawbridge  of  the  keep  of  the  great  castle  of  Coucy  was 
constructed  in  this  way.  Such  an  arrangement  as  this  would  account 
for  the  carefully  built  pit,  part  of  which  still  remains.  It  is  not  easy  to 
imagine  for  what  other  purpose  this  pit  could  have  been  intended. 
The  existing  walls  to  the  south  of  the  gateway,  which  are  about  2  to 
3  feet  high,  have  probably  been  constructed  at  a  more  recent  date  to 
fill  the  ditch  and  form  a  more  convenient  access,  but  the  drawbridge 
with  the  pit  below  have  apparently  still  been  preserved  and  used.  On 
the  right  hand  on  entering  the  gateway  there  can  yet  be  traced  the 
springing  stones  of  the  ribs  of  the  depressed  vaulting  which  covered 
the  entrance  passage,  as  far  at  least  as  the  towers  extend  northwards. 
These  ribs  are  shown  by  dotted  lines  on  the  plan. 

The  passage  beyond  this  may  have  been  open,  forming  a  small  court- 
yard, and  probably  from  this  courtyard  a  staircase  ascended  to  the  first 
floor  of  the  building,  and  also  to  the  battlements  which  crowned  the  wall 
of  enceinte,  which  no  doubt  surrounded  the  castle  on  the  north  and 
north-west  in  the  position  shown  on  the  plan,  where  the  line  of  the 
foundations  can  still  be  distinctly  traced.  The'  eastern  wall  seems,  for 
additional  security,  to  have  been  carried  down  the  steep  bank  to  the  loch. 
A  similar  arrangement  occurs  at  Yester  Castle.  The  north  wall  encloses 
a  courtyard,  and  appears  to  have  contained  the  stable  offices  (Fig.  466). 


FIG.  466.— Morton  Castle.    View  from  the  North-West. 

The  corbels  for  the  wall-plate  of  the  lean-to  roof,  with  weather-table 
above,  still  remain,  and  there  were  no  windows  in  the  north  wall  except 
near  the  east  and  west  ends,  and  one  at  a  high  level  in  the  centre,  so  as 


THIRD  PERIOD  —    548    MORTON  CASTLE 

to  admit  of  the  roof  of  the  outhouses  resting  against  that  wall.  The 
castle  itself  has  been  two  stories  high,  the  ground  floor  evidently  having 
contained  the  kitchen  and  other  offices,  and  the  upper  floor  the  great  hall. 
The  length  of  the  building  inside  the  walls  is  105  feet,  by  31  feet  wide. 
The  ground  floor  was  lighted  with  nine  square-shaped  windows  about  15 
inches  wide  and  12  inches  high,  set  high  in  the  walls,  and  provided  with 
stone  steps  in  the  ingoing  leading  up  to  them. 

These  windows  and  several  other  features,  such  as  the  main  entrance, 
with  its  drawbridge  and  portcullis,  and  the  side  doorway  to  the  first 
floor  (to  be  afterwards  referred  to),  are  very  similar  to  the  corresponding 
features  of  Tullyallaii  Castle. 

The  ground  floor  contains  stone  sinks  with  drains  under  two  of  the 
windows,  and  a  large  fireplace  at  the  east  end.  There  has  also  been  a 
garde-robe  entering  from  the  east  room  (probably  the  kitchen)  in  the 
wall  of  the  eastern  tower,  and  another  entering  from  the  room  in  the 
tower.  These  have  shoots  to  an  outlet  or  passage  with  sloping  sill, 
which  cuts  across  the  gorge  of  the  tower  (see  enlarged  Plan,  Fig.  46'5). 

This  passage  has  an  upright  groove  in  the  masonry  on  each  side,  in 
which  a  sliding  board  or  stone  was  evidently  made  to  work,  and  which 
could  be  lifted,  so  as  to  allow  the  soil  to  escape  and  the  passage  to  be 
cleared  out. 

The  south-east  tower  is  greatly  damaged,  but  it  has  evidently  formed 
a  private  room  entering  off  the  hall  on  the  upper  floor,  while  the  room 
on  the  ground  floor  seems  also  to  have  entered  from  the  hall  by  a  stair 
dorm,  as  there  is  no  access  to  it  from  the  basement. 

The  hall  has  been  a  splendid  apartment  Q3  feet  by  31  feet,  and  pro- 
bably had  an  open  timber  roof. 

It  is  lighted  to  the  south  (Fig.  467)  by  three  double  windows  with 
square  heads  and  centre  mullion  and  transom.  There  is  now  a  fourth 
similar  window  on  this  side  at  a  lower  level,  but  this  has  evidently  been 
an  insertion.  The  position  now  occupied  by  this  window  has  originally 
been  occupied  with  an  entrance  door,  similar  to  that  on  the  first  floor 
at  Tullyallan,  and  also  to  that  at  Rait  Castle. 

The  present  wrindow  sill  is  at  the  level  of  the  floor  (where  the  door 
sill  would  naturally  be),  and  there  is  a  bold  saving  arch  in  the  wall  over 
the  lintel  at  a  suitable  height  for  a  door.  This  door  would  give  easy 
and  safe  ingress  and  egress,  without  the  necessity  of  putting  in  operation 
the  heavy  machinery  of  the  great  gateway. 

The  openings  in  the  north  wall  still  remain  to  be  noticed.  That  near 
the  east  end  of  the  wall  has  the  outer  lintel  supported  with  a  continuous 
corbel,  such  as  is  often  seen  in  small  passages.  It  may  have  been  a 
door  communicating  with  an  upper  story  over  the  outbuildings  at  this 
point. 

The  western  window  (Fig.  466)  is  a  very  handsome  one,  and  is  the 


MORTON  CASTLE 


-    549    — 


THIRD   1'ERIOD 


only  part  of  the  building  having  mouldings  from  which  the  date  may  be 
ascertained.  The  arch  is  pointed,  and  springs  from  two  rounded  pro- 
jections forming  the  jambs,  against  which  the  arch  moulds  die  away. 


FIG.  467.— Morton  Castle.     View  from  the  South-West. 

The  position  and  form  of  this  window  recall  the  similar  window  at 
the  dais  end  of  the  hall  of  Bothwell  Castle,  and  the  mouldings  belong  to 
the  fifteenth  century. 

There  are  two  windows  adjoining,,  which  probably  lighted  a  wall 
chamber.  Of  one  of  these  only  one  side  remains.  The  window  in  the 
upper  floor,,  in  the  centre  of  the  north  wall,  is  nearly  gone  ;  only  the  side 
and  part  of  the  rybats  remain,  there  being  a  great  gap  in  the  centre  of 
the  upper  part  of  the  wall. 

At  the  west  end  of  the  hall  there  was  most  Ijkely  a  fine  private 
room  over  the  entrance  passage,  as  the  arch  stones  indicate  a  large 
window  in  this  position.  There  would  also  be  several  chambers  in  the 
various  floors  of  the  two  gate-towers.  These  were  no  doubt  the  bed- 
rooms of  the  proprietor  and  his  family  and  guests. 

This  castle  possesses  several  points  of  interest  which  connect  it  with 
some  other  remarkable  castles,  and  by  comparison  enable  the  archi- 
tectural history  of  all  these  buildings,  hitherto  somewhat  obscure,  to  be 
better  understood. 

Tullyallan,  for  example,  would  stand  quite  alone  without  Morton  to 
illustrate  it,  and  Rait  would  be  in  a  similar  position.  But  the  comparison 
of  the  various  features  of  these  castles  with  one  another,  and  with  the  more 
ordinary  forms  of  the  castles  of  the  period,  enables  us  to  assign  to  them 
a  date,  and  to  connect  them  with  the  general  architecture  of  the  country. 

The  elongated  form  of  the  buildings  of  these  three  castles,  with  the 
towers  at  the  angles,  the  small  oblong  windows  of  the  ground  floor  in 


THIRD  PERIOD  550    MORTON  CASTLE 

each  of  them,  the  evident  use  of  this  floor  for  stores  and  kitchen  offices, 
the  mullioned  windows  of  the  hall  (although  all  are  arched  at  Rait,  and 
only  one  at  Morton),  the  door  to  the  hall  on  the  first  floor  level  in  all 
three  (like  the  usual  door  in  the  ordinary  keeps),  are  all  features  which 
either  serve  to  connect  these  edifices  with  each  other,  or  to  show  that, 
although  of  a  larger  and  more  ornate  character  than  the  castles  usually 
erected  at  the  time,  they  still  resemble  them  in  general  features. 

Judging  from  all  the  details  available,  there  seems  to  be  almost  no 
doubt  that  these  three  buildings  all  belong  to  the  first  half  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  At  that  period  plans  with  quadrangles  were  being  adopted, 
and  these  plans  are  modifications  which  combine  some  of  the  features 
newly  introduced  with  those  of  the  ordinary  keep  plan,  so  general  during 
the  preceding  century.  They  are,  in  short,  intermediate  between  the 
two  designs  of  plan  (the  square  keep  and  the  courtyard  plan),  and  in 
this  respect  remind  us  of  the  plans  of  Hermitage  and  Crookston.  They 
have  the  enlarged  keep  of  the  "courtyard  plan"  without  the  extended 
buildings  surrounding  the  courtyard. 

There  is  almost  no  record  of  the  history  of  Morton  Castle.  The  site 
is  said  to  have  been  occupied  by  a  castle  from  an  early  period. 

Dunegal,  the  Lord  of  Nithsdale  in  the  twelfth  century,  is  supposed 
to  have  had  a  stronghold  here.  The  barony  belonged  to  Thomas 
Randolph,  Bruce's  nephew  and  friend,  in  the  fourteenth  century.  It 
afterwards  passed  by  marriage  to  the  Earl  of  March,  and  finally  came 
into  the  possession  of  the  Douglases.  In  1396  the  barony  was  in  the 
hands  of  James  Douglas,  Earl  of  Morton,  who  probably  took  his  title 
from  this  castle.  In  1459  it  was  disjoined  from  the  main  branch  of  the 
Douglases  of  Dalkeith,  Earls  of  Morton,  and  passed  to  a  cadet  branch 
of  the  family,  and  was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  Dukes  of  Queens- 
berry,  and  is  still  the  property  of  their  successors,  the  Dukes  of  Buc- 
cleuch. 

The  cottages  in  front  of  the  castle,  shown  in  Grose's  view,  are  now 
removed.  The  castle  is  said  to  have  been  occupied  till  the  beginning 
of  the  eighteenth  century  (see  Dr.  Ramage's  Dmmlanrig  and  the 
Douglases}. 

TULLYALLAN  CASTLE,  PERTHSHIRE. 

This  mansion  is  situated  in  a  detached  portion  of  Perthshire,  near 
Kincardine  on  the  Forth.  It  belonged  formerly  to  the  family  of  the  Black- 
adders,  but  almost  nothing  seems  to  be  known  of  its  history. 

It  has  been  designed  as  a  pleasant  residence  rather  than  a  place 
of  strength,  and  thus  shows  more  elegance  and  taste  in  its  architecture 
than  is  usual  in  the  great  but  gloomy  castles  of  the  time.  This  is  well 
illustrated  by  the  fine  vaulting  of  the  ground  floor  (Fig.  468),  which 


TULLY ALLAN  CASTLE  551    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

surpasses  anything  of  the  same  kind  to  be  met  with  in  any  similar  build- 
ing in  Scotland.  At  the  same  time,  defence  is  not  lost  sight  of.  The 
principal  entrance  (Fig.  46p)  has  been  approached  by  a  drawbridge,  the 


FIG.  468.— Tullyallan  Castle.    Interior  of  Ground  Floor,  looking  East. 

recess  from  which,  together  with  the  aperture  for  the  chain  and  the 
chamber  for  the  windlass,  are  all  well  preserved  (Section,  Fig.  470).  This 
entrance  was  also  protected  by  a  portcullis,  and  there  are  apertures  or 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  552  — 


TULLYALLAN  CASTLE 


TULLY ALLAN  CASTLE 


553  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


machicolations  over  both  this  door  and  the  postern  at  the  east  end,  by 
which  missiles  might  be  thrown  on  assailants  who  might  have  pene- 
trated through  the  outer  doors. 


SECTION     THROUGH     PORTCULLIS      ooo(?wAy 


Pro.  470.— Tullyallan  Castle.     Section  through  Principal  Entrance 
and  Details  of  Ground  Floor. 

The  plan  (Fig.  471)  shows  that  the  ground  floor  was  divided  into  two 
apartments,,  both  beautifully  vaulted  with  groined  and  ribbed  arches  rest- 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    554    — 


TULLYALLAN  CASTLE 


ing  on  a  row  of  central  pillars.  The  smaller  of  these  apartments  (25  feet 
6  inches  by  22  feet)  had  a  great  fireplace  (Fig.  472),  with  moulded  jambs 
and  large  projecting  hood.  Details  of  these  mouldings  are  engraved 
(Fig.  470),  showing  in  several  instances  a  character  so  decided  Early 
English  as  at  first  sight  to  lead  one  to  imagine  that  the  building  belonged 
to  the  thirteenth  century.  But  when  the  other  mouldings  of  the  vault- 


CROUNO     PLAN 
FIG.  471.— Tullyallan  Castle.     Hans. 


ing  are  examined,  and  when  the  other  features  of  the  castle  are  com- 
pared with  similar  buildings  in  Scotland,  it  becomes  clear  that  Tullyallan 
must  be  classed  with  Morton  and  Rait  Castles  as  belonging  to  the 
fifteenth  century.  The  moulded  sconces  for  lights  at  each  side  of  the 
chimney  are  rare  features  in  Scotland,  though  not  uncommon  in  France 


TULLYALLAN  CASTLE 


555    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—  556  — 


TULLYALLAN  CASTLE 


TULLYALLAN  CASTLE  -    5.57    THIRD  PERIOD 

and  England.  The  windows  of  this  room  are  of  unusual  size  for  a  ground 
floor,  and  have  trefoil  arched  heads,  and  stone  seats  in  the  recesses. 
The  small  wing  at  the  north-east  corner  was  probably  intended  both  as 
a  garde-robe  and  as  a  flanking  tower  for  defence.  The  other  apartment 
on  the  ground  floor,  which  is  37  feet  by  22  feet,  seems  to  have  been 
used  for  stores,  as  it  has  no  fireplace,  and  only  small  square  openings 
for  windows.1  The  projecting  north-west  wing,  with  separate  staircase 
attached,  was  probably  the  cellar,  but  might  also  be  used  for  purposes 
of  defence. 

The  upper  floor  (Fig.  471)  contained  the  great  hall,  38  feet  by  22  feet 
6  inches,  and  private  hall,  21  feet  6  inches  by  22  feet  6  inches,  with 
a  bedroom  off  it  over  the  cellar.  A  staircase  contained  in  the  projecting 
octagonal  tower  between  the  two  latter  rooms  leads  down  to  the  cellars 
and  upwards  to  the  floor  above.  A  peculiar  feature  connected  with 
the  common  hall  is  an  outside  entrance  door  on  the  first  floor  level 
(Fig.  469).  This  was  probably  reached  by  an  outside  stair  of  some 
temporary  kind,  which  might  be  removed  in  case  of  attack.  This 
arrangement  would  make  it  unnecessary  to  lower  the  drawbridge  and 
open  the  principal  entrance  doorway  except  on  special  occasions.  It 
also  explains  why  the  main  staircase  led  to  the  private  hall,  instead  of, 
as  usual,  to  the  common  hall,  as  without  the  above  separate  entrance  to 
the  latter  all  the  traffic  to  the  hall  would  have  passed  through  the 
private  room,  which  would  have  been  very  inconvenient. 

The  principal  entrance,  with  its  drawbridge  and  portcullis,  has  con- 
siderable resemblance  to  that  of  Morton  Castle,  and  the  side  entrance  to 
the  hall  on  the  first  floor  is  like  that  at  Rait  Castle,  and  also  like  one 
which  originally  existed  at  Morton,  but  was  subsequently  built  up.  The 
finely  dressed  ashlar-work  of  Tullyallan  is  another  point  of  resemblance 
to  Morton,  but  the  fine  groined  vaulting  of  Tullyallan  is  entirely 
its  own. 

The  mansion  seems  to  have  been  enlarged,  probably  in  the  sixteenth 
century,  when  the  north-east  wing  was  doubled  in  size,  and  carried  up 
several  stories  so  as  to  provide  bedrooms  (Fig.  473). 

The  house  was  surrounded  with  a  rectangular  enclosure  of  consider- 
able extent,  with  a  ditch  and  mound  (the  latter  no  doubt  palisaded), 
traces  of  which  are  still  distinctly  visible. 

1  The  vaulting  in  this  apartment  is  in  a  state  of  great  ruin,  and  has  nearly  all  fallen  in, 
while  that  in  the  other  room  requires  the  help  of  wooden  props  to  keep  it  up.  Unless  effec- 
tual means  are  soon  taken  to  keep  out  the  damp,  this  vaulting,  which  is  one  of  the  finest 
things  of  its  kind  in  Scotland,  will  soon  be  entirely  lost. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    558    — 


RAIT  CASTLE 


RAIT  CASTLE,  NAIRNSHIRE. 

There  is  no  account  of  the  origin  of  this  interesting  and  almost 
unique  building.  It  stands  on  a  hillside  about  three  miles  south  from 
the  town  of  Nairn,  and  commands  the  level  and  fertile  country  between 

it  and  the  Moray  Firth.  Tradition  says 
that  it  belonged  first  to  the  Raits  of  that 
Ilk,  and  afterwards  to  the  Comyns. 

In  plan  (Fig.  474)  this  castle  is  a 
simple  oblong,  64  feet  by  33  feet  over  the 
walls,  which  are  5  feet  6  inches  thick,  with 
a  round  tower,  21  feet  in  diameter,  at 
the  south-west  angle  only.  The  only 
entrance  to  the  castle  seems  to  have  been 
on  the  first  floor  near  the  east  end  of  the 
south  wall  (Fig.  475).  The  doorway  is 
still  entire,  and  has  portcullis  grooves  near 
the  outside,  with  jambs  for  a  wooden  door 
within.  The  form  of  the  arch  is  very 
unusual,  and  the  workmanship  is  superior 
to  that  of  ordinary  castles.  This  doorway 
appears  to  have  led  directly  into  the  hall, 
or  there  may  have  been  a  guard-room 
screened  off  at  the  east  end,  forming  a 
passage  to  the  hall.  The  hall  is  lighted 
with  windows  of  a  form  and  design  very 
uncommon  in  Scotland.  They  are  all 
about  3  feet  wide,  have  pointed  arches,  and  are  furnished  with  mullions 
and  stone  seats.  The  round  tower  enters  off  the  hall,  and  contains 
a  private  room,  which  also  has  a  mullioned  window.  The  arch  of 
all  the  windows  has  been  filled  with  the  simplest  kind  of  tracery, 
formed  by  the  mullion  branching  at  the  impost,  with  a  pointed  arch  to 
either  side.  The  ingoing  of  the  windows  is  roofed  over  with  a  depressed 
arch,  having  two  ribs  in  the  depth  (Fig.  474).  There  are  no  mouldings 
in  the  building  to  give  an  idea  of  its  date  ;  only  plain  splays  are  used. 
The  ruins  of  a  projecting  garde-robe,  somewhat  like  that  at  Tullyallan, 
remain  at  the  north-west  angle  (Fig.  476). 

The  ground  floor  is  lighted  with  several  small  square  windows,  varying 
from  12  inches  to  18  inches  in  width.  That  nearest  the  north-east  angle 
is  a  loop  with  a  pointed  arch.  There  is  no  fireplace  on  the  ground  floor, 
but  the  hall  has  a  plain  one.  The  building  was  110  doubt  three  stories  in 
height,  but  the  walls  of  the  top  floor  have  now  been  removed. 

This  building  possesses  several  features  which  recall  similar  ones  at 
Tullyallan  and  Morton  Castles,  which  indeed  are  almost  the  only  other 
buildings  with  which  it  has  affinity. 


Fio.  474.— Rait  Castle.    Plans. 


RAIT  CASTLE 


-  559  — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  simple  oblong  shape,  the  door  on  the  first  floor  with  its  portcullis, 
the  character  of  the  window  recesses,  and  the  small  square  windows  of 
the  basement,  have  all  a  certain  similarity  to  the  corresponding  features 
of  the  above  castles. 


Like  Tullyallan,  this  may  have  been  a  grange  or  mansion  rather  than 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    560 


It  AIT  CASTLE 


a  castle,  although  still  to  a  certain  extent  provided  with  defensive  works. 
The  courtyard  was  surrounded  with  a  wall  on  the  east,  north,  and  west 

^•\        ;'/  ^.^'stf-ti 


sides,  while  on  the  south  side  it  was  bounded  by  a  perpendicular  face  of 
rock  rising  as  high  as  the  enclosing  walls,  and  against  which  they  abutted. 


ARBROATH  ABBEY 


—    561 


THIRD  PERIOD 


Behind  this  the  rocky  hill  slopes  gradually  upwards.  The  round  tower 
was  probably  placed  at  the  south-west  angle  of  the  building  so  as  to 
defend  the  courtyard  on  this  its  weakest  side.  The  north-east  and 
north-west  angles  of  the  courtyard  wall  were  strengthened  with  round 
towers,  now  in  ruins. 

The  pointed,  mullioned,  and  traceried  windows  are  the  most  striking 
and  exceptional  features  of  the  building.  They  probably  indicate  a  date 
early  in  the  fifteenth  century.  The  castle  is  exceptional,  and  has  more 
affinity  with  ecclesiastical  than  civil  or  military  architecture. 


ARBROATH  ABBEY,  FORFARSHIRE. 

We  have  here  (Fig.  477)  an  example  of  a  castellated  building  con- 
nected with  an  ecclesiastical  foundation. 


FIG.  477. — Arbroath  Abbey.    Entrance  Gateway. 

The  precincts  of  the  abbey,  as  was  usually  the  case  with  such  build- 

2  N 


THIRD  PERIOD  562    ARBROATH  ABBEY 

ings,  were  surrounded  with  a  strong  wall  of  enceinte  strengthened  with 
towers.  At  Arbroath  one  of  these  towers,  at  the  north-west  angle  of  the 
enclosure,  shown  on  the  drawing,  is  still  preserved.  It  is  24  feet  square 
by  70  feet  in  height,  and  still  retains  the  great  corbels  which  carried  the 
parapet,  and  between  which  were  formed  the  machicolations  by  means 
of  which  the  enemy  could  be  assailed. 

Between  the  tower  and  the  abbey  gateway  there  is  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  original  wall  of  enceinte  strengthened  with  buttresses. 
The  gateway  itself  is  probably  the  finest  specimen  of  that  class  of  build- 
ing in  Scotland. 

The  upper  portion  is  particularly  interesting.  The  great  corbels  indi- 
cate the  mode  in  which  the  defences  of  the  parapet  were  continued  over 
the  archway  when  required.  In  time  of  peace  these  corbels  and  the 
window  above  would  remain  bare  and  open  as  they  now  are,  but  when 
it  became  necessary  to  prepare  for  a  siege  the  corbels  would  become  the 
foundation  on  which  a  strong  wooden  hoarding  would  be  raised  for  the 
defence  of  the  gateway. 

The  style  of  the  arches,  mouldings,  and  other  details,  is  quite  ecclesi- 
astical, and  dates  about  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

We  shall  close  our  account  of  the  Castles  and  Domestic  Buildings  of 
the  Third  Period  with  a  description  of 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE,  KINOARDINESHIRE. 

This  castle  contains  within  its  enceinte  examples  of  the  various 
changes  which  took  place  in  the  disposition  of  the  buildings  and 
defences,  as  well  as  in  the  domestic  arrangements  of  these  edifices  from 
the  fifteenth  till  the  seventeenth  century.  It  will  thus  form  a  natural 
conclusion  to  the  Third  Period,  and  an  introduction  to  the  Fourth  or 
latest  Period  of  our  Domestic  Architecture.  Dunnottar  Castle  is  situated 
about  one  mile  south  from  Stonehaven,  and  stands  on  the  platform  of 
an  isolated  rock  detached  from  the  general  precipitous  seaboard  of  the 
district,  and  washed  nearly  all  round  by  the  German  Ocean.  The  area 
of  the  site  is  about  three  and  a  half  acres  in  extent,  and  is  naturally  of 
great  strength,  being  surrounded  with  perpendicular  rocks  rising  from 
the  sea  to  a  height  of  160  feet,  except  at  the  narrow  strip  of  land  on  the 
level  of  the  sea-shore,  by  which  it  is  joined  to  the  mainland. 

The  earliest  record  of  any  buildings  on  this  rock  states  that  at  the 
end  of  the  thirteenth  century  it  was  occupied  by  the  parish  church. 
At  that  time  Sir  William  Keith  is  said  to  have  erected  a  tower  on  the 
rock,  and  to  have  been  excommunicated  by  the  Bishop  of  St.  Andrews 
for  the  offence  of  building  on  sacred  ground.  On  referring  the  case  to 


DUNNOTTAR   CASTLE 


—    563 


THIRD  PERIOD" 


Pope  Benedict  xin.,  a  Bull  was  issued,  dated  13th  July  1394-,  requiring 
the  Bishop  to  remove  the  sentence  of  excommunication,,  and  allowing 


FIG.  478.  —  Dunnottar  Castle.    General  Plan. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    564,    — 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


the  castle  to  remain,  on  condition  that  Sir  William  should  build  a  parish 
church  in  a  more  central  situation. 


Sir  William  Keith  obtained  Dunnottar  from  Lord  Lindsay  of  the 
Byres  in  exchange  for  Struthers,  in  Fifeshire,  about  1382-92,  and  the 
oldest  portion  of  the  present  castle  is  subsequent  to  that  date. 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


—    565    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


The  castle  is  approached  by  a  very  steep  path  which  descends  the 
cliffs  on  the  mainland,  and  is  commanded  from  an  outwork  on  a  jutting 


PIG.  480. — Dunnottar  Castle.    Entrance. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    566 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


promontory  of  the  castle  rock  called  the  "  Fiddle-head "  (Fig.  478). 
The  road  then  winds  round  the  base  of  the  rock  till  it  comes  to  the 
gateway,  which  is  approached  by  steps,  and  is  defended  by  a  building  on 
the  right  called  "  Benholme's  Lodging"  (Fig.  479),  furnished  with  three 
tiers  of  loopholes.  The  original  gateway  (now  partly  built  up)  was 
5|  feet  wide,  with  a  semicircular  arch.  It  is  the  only  opening  in  a  solid 
wall  35  feet  high,  crowned  with  a  parapet  wall  and  battlement,  which  is 
continued  seawards  till  it  joins  the  perpendicular  face  of  the  rock.  The 
above  buildings  and  wall  fill  up  the  only  cleft  in  the  rock  by  which  access 
to  the  interior  of  the  castle,  which  stands  on  the  summit,  can  be  obtained. 
On  passing  the  archway  the  visitor  is  confronted  by  the  portcullis 
(Fig.  480),  beyond  which,  at  the  top  of  a  flight  of  steps,  four  oval 
embrasures  for  guns,  arranged  in  the  form  of  an  oblong  with  a  square 
embrasure  in  the  centre,  frown  down  upon  him. 

On  the  left  hand  (Fig.  481)  is  the  guard-room,  and  on  the  right  a 
door  leading  to  the  ground  floor  of  "Benholme's  Lodging,"  which  at 
this  point  is  excavated  out  of  the  rock,  and  contains  a  small  prison. 

The  guard-room  in  front,  from  which  the  five  embrasures  open,  is 
also  to  a  great  extent  dug  out  of  the  rock. 

At  the  top  of  the  above-mentioned  flight  of  steps  the  roadway  turns  at 
right  angles  to  the  left,  and  ascends  rapidly,  with  occasional  steps  in  its 
course  to  ease  the  ascent.  After  29  feet  it  again 
turns  at  right  angles  to  the  right,  and,  still  ascend- 
ing, at  29  feet  further  (Fig.  478)  is  interrupted 
by  a  door,  5  feet  wide,  strongly  secured,  leading 
into  an  arched  passage  or  tunnel  26  feet  in  length, 
defended  with  a  door  at  the  other  end.  Beyond 
this  the  open  roadway  is  continued  till  it  is  stopped 
by  another  arched  passage  26  feet  7  inches  long, 
defended  with  doors  or  gratings  at  either  end. 
This  second  tunnel  passed,  the  road  at  length 
emerges  by  a  round  arched  doorway  (to  the  right, 
Fig.  482)  on  to  the  open  platform  on  the  top  of 
the  rock. 

The  open  portions  of  the  above  approach  are 
completely  commanded  from  the  buildings  above,  and  from  the  parapets 
which  no  doubt  formerly  crowned  the  entrances  to  the  tunnels,  as  well 
as  from  the  steep  slopes  of  the  ground  on  either  side.  The  passage  itself 
is  curved,  so  as  to  give  shelter  to  the  defenders,  while  the  sloping  ascent 
would  give  them  a  great  advantage  over  the  assailants. 

The  whole  thus  formed  as  impregnable  an  approach  as  can  well  be 
conceived.  Some  of  the  buildings  at  the  gateway  are  evidently  of  a 
late  date,  but  they  must  have  been  preceded  by  others  of  a  similar 
nature.  This  elaborate  approach  is  probably  not  so  old  as  the  keep,  the 


Fio.  481.— Dunnottar  Castle. 
Plan  of  Entrance. 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


—    567    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


original  access  to  which  may  have  been  by  a  flight  of  steps  from  the 
gateway.     The  probable  position  of  these  steps  may  be  indicated  by  the 


FIG.  482.— Dunnottar  Castle.    View  of  Keep  from  the  South-East,  and 
Upper  Entrance  to  Castle. 

existing  stair  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Benholme's  Buildings.  The 
access  to  the  keep  from  this  side  passes  through  a  tunnel  cut  in  the  rock, 
which  is  well  protected  with  doors,  and  other- 
wise similar  to  the  tunnels  of  the  main  entrance. 

Having  now  reached  the  platform  on  which 
the  buildings  of  the  fortress  are  situated,  let 
us  examine  these  in  the  probable  order  of  their 
erection. 

The  oldest  building  is  undoubtedly  the  keep 
at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  platform.  It 
was  probably  erected  after  the  Keith  Marischals 
obtained  the  property,  and  is  of  the  early  part  of 
the  fifteenth  century.  The  plan  presents  the 
usual  arrangements  of  the  period,  being  of  the 
L  shape,  and  four  stories  in  height. 

It  had  originally,  on  the  ground  floor,  the  ordinary  vaulted  store- 
rooms, with  a  small  prison  under  the  stair,  the  common  hall  on  the 
first  floor  (Fig.  483),  and  the  upper  hall  and  the  lord's  private  apartments 
in  the  top  stories.  The  ambry  (Fig.  484)  in  the  upper  hall  is  in  the 
usual  style  of  the  above  period.  The  entrance  door  (Fig.  482)  is  on  the 


FIG.  483.— Dunnottar  Castle. 
Plan  of  First  Floor  of  Keep. 


THIRD  PERIOD 


568    — 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


ground  level.  A  straight  stair  leads,  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  to  the 
first  floor,  and  a  newel  stair  in  continuation  gives  access  to  the  upper 
floors  and  the  roof.  The  stone  gutter  or  parapet  walk  still  exists,  as 
well  as  the  projecting  corbels  which  carried  the  parapet,  with  open 
machicolations  between. 


tnSedroo-in.^  "txJK&.lrutf 

<&  Wsirt 


FIG.  484.— Dunnottar  Castle.     Details. 

The  kitchen  was  originally  in  the  wing  on  the  first  floor.  The  large 
fireplace  still  exists,  with  an  oven  on  one  side,  and  a  small  stone  sink 
and  drain  on  the  other.  But  as  domestic  requirements  increased,  this 
room  was  converted  into  a  private  apartment,  and  the  fireplace  reduced 
in  size,  while  the  kitchen  was  transferred  to  the  large  vaulted  storeroom 
on  the  ground  flat.  This  is  apparent  from  the  great  fireplace  there 
having  evidently  been  an  insertion.  But  gradually  still  further  accom- 
modation was  found  necessary,  and  the  buildings  to  the  east  of  the  keep 
were  erected.  These  may  probably  have  been  storerooms,  in  lieu  of 
those  displaced  by  the  new  kitchen.  There  are  lofts  above  for  the 
servants,  the  stair  and  door  to  which  still  remain. 

At  a  later  date  the  much  more  extensive  range,  containing  stables, 
with  accommodation  for  ten  or  twelve  horses,  was  built  further  to  the 
east.  There  are  drains  through  the  walls,  on  the  floor  level,  in  these 
buildings,  showing  that  they  were  used  as  stables.  The  two  rooms  at 
the  east  end  of  this  range  are  provided  with  fireplaces  and  small  closets. 
In  these  the  head  retainers  probably  lived,  while  the  existing  outside 
stairs  to  the  lofts  show  that  they  were  occupied,  doubtless  by  the  servants. 
A  detached  building  at  the  west  end  of  this  range,  now  much  ruined, 
was  apparently  the  kitchen  connected  with  the  stables.  The  large  fire- 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


—    569    — 


THIRD  PERIOD 


THIRD  PERIOD 


—    570 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 


place  can  still  be  traced.  It  is  also  said  to  have  been  used  as  a  smithy, 
and  that  cannon  balls  were  cast  in  it. 

The  building  near  the  upper  end  of  the  access  to  the  castle  (to  the 
left,  Fig.  482)  is  called  the  Priest's  House.  It  has  a  circular  turret  con- 
taining the  staircase,  a  hall  and  private  apartment  on  the  ground  floor, 
and  there  must  have  been  several  apartments  on  the  upper  floor.  The 
style  of  the  corbelling,  etc.,  indicates  that  it  belongs  to  the  latter  half  of 
the  sixteenth  century. 

Adjoining  it  on  the  east  is  a  large  open  space  called  the  Burying  - 
ground.  It  is  possible  that  the  original  parish  church  may  have  been 
situated  here  ;  the  mounds  over  the  graves  are  said  to  have  been  visible 
some  years  ago. 


FIG.  486.— Dunnottar  Castle.    Plan  of  Upper  Floor  of  Quadrangle. 

Besides  the  extended  accommodation  above  described,  it  was  found, 
as  time  progressed  and  more  luxurious  modes  of  living  were  introduced, 
that  the  keep  was  too  small,  and  enlarged  accommodation  for  visitors 
during  receptions  and  other  entertainments  had  to  be  provided.  This 
led  to  the  erection  of  the  range  of  buildings  (to  the  left,  Fig.  485) 
forming  the  west  side  of  the  great  quadrangle  at  the  north-east  corner 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE  -    571    THIRD  PERIOD 

of  the  platform.  These  buildings  do  not  appear  to  have  been  begun 
before  the  death  of  William,  the  fourth  Earl,  in  1581,  as  he  lived  a 
retired  life  at  Dunnottar,  and  was  known  as  "William  of  the  Tower," 
from  his  living  in  the  keep.  This  range  contained  on  the  ground  floor 
seven  separate  living  apartments,  each  provided  with  a  fireplace,  and  with 
a  separate  entrance  from  the  outside,  while  on  the  floor  above  (Fig.  486) 
there  was  a  grand  gallery  or  reception-room  (now  called  the  Ball-room), 
115  feet  long  by  15  feet  wide,  with  a  private  room  at  the  north  end. 
The  entrance  to  the  gallery  is  by  a  fine  square  staircase  in  the  tower  at 
the  south-west  corner,  with  a  small  turret  stair  ascending  to  rooms  in 
the  upper  floors  of  the  tower  above  the  staircase.  From  the  style  of  the 
corbelling,  etc.  (Fig.  484),  it  may  be  inferred  that  this  building  belongs 
to  the  latter  half  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

The  chapel  appears  also  to  be  of  about  this  date,  but  it  has  no  archi- 
tectural features  of  importance.  Its  size  is  however  remarkable,  being 
57  feet  long  by  15  feet  wide  internally.  It  was  also  of  considerable  height, 
and  had  probably  an  open  roof.  The  walls  were  at  one  time  ornamented 
with  monuments  to  the  Keith  Marischals,  but  these  no  longer  exist. 
With  the  exception  of  the  Royal  palaces  and  castles,  private  chapels 
such  as  this  one  are  rare  in  the  mansions  of  this  period.  Small  oratories 
or  chapels,  like  those  of  Doune  and  Affleck  Castles,  represent  the  pro- 
vision, if  any,  usually  made  for  Divine  Service. 

In  course  of  time,  the  keep,  with  the  various  extensions  above  men- 
tioned, became  insufficient,  and  the  increased  importance  of  the  Earls 
Marischal  required  a  mansion  more  suited  to  their  state  and  the  fashion 
of  the  times.  This  led  to  the  erection  of  the  buildings  forming  the 
north  and  east  sides  of  the  quadrangle. 

The  irregular  form  of  this  quadrangle  seems  to  have  been  caused  by 
the  position  of  the  western  range  and  the  chapel  which  had  been  pre- 
viously erected.  That  these  were  previously  erected  is  evident  from  the 
windows  of  two  and  the  door  of  one  of  the  rooms  at  the  north  end  of  the 
west  range  being  built  up,  thus  necessitating  the  opening  of  a  door  to 
the  northmost  of  these  apartments  on  the  other  side.  A  window  in  the 
east  gable  of  the  chapel  has  also  been  closed  by  the  new  buildings 
erected  against  it. 

The  new  buildings  in  the  quadrangle  render  it  a  complete  mansion 
of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  north  and  east  sides  were  probably 
erected  about  the  beginning  of  that  century. 

The  north  range  contains  vaulted  storerooms  on  the  ground  floor, 
and  a  large  kitchen,  with  great  fireplace,  two  ovens,  stone  sink  and 
drain,  and  a  service  window  close  to  the  main  staircase.  The  east 
range  contains  a  brewhouse,  with  the  site  of  the  vat  and  fireplace  still 
in  existence,  and  a  bakehouse,  with  its  oven  built  out  beyond  the  wall. 

The  entrance  to  this  floor  is  by  a  wide  passage  with  a  door  in  the 


THIRD  PERIOD  572    DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE 

north-east  angle  turret,  and  also  a  back-door  towards  the  sea.  The 
passage  contains  a  long  stone  shelf  for  placing  the  dishes  on  as  brought 
out  from  the  kitchen. 

The  upper  floor  is  approached  by  a  grand  square  staircase  in  the 
tower  in  the  north-east  angle  of  the  courtyard,  the  steps  being  6  feet 
6  inches  wide.  This  leads  to  the  hall  or  dining-room,  54|  feet  long 
by  20  feet  wide,  beyond  which  is  the  withdrawing-room,  29  feet  long 
by  20  feet  wide. 

From  the  latter  there  was  an  access  to  the  long  gallery  at  the  west 
end,  and  also  to  the  private  room  there,  thus  forming  a  complete  suite 
of  public  apartments,  such  as  was  usual  in  France  and  England  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  dining-room  there  is  the  usual  private  room. 
Passing  to  the  east  range,  we  find  an  anteroom  at  the  top  of  the  stair, 
with  a  small  window  overlooking  the  entrance  door  and  staircase. 
Entering  from  this  is  a  large  bedroom,  and  beyond  it  a  sitting-room  or 
boudoir,  with  a  private  passage  to  the  outside,  and  a  small  apartment  for 
a  servant  or  a  wardrobe.  A  narrow  newel  stair  goes  up  from  the  land- 
ing of  the  main  stair,  and  led  to  rooms  in  the  tower  over  the  staircase, 
and  perhaps  to  attic  rooms  in  the  roof. 

The  stone  cornice  of  the  east  range  next  the  courtyard  has  been 
ornamented,  as  shown  in  the  drawing  (Fig.  484). 

The  large  tank  in  the  courtyard  may  probably  have  been  partly 
supplied  by  a  spring,  and  partly  by  rain-water  collected  from  the  roofs. 

The  principal  supply  of  water  to  the  castle  was  from  the  "  Barrel 
Well "  on  the  mainland,  from  which  wooden  pipes  are  said  to  have  been 
led  to  the  castle,  but  there  is  no  indication  of  their  having  been  brought 
to  this  tank.  The  tank  is  funnel-shaped  in  section,  the  sides  which  are 
built  with  stone  sloping  till  they  come  to  a  point  at  the  depth  of  25  feet. 
There  are  the  remains  of  a  stair  for  access  to  the  water  opposite  the 
kitchen  door,  and  a  pipe  from  the  tank  supplied  water  to  the  brewhouse. 

The  quadrangle  was  almost  certainly  erected  by  Earl  George  Keith 
(born  1553).  He  was  a  great  traveller  and  student,  and  a  celebrated 
man  in  his  day.  He  founded  the  Marischal  College  in  Aberdeen  in 
15.Q3,  and  was  Lord  High  Commissioner  to  the  Scotch  Parliament  in 
1609.  He  died  at  Dunnottar  in  1623. 

The  last  addition  to  the  buildings  of  the  castle  is  the  projecting  wing 
at  the  north-east  angle  of  the  quadrangle.  This  contains  on  the  ground 
floor  a  vaulted  apartment  58  feet  long  by  15  feet  wide.  It  seems  to 
have  been  originally  intended  for  stores,  but  has  since  obtained  an 
unenviable  notoriety  as  the  prison  of  the  Covenanters.  In  this  cellar  one 
hundred  and  ten  prisoners  (men,  women,  and  children)  were  confined 
during  a  whole  summer,  which  of  itself  would  be  cruelty  enough,  without 
taking  into  account  the  tortures  they  are  said  to  have  been  subjected  to. 


DUNNOTTAR  CASTLE  -    573    -  THIRD  PERIOD 

On  the  east  end,  owing  to  the  slope  of  the  ground,  there  is  a  small 
basement  floor,  probably  used  as  a  wine-cellar,  as  there  is  a  hatch  in  the 
floor  above  for  drawing  up  supplies.  In  this  cellar,  it  is  said,  there  were 
confined  no  fewer  than  forty-two  of  the  Covenanters. 

The  upper  floor  of  this  wing  contains  two  apartments,  which  seem  to 
have  been  used  as  a  private  room  and  a  bedroom.  Over  the  fireplace  of 
the  inner  room  is  the  sculptured  stone  (shown  in  Fig.  484),  containing  the 
arms  and  monograms  of  Earl  William  Keith  and  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth 
Seton,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Winton,  who  died  in  1650.  This  Earl 
espoused  the  Royal  cause,  and  was  a  strong  supporter  of  Charles  n., 
whom  he  entertained  at  Dunnottar.  At  the  Restoration  he  was  made 
Lord  Privy  Seal.  The  above  stone  is  dated  1645,  about  which  time 
this  latest  addition  to  the  castle  was  probably  made,  in  order  to  provide 
a  suitable  suite  of  apartments  for  distinguished  guests. 

There  is  a  small  detached  building  at  the  south-east  angle  of  the 
platform.  The  rock  at  this  point  is  not  quite  so  inaccessible  as  at  all 
others,  and  this  building  seems  to  have  been  a  guard-room,  deemed 
requisite  at  this  comparatively  weak  point.  The  ground  floor  contained 
the  latrines  for  the  garrison. 

It  is  uncertain  at  what  time  artillery  was  introduced  into  Dunnottar, 
but  there  are  extensive  earthen  embankments,  with  embrasures  for  guns, 
on  both  the  east  and  north  sides  of  the  platform.  The  open  space  next 
the  latter  has  been  levelled,  and  may  have  been  used  as  a  bowling- 
green. 

The  only  siege  of  any  consequence  to  which  Dunnottar  has  been 
subjected  occurred  in  l652,when  it  was  blockaded  by  General  Lambert, 
and  forced  to  surrender.  The  garrison  however  was  permitted  to  march 
out  with  drums  beating  and  colours  flying.  The  iron  guns  and  four 
mortars  were  allowed  to  remain,  but  twenty-one  brass  cannons  were 
removed  by  the  Parliamentary  forces.  The  besiegers  had  anticipated  the 
capture  of  the  Regalia  of  Scotland,  which  had  been  committed  to  this 
fortress  for  safe  keeping ;  but  they  were  disappointed,  as  these  insignia 
had  been  removed  secretly  by  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  James  Grainger, 
minister  of  Kinneff,  and  concealed  under  the  pavement  of  his  parish 
church. 

Earl  Marischal  having  joined  the  Stewarts  in  1715,  his  castle  was 
reduced  and  partly  destroyed  by  Argyll  in  1716,  and  was  finally  dis- 
mantled in  1718. 

The  castle  and  estate  now  belong  to  Major  Innes  of  Cowie. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


ABERDEEN,  Marischal  College,  572. 

Aberdour  Castle,  454. 

Advocates'  Library,  MS.  in,  371. 

Affleck  Castle,  oratory  at,  225,  571  ; 
description,  250 ;  staircase,  295. 

Aigues  Mortes,  gate  and  walls,  31, 
32  ;  hoards  at,  39. 

Alloa  Tower,  guard-room  in  roof, 
152;  description,  155. 

Amboise  Castle,  53. 

Antibes,  20. 

Antiquarian  Society  of  Scotland, 
508. 

Arbroath  Abbey,  hoards,  225 ;  de- 
scription, 56l. 

Aries,  Roman  walls  at,  3. 

Armstrong,  Mr.  R.  Bruce,  History 
of  Liddesdale,  523,  532. 

Arques,  Chateau  d',  6,  7,  20 ;  de- 
scription, 23;  subterranean  pas- 
sages, 112-121. 

Auchendoir  Church,  328. 

Auchindoun  Castle,description,  314. 

Avignon,  33,  34. 

Avondale  Castle,  description,  352. 

BADENHEATH  CASTLE,  description, 
307. 

Balgonie  Castle,  359  ;  description, 
377. 

Balquhain  Castle,  description,  303. 

Balvaird  Castle,  parapet,  224  ;  bar- 
tizans, 225;  embrasures,  254  ;  de- 
scription, 335. 

Balveny  Castle,  description,  386. 

VOL.   I. 


Barbour,  description  of  Dunstaff- 
nage  Castle,  92 ;  reference  to 
Linlithgow  Castle,  478. 

Barclay,  Margaret,  monument  of, 
343. 

Bayeux  Tapestry,  4. 

Beaugency,  Chateau  de,  8,  9. 

Beaumaris  Castle,  42. 

Bennet,  Mr.,  Alloa  Archaeological 
Society,  270. 

Benholme  Castle,  description,  284. 

Benholme's  Lodging,  Dunnottar 
Castle,  566. 

Berkeley  Castle,  22. 

Berwick  Castle,  464 ;  walls,  467. 

Billings,  R.  W.,  Baronial  and  Eccle- 
siastical Antiquities  of  Scotland, 
v.,  116,  390,460,497,  519- 

Blackness  Castle,  330. 

Blind  Harry,  reference  to  Kinclaven 
Castle,  68,  69. 

Blois,  Chateau  de,  53,  476. 

Bodiam  Castle,  49,  50. 

Boharm  Castle,  63. 

Border  peles,  58,  59. 

Borthwick  Castle,  guard-room  in 
roof,  152;  wall  paintings,  202; 
fireplace,  215;  two  wings,  224; 
parapet,  225 ;  corbels,  232 ; 
barrel  vault,  315;  date  of,  317 ; 
steep  roof,  331 ;  late  Gothic  work, 
336 ;  description,  344 ;  no  gun- 
ports,  393;  oratory,  406,  425; 
top  story,  407 ;  enclosing  wall, 
483  ;  Crookston  similar  to,  534. 
2  o 


INDEX 


—  578  — 


CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 


Bothwell  Castle,  63,  64,  65,  92, 108, 
418  ^esci-iption,  93  ;  exchanged 
for  Hermitage,  524  ;  tower  with 
keel,  31 ;  St.  Bride's  Chapel,  106  ; 
chapel,  109;  keep,  116;  general 
form,  124;  buildings  in  court- 
yard, 146;  water  trough,  197; 
bartizans  on  buttresses,  354  ;  arch 
in  donjon,  527  ;  window  in  hall, 
549. 

Boys,  Mr.  David,  Master  of  Works, 
Ravenscraig,  544. 

Brechin  Castle,  63. 

Brochs,  6l,  62;  wall  chambers  in, 
236. 

Burleigh  Castle,  description,  275. 

Burnett,  George,  Lyon  King  of 
Arms,  on  Ravenscraig  Castle, 
544  ;  Mons  Meg,  463. 

CAERLAVEROCK  CASTLE,  232;  triangu- 
lar plan,  64 ;  description,  127  ; 
courtyard  plan,  222 ;  parapet, 
542. 

Caerphilly  Castle,  42,  220. 

Cairnbulg  Castle,  description,  309. 

Cannes,  Mont  du  Chevalier,  descrip- 
tion, 19,  20. 

Carcassonne,  Roman  works,  3. 

Cardarroch  House,  porch,  392. 

Cardoness  Castle,  description,  243  ; 
mantelpiece,  308. 

Carlyle,  Thomas,  177. 

Carnarvon  Castle,  description,  41, 
42,  220. 

Castle  Campbell,  description,  202  ; 
additions  to  keep,  223  ;  corridor, 
470. 

Hedingham,  description,  14, 

15. 


Huntly,  description,  320. 

Roy,    site,    64 ;    description, 

65;  no  towers  at,  71  ;  like  Bal- 

veny  Castle,  386. 


Caumont,  De,  on  French  Architec- 
ture, 2,  3. 

Cawdor  Castle,  iron  "  yett "  from 
Lochindorb,  71. 

Chalmers,  Rev.  Peter,  History  of 
Dmrfermline,  51 6. 

Chambers,  Dr.  R.,  on  Edinburgh 
Castle,  445, 455,  460  ;  restoration 
of  Edinburgh  Castle,  449. 

Chambord,  Chateau  de,  53. 

Charney  Manor  House,  43. 

Clackmannan  Tower,  compared  with 
French  towers,  34 ;  attic  on  bat- 
tlements, 152,  270;  description, 
178  ;  corbels  at,  443. 

Clark,  G.  T.,  on  English  Castles,  2, 
3,  22  ;  on  Conisborough  Castle, 
28. 

Cochrane,  Robert,  architect,  113, 
314. 

Colchester  Castle,  11,  12. 

Colleges  and  Inns  of  Court,  48. 

Comlongan  Castle,  description,  237  ; 
plan,  244  ;  parapet,  250  ;  covered 
parapet,  284. 

Congleton  Castle,  64. 

Conisborough  Castle,  described,  28, 
29,  30 ;  buttresses  at,  42  ;  stair- 
case, 78. 

Conway  Castle,  42,  220. 

Coucy,  Chateau  de,  described,  37, 
38,  39,  40 ;  Coucy  and  Pierre- 
fonds  compared,  46;  Inverlochy 
like,  78 ;  Bothwell  like,  98  ; 
Doune  compared  with,  422 ; 
drawbridge,  547. 

Coxton  Tower,  staircase,  140. 

Craig  Castle,  passage  like  Gight 
Castle,  323  ;  description,  326. 

Craighall  compared  to  Struthers 
Castle,  354. 

Craigmillar  Castle,  fireplaces  re- 
moved, 108 ;  attic  on  battle- 
ments, 152;  description,  189; 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 


—    579 


INDEX 


walls  of  enceinte,  203  ;  corbels 
and  machicolations,  207 ;  con- 
verted into  courtyard  plan,  223 ; 
example  of  hoardings,  225  ;  fire- 
places, 308  ;  parapet  corbels  left, 
311;  barrel  vault,  315;  stone 
roof,  331,  414;  parapet  without 
corbels,  407  ;  enclosing  wall,  483. 

Craigneil  Castle,  description,  297. 

Craignethan  Castle,  imitation  cor- 
bels, 225  ;  description,  255  ;  slop- 
ing gun-holes,  542. 

Craill  Castle,  63. 

Crichton  Castle,  description,  209 ; 
machicolations,  224 ;  carving, 
225 ;  balcony,  459- 

Crookston  Castle,  exceptional  de- 
sign, 225,  523  ;  passages  in  walls, 
317;  deep  external  bay  of  win- 
dows, 470  ;  description  of,  533  ; 
compared  with  Morton  Castle, 
550. 

DALSWINTON  CASTLE,  64. 

Darnaway  Castle,  description  of, 
304. 

Dean  Castle,  additions  detached 
from  keep,  226,  359  ',  minstrels' 
gallery,  231 ;  description,  401. 

Dirleton  Castle,  resembles  style  of 
the  South,  64  ;  description,  113, 
114,  435;  chimney,  121  ;  towers 
demolished,  129;  old  towers  util- 
ised, 169;  courtyard  plan,  222; 
timber  roof  destroyed,  306 ; 
guard-room  and  dungeon  under 
the  private  room,  320 ;  window 
to  cellars,  as  at  Linlithgow,  487  ; 
external  work  like  Hermitage, 
527. 

Donibristle  Castle,  beacon  light, 
330. 

Doune  Castle,  fireplace  removed, 
108 ;  plan  corresponds  with  Crich- 


ton Castle,  214;  hall  roof  of 
Crichton  similar,  215;  built  on 
courtyard  plan,  222,  417 ;  hall 
fireplace  double,  225 ;  open  tim- 
ber roof  gone,  306  ;  oratory,  406  ; 
outside  stair  to  hall,  407  ;  descrip- 
tion, 418;  belonged  to  Duke  of 
Albany,  429  ;  enclosing  wall,  483  ; 
large  keep,  523 ;  external  work 
like  Hermitage,  527 ;  extended 
buildings,  528 ;  oratory,  571  ; 
musicians'  gallery,  404. 

Dover  Castle  described,  5,  18  ;  sub- 
terranean passages  at,  112,  121. 

Draffane,  259.^  See  Craignethan. 

Drochil  Castle,  compared  with  Bal- 
veny,  390 ;  mouldings  like  those 
of  Aberdour  and  Edinburgh 
Castles,  454. 

Drum  Castle,  Aberdeenshire,  de- 
scription, 1 50  ;  rounded  angles 
like  Neidpath,  188. 

Drummond  Castle,  description,  285. 

Drury,  Sir  William,  Report  on  Edin- 
burgh Castle,  450. 

Dryden,  Sir  Henry,  Bart.,  522. 

Due,  Viollet-le-,  descriptions  of 
French  architecture,  2  ;  descrip- 
tion of  Beaugency,  8  ;  restoration 
of  Chateau  d'Etampes,  25 ;  machi- 
colations invented  by  Richard  i., 
25  ;  description  of  Provins,  27  ; 
description  of  Chateau  de  Coucy, 
38 ;  restoration  of  Chateau  de 
Pierrefonds,  46. 

Duffus  Castle,  early  stronghold,  63  ; 
description,  278. 

Dumbarton  Castle,  early  strong- 
hold, 63. 

Dunbar,  early  stronghold,  64. 

Dunblane,  fireplaces  removed,  108. 

Dundas  Castle,  description,  328. 

Dundonald  Castle,  compared  with 
Rothesay,  82;  fireplaces,  121; 


INDEX 


—  580  — 


CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 


description,  167;  Torthorwald 
compared  with,  175;  a  simple 
keep,  221  ;  Crookston  Castle  com- 
pared with,  534. 

Dunfermline,  beacon  lights,  330 ; 
church,  464. 

Palace,  courtyard  plan,  417; 

description  of,  514. 

Dunnottar  Castle,  corbels  and  ma- 
chicolations, 224,  443 ;  descrip- 
tion, 562. 

Dunolly  Castle,  description,  281. 

Dunskaith  Castle,  ancient  fortress, 
63. 

Dunstaffnage  Castle,  compared  with 
French  and  English  examples, 
33 ;  thirteenth  century,  63 ; 
rocky  site,  64  ;  description,  85  ; 
description  of  chapel,  90 ;  plan 
irregular,  127;  loopholes  as  at 
Caerlaverock,  129;  traditional 
date,  283. 

Durham  Castle,  a  shell  keep,  22. 

Duiy,  Abbot,  arms  at  Dunfermline, 
516. 

EARLY  ENGLISH  CASTLES,  42,  43. 

Edinburgh  Castle,  an  ancient  for- 
tress, 64;  courtyard  plan,  222, 
417  ;  timber  roofs,  306  ;  gabled 
crowsteps,  328,  505  ;  description, 
445 ;  one  of  the  four  chief  for- 
tresses, 464 ;  extended  accom- 
modation, 478  ;  watch  -  turrets, 
467 ;  Renaissance  corbels  like 
work  at  Falkland,  506. 

Parliament  House,  460. 

—  Tron  Church,  306. 

Edindour  Castle,  ancient  fortress, 
63. 

"  Edom  o'  Gordon,"  337. 

Edwardian  Castles,  42,  43,  64,  112, 
129,447. 

Edzell   Castle,   corbels    applied    as 


ornaments,  225,  259,  297  ;  small 
break  at  staircase,  295 ;  descrip- 
tion, 359. 

Elgin  Cathedral,  rebuilding  of,  444. 

Elphinstone  Castle,  description, 
233  ;  compared  with  Comlongan, 
237,  240;  compared  with  Car- 
doness,  244;  spy-hole,  251  ;  roof 
of,  326. 

Etampes,  Chateau  d',  24,  25. 

FALKLAND  PALACE,  courtyard  plan, 
417;  gateway  compared  with 
Stirling  Castle,  472 ;  extended 
accommodation,  478,  479;  corri- 
dors added,  497 ;  medallions, 
500  ;  description,  501  ;  compared 
with  Dunfermline  Palace,  51 6. 

Falside  Castle,  keep  enlarged  into 
a  mansion,  359 ;  description,  409. 

Farme  Castle,  description,  313. 

Farnell  Castle,  gabled  crow-steps, 
328. 

Federate  Castle,  description,  357. 

Fordel  Castle,  beacon  light,  330. 

Forfar  Castle,  ancient  fortress,  63. 

Fraserburgh,  Castle  at  Kinnaird 
Head,  and  Wine  Tower,  built  by 
Sir  A.  Fraser  of  Cairnbulg,  313. 

Fyvie,  ancient  stronghold,  63. 

GAILLARD,  Chateau,  description,  25, 
26  ;  "  bee  "  or  keel  of  the  keep, 
37 ;  Rosslyn  Castle  compared 
with,  376. 

Gight,  or  Formantine,  description, 
322  ;  passage  like  that  of  Craig 
Castle,  327. 

Gisors  Castle,  description,  21,  22. 

Glamis,  ancient  stronghold,  63 ; 
corbels  of  old  parapet  left,  311; 
Glamis  Castle  and  Castle  Huntly 
both  altered  by  Earl  of  Strath- 
more,  322, 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 


581    — 


INDEX 


Gloume    Castle,    202.       See  Castle 

Campbell. 

Grose,  Captain,  407,  467,  470. 
Guildford      Castle,       herring-bone 

work,  12. 
Gylem   Castle,  fireplace  like   Car- 

doness,  246. 

HAILES  CASTLE,  113;    description, 

122. 

Haining  Castle,  description,  413. 
Hallbar  Castle,  staircase,  140. 
Hallforest  Castle,  description,  157- 
Harlech  Castle,  42. 
Hay,  Father,  370. 
Heriot's  Hospital, style  of,  460,497. 
Hermitage  Castle,  exceptional  style 

of,   225,  523  ;  description,   523  ; 

similar     to      Crookston      Castle, 

534,  550. 
Holyrood   Palace,  courtyard   plan, 

222,    479;    similar   to   Falkland 

Palace,  472. 

Huntingtower.     See  Ruthven. 
Huntly     Castle,     resemblance    to 

Balveny,  390. 
Hurstmonceaux  Castle,  57,  58. 

INNES,  COSMO,  list  of  Early  Scottish 
Strongholds  by,  63 ;  date  of 
Tester  Castle,  11 6. 

Inverkip  Castle,  description,  296. 

Inverlochy  Castle,  ancient  fortress, 
63  ;  site  of,  64  ;  description,  73. 

Inverurie,  ancient  fortress,  63. 

JEDBURGH,  ancient  fortress,  64. 

KEEPS,  enlarged  into  castles  sur- 
rounding courtyard,  188,  359  ; 
French,  6,  7  ;  Norman,  4,  5,  7, 
22,  30,  39,  59,  62,  144;  rect- 
angular, 21  ;  Scottish,  30,  34 
shell,  21. 

Kilbirnie,  Place  of,  description,  390. 


Kilchurn  Castle,  description,  382. 

Kildrummie  Castle, ancient  fortress, 
63  ;  resembles  Southern  work, 
64,  65  ;  completed  work  of  First 
Period,  92 ;  description,  108 ; 
exceptional  building,  418. 

Kilkerran  Castle,  description,  298. 

Kilravock  Castle,  description,  384. 

Kincardine  Castle,  primitive  fort- 
ress, 63. 

Kinclaven  Castle,  site  of,  64  ;  de- 
scription, 67  ;  Lochmaben  Castle 
similar  to,  79  ;  simple  form  of 
plan,  92  ;  square  on  plan,  127  ; 
resembles  Tarbert,  1 36 ;  Balveny 
Castle  resembles,  386. 

Kinnaird  Castle,  description,  270. 

Kirkwall,  Bishop's  Palace,  descrip- 
tion, 519. 

Castle,  exchanged  for  Ravens- 

craig  Castle,  545. 

LAMBERTON,  primitive  fortress,  64. 

Leuchars,  primitive  fortress,  63. 

Leven  Castle,  ornamental  corbels, 
225  ;  description,  295. 

Liberton  Tower,  parapet  at,  224  ; 
spy-hole  at,  251 ;  description,  226. 

Lincluden  Abbey,  built  by  the  third 
Earl  of  Douglas  (Archibald  the 
Grim),  106. 

Lincoln,  Jew's  house  at,  23. 

Linlithgow,  primitive  fortress,  64. 

• Palace,  courtyard  plan,  222, 

417  ;  triple  fireplace  at,  225  ; 
stone  bench  in  hall,  404 ;  win- 
dow to  cellars,  438 ;  hall  similar 
to  other  Royal  palaces,  457  ;  oriel 
window  at,  459  ;  deep  external 
bay  of  windows,  470 ;  towers 
resemble  those  of  Stirling,  473 ; 
fireplaces  like  those  at  Stirling 
Palace,  475  ;  description,  478 ; 
compared  with  Dunfermline 


INDEX 


—  582  — 


CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC 


Palace  and  Falkland  Palace,  504, 
516. 

Linlithgow,  Knights  Hospitallers, 
fireplace  like  that  of  the  Palace, 
490;  roof,  306  ;  description,  508. 

Loch-an-Eilan,  description,  72,  73. 

Loches,  Chateau  de,  keel  on  towers, 
31 ;  James  v.  imitates  at  Stirling, 
476. 

Keep,  description  of,  9- 

Lochindorb  Castle,  primitive  fort- 
ress, 63  ;  chapel  at,  64  ;  enlarged 
by  Edward  i.,  65 ;  description,  70. 

Lochleven  Castle,  description,  146. 

Lochmaben  Castle,  primitive  fort- 
ress, 64  ;  description,  78  ;  special 
site  of,  143. 

London,  City,  houses  of,  23. 

Tower  of,  5. 

Louvre,  donjon  of,  53. 

Liibeck,  Rath-haus  of,  219. 

MAITLAND'S    History  of  Edinburgh, 

452,  460. 
Mearns    Tower,    description,   230; 

musicians'  gallery  at,  404. 
Montsabert,  Chateau  de,  53,  54,  55. 
Moray    House,    panelled    ceilings, 

301. 
Morton  Castle,   primitive   fortress, 

64 ;     exceptional      design,    226, 

523 ;    description,      545 ;      plan 

similar  to  Tullyallan,   Rait,  etc., 

554,  557,  558. 

NEIDPATH  CASTLE,  resembles  Drum 
Castle,  155  ;  description,  183. 

Newcastle,  keep  at,  5,  13. 

Newark  Castle  (Selkirkshire),  de- 
scription, 247 ;  parapet  roofed  in, 
284. 

Niddrie  Castle,  description,  324 ; 
deep  external  bay  of  windows, 
470. 


OAKHAM  CASTLE,  hall  of,  23. 

PAISLEY  ABBEY,  vaulting  of,  173. 

Paris,  House  of  Francis  i.,  56,  507. 

Parker,  J.  H.,  Domestic  Architecture 
of  England,  2,  23,  43,  49,  59,  497. 

Period,  First,  6l. 

Second,  143. 

Third,  222 ;  simple  keeps, 

226 ;  keeps  with  one  or  two 
wings,  314;  keeps  enlarged  by 
additions,  359 ;  castles  designed 
as  buildings  surrounding  a  court- 
yard, 417  ;  exceptional  modifica- 
tion of  keep  plan,  523. 

Pevensey  Castle,  Roman  work  at, 
5,  11,  42  ;  similar  to  French  and 
Scottish  castles,  33  ;  Inverlochy 
Castle  resembles,  78. 

Pierrefonds,  Chateau  de,  descrip- 
tion, 44,  45,  46,  47  ;  compared 
with  Warwick  Castle,  49  ;  towers 
of  Craigmillar  resemble,  197 ; 
contemporary  with  keeps  of  Scot- 
land, 220 ;  Scottish  keeps  of 
Third  Period  resemble,  223 ; 
keep  of  Doune  Castle  resembles, 
422. 

Porchester  Castle,  Roman  work  at, 
5,  11. 

Pratt,  Dr.,  Guide  to  Buchan,  357. 

Preston  Tower,  hoardings  at,  225 ; 
description,  317. 

Provins,  Chateau  de,  description, 
27,  28. 

RAIT  CASTLE,  windows  of  Duffus 
similar  to,  280  ;  exceptional  plan, 
523 ;  entrance  door  similar  to 
Morton  Castle,  548  ;  classed  with 
Morton  and  Tullyallan  Castles, 
549,  554,  557 ;  description,  558. 

Ramage,  Dr.  C.T.,Drumlanrig  Castle 
and  the  Douglases,  550. 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 


583    — 


INDEX 


Ravenscraig  Castle,  exceptional 
design,  226,  523 ;  description, 
538. 

Redcastle,  primitive  fortress,  63 ; 
description,  280. 

Renaissance  style,  52,  53,  60,  131, 
133,  182,  219,  322,  332,  470, 
475,  483,  495,  505,  507,  51 6. 

Riviera,  Castles  in  the,  20. 

Robertson,  Dr.  Joseph,  492,  495. 

Roche  Guyon,  Chateau  de,  remark- 
able site  and  subterranean  pas- 
sages of,  36,  121. 

Rochester  Castle,  central  wall,  7, 
14  ;  description,  15  ;  enceinte,  22. 

Roman  work  in  Gaul  and  England, 
2,  3,  11,  12,  21,  42. 

Rosslyn  Castle,  description,  366. 

Rosyth  Castle,  description,  289- 

Rothesay  Castle,  primitive  fortress, 
63;  oval  plan,  64,  127;  descrip- 
tion, 80 ;  keep  similar  to  Dun- 
donald,  221. 

Rouen,  Tower  of  Jeanne  d' Arc,  39, 
40. 

Roxburgh  Castle,  primitive  fortress, 
64 ;  one  of  the  four  principal 
fortresses,  464. 

Ruthven  Castle,  in  Badenoch, 
primitive  fortress,  63. 

(Perthshire),  roof  on 

parapet,  225  ;  additions  detached 
from  keep,  226,  359;  fireplace, 
308 ;  description,  395. 

SANQUHAR  CASTLE,  description,  415. 
Sauchie    Tower,    Old,    wash-hand 

basin  at,  1 82 ;  description,  265. 
Saxons,  wooden  buildings  of,  2 1 ,  24. 
Scottish  castles,  early,  resemblance 

to  French  and   English  castles, 

21,  33. 
Scott,    Sir   Walter,   Mannion,  lip ; 

"  Tillietudlem,"  255. 


Sibbald,  Sir   Robert,  description  of 

Struthers  Castle,  355. 
Slezer,   view    of  Bothwell    Castle, 

104;    view    of    Stirling    Castle, 

467,  470. 

Somerton  Castle,  43. 
Southampton,  23. 
Spynie,    Bishop's    Palace,    corbels, 

etc.,  224  ;  description,  439. 
St.  Andre,  Chateau  de,  33,  34,  35  ; 

resemblance     to      Dunstaffnage 

Castle,  92. 

St.  Andrews,  primitive  fortress,  63. 
Cathedral,   unroofed  by  Ed- 
ward i.,  464. 

Castle,  corridor  at,  470. 


St.  Giles',  Edinburgh,  vaulting  of, 
173. 

St.  Margaret's  Chapel,  Edinburgh 
Castle,  460. 

Stirling  Castle,  primitive  fortress, 
64;  courtyard  plan,  222,  417; 
open  timber  roof,  306 ;  descrip- 
tion, 464 ;  work  resembles  that 
of  Linlithgow  Palace,  494,  495. 
500 ;  work  resembles  that  of 
Falkland  Palace,  504. 

Grey  Friars'  Church,  buttresses 

of,  354. 

Argyll's  Lodging,   porch    of, 


393. 

Stobhall,  porch  at,  392. 
Stokesay  Castle,  43. 
Stoneypath  Tower,  description  of, 

355. 

Strathbolgie,  primitive  fortress,  63. 
Struthers  Castle,  description,  353  ; 

exchanged  for  Dunnottar  Castle, 

564. 

TANTALLON  CASTLE,  like  Crichton, 
Doune,  etc.,  214;  courtyard 
plan,  222,  417  ;  parapet  with 
continuous  corbel  table,  225  ; 


—  584  — 


ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND 


open  timber  roof  at,  306 ;  work 
at  Hermitage  Castle  resembles, 
527  :  description,  429  ;  enlarged 
keep,  523. 

Tarbert  Castle,  site,  64 ;  early 
fortress,  65;  description,  136; 
exceptional,  143. 

Tattershall  Castle,  59. 

Threave  Castle,  description,  157; 
cannons  used  at,  435,  463  ;  round 
towers  on  enceinte,  483. 

"  Tillietudlem  Castle,"  255. 

Torphichen  Church,  514. 

Torthorwald  Castle,  description, 
175. 

Tullyallan  Castle,  fireplace  at,  121  ; 
exceptional  design,  226,  523 ; 
description,  550  ;  resembles  Mor- 
ton Castle,  548,  and  Rait  Castle, 
558. 

Turnberry  Castle,  primitive  fortress, 
64. 

Tytler,  P.  F.,  historian,  303. 


URQUHART,  primitive  fortress,  63. 

VILLENEUVE-LEZ- AVIGNON,  121. 

Tour   du   Pont,  like   Scottish 

keeps,  33,  36. 
Visigoths,  style  of  building,  2. 

WARWICK  CASTLE,  24, 48,  49  ;  towers 

at  Craigmillar  compared  to,  197. 
Whittingham     Castle,    description, 

300. 

Wilson,  Professor  Daniel,  461. 
Windsor    Castle,    22 ;  underground 

passages  at,  121. 
Winton  House,  plaster  ceilings  at, 

301. 

YESTER  CASTLE,  primitive  fortress, 
64  ;  subterranean  passages  at, 
112  ;  description,  1 16  ;  fireplaces, 
171  ;  wall  as  at  Morton  Castle, 
547. 

York  Castle,  24. 


END  OF  VOLUME  I. 


EDINBURGH  UNIVERSITY  PRESS  : 
T.  and  A.   CONSTABLE.  Printers  to  Her  Majesty. 


ARCHITECTURAL 
ARCHAEOLOGICAL  AND  HISTORICAL  WORKS 

RECENTLY  PUBLISHED 

BY    DAVID    DOUGLAS 


Four  Volumes,  Eoyal  8vo,  42s.  net  each  Volume,  with  about 
500  Illustrations  in  each  Volume. 

THE 

CASTELLATED   AND   DOMESTIC 

ARCHITECTURE 

OF   SCOTLAND 

FROM  THE  TWELFTH  TO  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY 


BY 

DAVID   MACGIBBON   AND   THOMAS   ROSS 

ARCHITECTS 
VOLUME  ONE 


"  One  of  the  most  important  and  complete  books  on  Scottish  architecture  that 
has  ever  been  compiled.  Its  value  to  the  architect,  the  archaeologist,  and  the 
student  of  styles  is  at  once  apparent.  It  consists  almost  exclusively  of  what  may  be 
called  illustrated  architectural  facts,  well  digested  and  arranged,  and  constituting  a 
monument  of  patient  research,  capable  draughtsmanship,  and  of  well  sustained  effort, 
which  do  the  authors  infinite  credit." — Scotsman. 


EDINBURGH:    DAVID    DOUGLAS 


The  FIRST  VOLUME  contains:— 

Introduction, — Giving  a  sketch  of  the  Castellated  Architecture  of  France  and 
England,  so  as  to  connect  that  of  Scotland  with  the  rest  of  Europe,  and  containing 
illustrations  of  French  and  English  Castles,  viz. : — 

Chateaux  d'Arques — de  Beaugency — de  Loches  Mortes— Chateau  de   St  Andre — Tour  du  Pont — 

— Colchester    Castle — Newcastle — Castle    Heding-  Chateau    de    Coucy — Tower    of    Jeanne    d'Arc — 

ham — Rochester   Castle— Dover   Castle — Mont  du  Carnarvon   Castle  — Pevensey   Castle — Chateau   de 

Chevalier,  Cannes— Shell  keeps— Chateau  de  Gisors  Pierrefonds — Warwick     Castle— Bodiam     Castle— 

—  Chateau  d'Etampes- Chateau  Gaillard— Chateau  Chateau   de    Montsabert — House  of    Francis   I. — 

de  Provins — Conisborough  Castle — Walls  of  Aigues  Hurstmonceaux  Castle. 


FIRST  PERIOD— 1200-1300. 


Castle  Roy,  . 
Kinclaven  Castle, 
Lochindorb  Castle, 
Loch-an-Eilan  Castle,  . 
Inverlochy  Castle, 
Lochmaben  Castle, 
Rothesay  Castle,  . 
Dunstaffnage  Castle,   . 


Inverness-shire 
Perthshire 
Elginshire 
Inverness-shire 

Do. 

Dumfriesshire 
Buteshire 
Argyllshire 


Bothwell  Castle,   . 
Kildrummie  Castle, 
Dirleton  Castle,    . 
Yester  Castle, 
Hailes  Castle, 
Caerlaverock  Castle, 
Tarbert  Castle,     . 


Lanarkshire 

Aberdeenshire 

Haddingtonshire 

Do. 

Do. 

Dumfriesshire 
Argyllshire 


SECOND  PERIOD -1300-1 400. 


1st,  Simple  Towers. 


Lochleven  Castle, 
Drum  Castle, 
Alloa  Tower, 
Hallforest,    . 
Threave  Castle,    . 
Dundonald  Castle, 
Torthorwald  Castle, 
Clackmannan  Tower,  . 


Kinross-shire 

Aberdeenshire 

Clackmannanshire 

Aberdeenshire 

Kirkcudbrightshire 

Ayrshire 

Dumfriesshire 

Clackmannansh  ire 


Neidpath  Castle,          .     Peeblesshire 

2d,  Keeps  extended  into  Courtyards. 
Craigmillar  Castle,       .     Midlothian 
Castle  Campbell,  .         .     Clackmannanshire 
Crichton  Castle,   .         .     Midlothian 

Comparison  of  Scottish  Castles  of  this  period 
with  those  of  France  and  England  —  The  keep 
plan  universal  in  Scotland. 


THIRD  PERIOD— 1400-1542. 


I.  Simple  Keeps. 

Liberton  Tower,  .  .  Midlothian 

Mearns  Tower,     .  .  Renfrewshire 

Elphinstone  Castle,  .  Haddingtonshire 

Comlongan  Castle,  .  Dumfriesshire 

Cardoness  Castle,  .  Kirkcudbrightshire 

Newark  Castle,     .  .  Selkirkshire 
Affleck   or  Auchenleck 

Castle,        .         .  .  Forfarshire 

Craignethan  Castle,  .  Lanarkshire 

Sauchie  Tower,    .  .  Clackmannanshire 

Kinnaird  Tower,  .  .  Perthshire 

Burleigh  Castle,  .  .  Kinross-shire 

Duffus  Castle,       .  .  Elginshire 

Redcastle,     .         .  .  Forfarshire 

Dunolly  Castle,    .  .  Argyllshire 

Benholme  Tower,  .  Kincardineshire 

Drummond  Castle,  .  Perthshire 

Rosyth  Castle,     .  .  Fifeshire 

Leven  Castle,       .  .  Renfrewshire 

Inverkip  Castle,   .  .  Do. 

Craigneil  Castle,  .  .  Ayrshire 

Kilkerran  Castle,  .         Do. 

Whittingham  Tower,  .  Haddingtonshire 

Balquhain  Castle,  .  Aberdeenshire 

Darnaway  Castle,  .  Elginshire 

Badenheath  Castle,  .  Dumbartonshire 

Cairnbulg  Castle,  .  Aberdeenshire 

Farme  Castle,       .  .  Lanarkshire 

II.  Keeps  with  One  or  Two  Wings. 

Auchindoun  Castle,      .  Banffshire 

Preston  Tower,     .        .  Haddingtonshire 

Castle  Huntly,      .     _    .  Perthshire 
Gight,    or    Formantine 

Castle, 

Niddrie  Castle,  . 
Craig  Castle, 
Dundas  Castle,  . 
Balvaird  Castle,  . 
Borthwick  Castle, 
Avondale  Castle,  . 
Struthers  Castle,  . 


Stoneypath  Tower, 
Federate  Castle,  . 


Aberdeenshire 

Linlithgowshire 

Aberdeenshire 

Linlithgowshire 

Fifeshire 

Midlothian 

Lanarkshire 

Fifeshire 

Haddingtonshire 

Aberdeenshire 


III.  Keeps  enlarged  in  various  -ways  by 

Additions. 

1st,  Keeps  enlarged  into  Castles  surrounding  a 
Courtyard. 

Forfarshire 
.     Midlothian 
.     Fifeshire 
.     Argyllshire 
Nairnshire 


Edzell  Castle, 
Rosslyn  Castle,  . 
Balgonie  Castle.  . 
Kilchum  Castle,  . 
Kilravock  Castle, 
Balveny  Castle,  . 
Kilbirnie  Castle,  . 
Ruthven  Castle, 
Huntingtower,  . 


Banffshire 
Ayrshire 

Perthshire 


Dean  Castle,  Kilmarnock,  Ayrshire 
Falside  Castle,      .         .     Haddingtonshire 
Haining,  or  Almond  Castle,  Linlithgowshire 
Sanquhar  Castle,  .     Dumfriesshire 

2nd,   Castles  designed  as  buildings  surrounding  a 
Courtyard. 

Perthshire 
Haddingtonshire 

Do. 

Elginshire 
Edinburgh 
Stirlingshire 
Linlithgowshire 
Fifeshire 


Doune  Castle, 
Tantallon  Castle, 
Dirleton  Castle,    . 
Spynie  Palace, 
Edinburgh  Castle,        . 
Stirling  Castle,     . 
Linlithgow  Palace, 
Falkland  Palace,  . 
House  of  the   Knights 

Hospitallers,      . 
Dunfermline  Palace, 


Linlithgow 
Fifeshire 
Bishop's  Palace,  Kirkwall,  Orkney 

Exceptional  Modifications  of  the  Keep  Plan. 


Hermitage  Castle, 
Crookston  Castle, 
Ravenscraig  Castle, 
Morton  Castle, 
Tullyallan  Castle, 
Rait  Castle, 
Arbroath  Abbey,  . 


Roxburghshire 

Renfrewshire 

Fifeshire 

Dumfriesshire 

Perthshire 

Nairnshire 

Forfarshire 


Changes  of  Domestic  Architecture  from 

Fifteenth  to  Seventeenth  Century. 
Dunnottar  Castle,  Kincardineshire 


The  SECOND  VOLUME  contains 
Illustrations  and  Descriptions  of  the  following  Castles : — 

FOURTH  PERIOD— 1542-1700. 


I.  Simple  Keeps. 

Muness  Castle,     .        .     Shetland 

Amisfield  Tower,          .     Dumfriesshire 

Burgie  Castle,       .         .     Elginshire 

Coxton  Tower,      .         .     Elginshire 
Hallbar  Tower,    .         .     Lanarkshire 
Knock  Castle,       .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Kinnaird  Head  Castle,               Do. 

Blervie  Castle,      .         .          Do. 
Corse  Castle,         .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Keiss  Castle,         .         .     Caithness-shire 
Moncur  Castle,     .         .     Perthshire 

Smailholm  Tower,        .     Roxburghshire 
Lochhouse  Tower,        .     Dumfriesshire 
Scotstarvet  Tower,        .     Fifeshire 
Udny  Castle,         .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Speedlin's  Tower,         .     Dumfriesshire 
Birse  Castle           .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Fenton  Castle,      .         .     Haddingtonshire 
Eden  Castle,          .         .     Banffshire 
Grantully  Castle,           .     Perthshire 
Huntly  Castle,      .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Earlshall,      .         .         .     Fifeshire 
Druminnor  Castle         .     Aberdeenshire 

Towie  Barclay,     .         .               Do. 
Delgaty  Castle,    .        .              Do. 

Tilquhilly  Castle,          .     Kincardineshire 
Newton  Castle,    .         .     Perthshire 

Abergeldie  Castle,        .              Do. 

IV.  Castles  with  Courtyards. 

Cakemuir  Castle,          .     Midlothian 

Scottish  Type. 

Bishop's  House,  Elgin,     Elginshire 
Repentance,  Tower  of,     Dumfriesshire 
Niddrie  Marischall  House,  Midlothian 
Corgarff  Castle,    .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Tolquhan  Castle,           .     Aberdeenshire 
Boyne  Castle,        .         .     Banffshire 
Girnigoe  Castle,   .        .     Caithness-shire 
Cawdor  Castle,     .        .     Nairnshire 

II.  Keeps  with  One  Wing,  or  the  L  Plan. 

Inverugie  Castle,          .     Aberdeenshire 

Elshieshields  Tower,    .     Dumfriesshire 

Birsay  Castle,       .         .     Orkney 

Gylem  Castle,        .         .     Argyllshire 

Inverallochy  Castle,     .     Aberdeenshire 

Brackie  Castle,     .         .     Forfarshire 

Barnes  Castle,       .         .     Haddingtonshire 

Muckrach  Castle,          .     Inverness-shire 

Dornoch  Palace,  .         .     Sutherlandshire 

Balbegno  Castle,  .         .     Kincardineshire 

Earl  Patrick's  Palace,       Orkney 

Blairfindy  Castle,          .     Banffshire 

Fyvie  Castle,        .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Drumcoltran  Castle,     .     Kirkcudbrightshire 

Balcomie  Castle,  .         .     Fifeshire 

Gilbertfield  Castle,        .     Lanarkshire 

Stobhall  Castle,    .         .     Perthshire 

Evelick  Castle,     .         .     Perthshire 

Muchalls  Castle,  .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Scalloway  Castle,         .     Shetland 

Midmar  Castle,    .        .              Do. 

Towie  Castle,        .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Rowallan  Castle,  .         .     Ayrshire 

Elcho  Castle,        .         .     Perthshire 

Mains  Castle,       .         .     Forfarshire 

Craigievar  Castle,         .     Aberdeenshire 

Pinkie  House,      .         .     Midlothian 

Crathes  Castle,     .        .              Do. 

Barra  Castle,         .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Glamis  Castle,      .        .     Forfarshire 

Allardyce  Castle,          .     Kincardineshire 

Kellie  Castle,       .        .     Fifeshire 

Airth  Castle,         .         .     Stirlingshire 

Lickleyhead  Castle,      .     Aberdeenshire 

Corehouse  Castle,         .     Lanarkshire 

Ochiltree  Castle,  .         .     Linlithgowshire 

Ethie  Castle,         .         .     Forfarshire 

Hoddam  Castle,  .         .     Dumfriesshire 

Menstrie  Castle,  .         .     Clackmannanshire 

Mar  Castle,  .        .        .     Aberdeenshire 

/' 

Fiddes  Castle,      .         .     Kincardineshire 
Killochan  Castle,          .     Ayrshire 
Kirkhill  Castle,    .         .     Ayrshire 
Maclellan's  House,       .     Kirkcudbrightshire 
Inchdrewer  Castle,       .     Banffshire 
Ferniehirst  Castle,        .     Roxburghshire 
Torwoodhead  Castle.    .     Stirlingshire 
Knockhall  Castle,         .     Aberdeenshire 
Peffermill  House           .     Alidlothian 

Balmbreich  Castle,       .     Fifeshire 
Argyll's  Lodging,         .     Stirlingshire 
Newark  Castle,    .         .     Renfrewshire 
Culross  Palace,     .         .     Perthshire 
Drum  Castle,        .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Traquair  House,  .         .     Peeblesshire 
Drumlanrig  Castle,      .     Dumfriesshire 
Caroline  Park,      .         .     Midlothian 

Erchless  Castle,  '.        .     Inverness-shire 
Stenhouse  Castle,         .     Stirlingshire 

Balmacraig  House,       .     Aberdeenshire 
Ruthven  Castle,  .         .     Inverness-shire 

Collarnie  Castle,  .         .     Fifeshire 

V.  Development  into  House  and  Mansion. 

Auchans  Castle,    .         .     Ayrshire 
Dalcross  Castle,    .         .     Inverness-shire 
Balbythan  Castle,         .     Aberdeenshire 
Northfield  House,         .     Haddingtonshire 

Aberdour  Castle,          .     Fifeshire 
Castle  Stewart,     .         .     Inverness-shire 
Craigston  Castle,           .     Aberdeenshire 
Aldie  Castle          .         .     Perthshire 

Granton  Castle,    .        .     Midlothian 
Bishop's  House,  Breckness,  Orkney 
Innerpeffrey  Castle,      .     Perthshire 
Williamstoun  House,    .             Do. 

Carnock  House,   .         .     Stirlingshire 
Gardyne  Castle,  .         .     Forfarshire 
Megginch  Castle,          .     Perthshire 
Farnell  Castle,      .         .     Forfarshire 

Kelty  House,        .        .            Do. 
Leslie  Castle,         .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Hopetoun  Tower,          .     Linlithgowshire 
Innes  House,         .         .     Elginshire 

Midhope  House,  .         .     Linlithgowshire 
Philorth  Castle,    .         .     Aberdeenshire 
Keith  House,       .        .     Haddingtonshire 
West  Coates  House,    .     Edinburgh 

III.  Keeps  with  Diagonally  Opposite  Towers. 

Cardarroch  Castle,        .     Dumbartonshire 

Terpersie  Castle,           .     Aberdeenshire 
Claypotts  Castle,          .     Forfarshire 
Notland  Castle,    .         .     Orkney 
Drochil  Castle,     .         .     Peeblesshire 
Castle  Fraser,       .         .     Aberdeenshire 

Houston  House,  .         .     Linlithgowshire 
Jerviswood  Castle,        .     Lanarkshire 
Duntarvie  House,         .     Linlithgowshire 
Fernielee  Castle,           .     Selkirkshire 
Wintoun  House,  .         .     Haddingtonshire 

Fordell  Castle       .         .     Fifeshire 
Glenbucket  Castle,        .     Aberdeenshire 
Harthill  Castle,    .         .               Do. 

Moray  House,      .         .     Edinburgh 
Pitreavie  House,  .         .     Fifeshire 
Preston  House,    .         .     Haddingtonshire 

Inchoch  Castle,    .         .     Nairnshire 

Fountainhall,       .        .                 Do. 

Ballone  Castle,     .        .     Ross-shire 

Craighall,     .        .        .     Fifeshire 

Kilcoy  Castle,      .        .          Do. 

Drum  House,        .         .     Midlothian 

The  THIRD  VOLUME  contains 
Illustrations  and  Descriptions  of  the  following  Castles : — 


FIRST  PERIOD—  1200-1300. 

Mingarry 

Skipness                                  Dunskaich 

Home  Castle 

Duart 

Achanduin 

Ardchonnel 

Moulin 

Kismull 

Dunvegan 

Urquhart 

Bruce's  Castle 

Elian  Tirrim 

Ellandonan 

Loch  Doon 

Kincardine 

Castle  Swin 

Duntroon 

Achincass  (or  Auchen) 

King  Edward 

SECOND  PERIOD—  1300-1400. 

Simple  Keeps. 

Moy,  Lochbuy 

|_    Plans. 

Fragmentary 

Borve 

Closeburn 

Remains. 

Breacacha,  Coll 
Castle  Coeffin 
Ardtornish 
Aros 

Cassillis 
Balthayock 
Drumin 
Old  Man  of  Wick 

Cessford 
Dalhousie 
Ravenscraig 
Portincross 

Duchal 
Ballumbie 
Tinnies 

Kildonan,  Arran 

Braal 

THIRD  PERIOD—  1400-1542. 

Simple  Keeps. 

Carleton 

Guthrie 

Ardrossan 

Castle  Stalcaire 

Lochnaw 

Old  Slanes 

Ardstinchar 

Kinlochaline 

Rusco 

Boddam 

Dunglass 

Castle  Mearnaig 

Hollows 

Ackergill 

Mugdock 

Castle  Maoil 

Bemersyde 

Dirlot 

Dalzell 

Craignish 

Billicastle 

Castle  Varrich 

Boghall 

Little  Cumbrae 
Fairlie 

Cockburnspath 
Fast  Castle 

|_    Plans. 

Innerwick 
St  Andrews 

Law 

Lennox 

Lethington 

Balfour 

Skelmorlie 

Blackness 

Merchiston 

Bucholie 

Barr  Castle 
Carrick 

Craiglockhart 
Kinneil 

Hatton  House 
Bridge  Castle 

Findlater 

Kaimes 

Mains 

Lordscairnie 

Special  Plans. 

Giffen 

Cathcart 

Stanely 

Dunure 

Hunterston 

Bardowie 

Inverquharity 

Dalquharran 

Saddell 

Covington 

Brodick 

Mochrum 

Sorn 

Lochore 

Thomaston 

Littledean 

Barr 

Bruce's  Castle 

Denmiln 

Nunraw 

Mauchline 

Arnot's  Tower 

Courtyard  Plans. 

Newbattle 

Penkill 

Balmuto 

Glengarnock 

Castle  Lachlan 

Ailsa-Craig 

Pitcruivie 

Craigie 

FOURTH  PERIOD—  1542-1700. 

Simple  Keeps. 

Central  District. 

Maybole 

Pitfirrane 

West  and  South-  West 
District, 

Carberry 
Cramond 

Baltersan 
Pinwherry 

Blairlogie 
Duchray 

Busbie 
Clonbeith 
Hessilhead 
Newmilns 
Newark 

Lamington 
Stonebyres 
Castle  Cary 
Crossbasket  and  Calder- 
wood 

South-West  District. 

Galdenoch 
Dunskey 
Stranraer 

Balmanno 
Newton,  Doune 
Aberuchil 
Finlarig 
Achallader 

Greenan 

Kilmahew 

Park 

Comrie 

Crawfurdland 
Crosraguel 

Banachra 
Darleith 

Sorbie 
Carsleuth 

Balhousie 
Pitheavlis 

Kilchenzie 
Knockdolian 
Craig  Caffie 

South  District. 
H;ilc 

Rossdhu 
Killundine 
Shuna 
East  and  North 
Districts. 

Barholm 
Earlston 
Barscobe 

South-East  District. 

Cluny 
Lethendy 
Bannatyne 
Flemington 
Finhaven 

HIS 

Isle 

Monimail 

Gogar 

Ballinshoe 

Fourmerkland 

Seafield 

Inch 

Kelly 

Lag 

Pitteadie 

Bavelaw 

Leith  Hall 

Bonshaw 

Garden 

Colinton 

Balfluig 

Robgill 
Wardhouse 
Thirlstane 

Bandon 
Meggernie 
Drumlochy 

Bonhard 
Herbertshire 
Newbyres 

Westhall 
Tillycairn 
Esslemont 

Gamescleuch 
Dryhope 
Blackhouse 
Kirkhope 
Oakwood 
Goldielands 

Garth 
Easter  Clune 
Colquhonny 
Invermark 
Fairburn 
Castle  Craig 

Greenknowe 
Evelaw 
Hillslap 
Colmslie 
Langshaw 
Buckholm 

Pittullie 
Fordyce 
Findochty 
Boharm 
Elchies,  Easter 
Do.      Wester 

Bams 
Castlehill 

[_    Plans. 

Frenchland 
Drumelzier 

Castle  Grant 
Aslisk 

West  District. 

Cardrona 

Wrae 
Horsburgh 
Nether  Horsburgh 
Hyrendean 

Bedlay 
Monkland  House 
Auchenvole 
Jerviston 

Hayston  House 

East  and  North-East 
District. 

North-West  and  North 
District. 

Dundarave 

Hutcheonfield 

Garrion  Tower 

Rossend 

Barcaldine 

Minto 

Haggs 

Anstruther  Manse 

Invergarry 

Timpendean 

Greenock  Mansion 

Pitairthie 

Redcastle 

Corbett 

Old  Bishopton 

Queen  Mary's,  St 

Castle  Leod 

Cowdenknowes 

Loch  Ranza 

Andrews 

Brims 

Corsbie 

Corsehill 

Fernie 

Downreay 

Cranshaws 

Stair 

Creich 

Ardvreck 

Gamelshiel 

Auchinleck 

Cleish 

Edderchalder 

The  FOURTH  VOLUME,  NOW  IN  PREPARATION, 
Will  contain  Illustrations  and  Descriptions  of  the  following  Buildings : — 

FOURTH  PERIOD— 1542-1700. 


Hatton  Hall 

Edrington 

Kirkwall 

Plans. 

Branxholm 

Bassendean 

Lerwick 

Craigcrook 

Whitbank 

Berwick 

Ravelston 
Riccarton 

Tor  wood  lee 
Penshiel 

Blanerne 
Lochwood 

TOLBOOTHS. 

Kipps 

Duntreath 

Pollock  Castle 

Edinburgh  —  Canongate 

Dargavel 

Crawford 

Gartshore 

Musselburgh 

Kelburn 

Ranforlie 

Waygateshaw 

Dunbar 

Kilmartin 

Toward 

Gargunnock 

Glasgow 

Balloch 

Seagate,  Irvine 

Touch 

Hamilton 

Edinample 

Blair 

Inch,  Galbraith 

Renfrew 

Castle  Menzies 

Cessnock 

Eilean  Mohr 

Dumfries 

Glendevon 

Ardmillan 

Fraoch 

Sanquhar 

Dairsie 

Kenmure 

Fionchairn 

Maybole 

Glasclune 

Dowhill 

Hallyards,  Fife 

Culross 

Hatton 

Newark,  Fife 

Lundin 

Kinghorn 

Cortachie 

Dudhope 

Ardross 

Dysart 

Collision 

Powrie 

Aithernie 

Crail 

Vayne 

Murroes 

Mountquharnie 

Forres 

Arnage 

Logic 

Auchterhouse 

Elgin 

Asloon 

Methven 

Pitcullo 

Tain 

Pitcaple 

Murthly 

Craig,  Montrose 

Lerwick 

Keith  Hall 

Ardblair 

Hallgreen 

Ballindalloch 
Brodie 

Talla 
Hallhead 

Lauriston 

Inglismaldie 

CHURCHES. 

Cullen  House 

Aboyne 

Stirling,  Greyfriars 

Plans. 

Pitsligo 

Meldrum 

Dysart 

Wallyford 

Knoekinnan 

Castle  Newe 

Pittenweem 

Baberton 

Berridale 

Monymusk 

Anstruther 

Wedderlie 

Forse 

Dunnideer 

Crail 

Linnhouse 

Thurso 

Frendraught 

Dairsie 

Cowan's  Hospital 

Dunrobin 

Shivas 

Cupar 

Corsindae 

Duntulm 

Ellon 

Glasgow 

Careston 

Oliphant,  or  Milton 

Dunlop 

Balnakiel 

Exceptional  Plans. 

Pitfichie 

Fenwick 

T™ 

Melgund 

Kininvie 

Kilbirnie 

Plans. 

Carnassery 

Uttershill 

Glencorse 

Grangepans 

Thirlstane 

Prestonpans 

Old  Leckie 

Castle  Kennedy 

Pencaitland 

Illiston 

Inchcolm 

HOUSES  nsr  TOWNS. 

Tullibardine 

Lauriston 

Nisbet 

Turriff 

Hallyards 

Woolmet 

Edinburgh  and  Leith,  a 

Tullibole 
§ueen  Mary's,  Jedburgh 
lackhall 

North  Berwick 
Later  forms  of  Plans. 

number  of  houses  in 
Restalrig 
Prestonpans 

MONUMENTS. 
Largs 

Brounstoun,  Girvan 

Aiket 

Haddington 

Haddington 

Crosbie 

Sundrum 

Lasswade 

Dunbar 

Monk  Castle 

Bargany 

Bo'ness 

Crail 

Airdrie 

Brisbane  House 

Glasgow 

^___ 

Barns  of  Crail 
Knockdavie 

Carslogie 
Dunbeath 

Port  Glasgow 
Paisley 

CASTLES  OMITTED  IN 

Pitkerro 

Tongue 

Rothesay 

PREVIOUS  VOLUMES. 

Kilmaichlie 
Kinkell 

Helmsdale 

Saughton  Mill 

Dunfermline 
Culross 

Simple  Keeps. 

Courtyard  Plans. 

Halkerston  Lodge 
Inveresk  Lodge 

Inverkeithing 
Burntisland 

Whitslade 
Mains    Castle,    Kilmaro- 

Holyrood 
Heriot's  Hospital 
Glasgow  College 

Altered  and  Fragment- 
ary Examples. 

Kirkcaldy 
Dysart 
Anstruther 

nock 
Plans. 
Southsyde 

Redhouse 

Barnbougle 

Pittenweem 

Ford 

Brunstane 

Bins 

Elie 

Cockburn 

Hawthornden 

Calder  House 

Cupar 

Balenon 

Brunston 

Kirkhill 

St  Andrews 

Myreton 

Monkton  House 

Woodhouselee 

Dundee 

Crichton  House 

Saltcoats 

Craigentinny 

Montrose 

East  Cairns 

Seton  Castle 

Dalkeith 

Aberdeen 

Auchenbowie 

Garmylton 

Herdmanston 

Fraserburgh 

Otterston 

Elibank 

Auldhame 

Elgin 

Kirkton,  Carluke 

And  probably  others. 

The  Work  will  conclude  with  Illustrations  and  Descriptions  of  a  large  series  of 
THE  PICTURESQUE  SUN-DIALS  OF  SCOTLAND. 


One  Volume,  8vo,  21s.,  with  nearly  300  Illustrations. 


THE  ARCHITECTURE  OF 


PROVENCE 


AND 


THE  RIVIERA 


BY 


DAVID    MACGIBBON 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  CASTELLATED  AND  DOMESTIC  ARCHITECTURE  OF  SCOTLAND' 


EDINBURGH:    DAVID    DOUGLAS 


The  Architecture  of 
Provence  and  the  Riviera 

BY  DAVID  MACGIBBON. 
ILLUSTRATED  WITH  NKARLY  300  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

One  Volume  8vo,  21s. 


' '  Mr  Macgibbon  begins  with  a  map  of  the  country  of  which  he  proposes 
to  treat,  and  three  short  introductory  chapters,  chiefly  historical.  Next  he 
describes  the  remains  of  classical,  and  then,  at  greater  length,  those  of  mediaeval 
architecture,  the  last  chapter  occupying  nearly  three-quarters  of  the  book  .  .  . 
which  is  a  welcome  addition  to  the  library,  as  well  as  a  valuable  companion 
to  the  guide-book." — Athenceum. 

"  We  can  imagine  no  more  fascinating  book  for  the  lover  of  early  mediaeval 
art  than  this  handsome  and  beautifully  illustrated  volume." — Spectator. 

"Mr  Macgibbon  gives  a  very  able  sketch  of  the  development  of  the 
architecture  of  the  district,  from  the  Byzantine  to  the  mediaeval  styles,  and 
especially  of  the  invention  of  the  pointed  arch  ...  a  real  artistic  power  of 
generalisation,  combined  with  that  technical  knowledge  which  gives  accuracy 
to  the  details,  and  consequently  a  practical  value  to  the  drawing,  and  makes 
it  something  more  than  a  merely  pretty  sketch.  .  .  .  Mr  Macgibbon's  book 
is  one  of  real  merit,  both  for  its  text  and  its  abundant  illustrations." — 
Saturday  Review. 

"An  invaluable  companion  for  visitors  to  the  South  of  France  and  the 
Riviera,  and  will  afford  information  concerning  an  important  phase  of  archi- 
tecture. " — Architect. 

"We  can  promise  a  treat  to  any  one  who  wisely  elects  to  accompany  so 
interesting  and  instructive  a  guide." — Building  News. 

' '  Sufficiently  technical  to  be  of  value  to  the  student  of  architectural  art, 
but  it  is  written  in  a  manner  to  make  it  acceptable  to  all  who  take  an  interest 
in  the  historical  development  of  architecture.  .  .  .  The  descriptions  of  the 
various  buildings  referred  to  are  distinctly  popular  in  style,  and  one  of  the 
most  valuable  parts  of  the  work  are  the  illustrations,  which  occur  in  almost 
every  page  of  the  text." — Scotsman. 

"With  both  pen  and  pencil  Mr  Macgibbon  introduces  us  delightfully  to  a 
new  country." — Scots  Observer. 

"  Leaves  nothing  to  be  desired  but  personal  inspection." — Glasgow  Herald. 

"  We  must  express  our  cordial  thanks  to  Mr  Macgibbon  for  so  complete, 
so  comprehensive,  and  so  delightful  an  account  of  the  architecture  of  a  district 
which  abounds  in  material  of  the  utmost  interest  to  the  artist,  the  archaeologist, 
and  the  student  of  history.  Such  a  book  as  this — the  work  of  an  author  who 
combines  many  qualifications  for  the  task — should  be  the  constant  guide  and 
companion  of  all  cultivated  and  intelligent  visitors  to  Provence  and  the 
Riviera." — John  Butt. 


EDINBURGH  :  DAVID  DOUGLAS,  CASTLE  STREET. 
2 


One  Volume  8vo,  fully  Illustrated,  12s. 

SCOTLAND 


IN 


EARLY   CHRISTIAN   TIMES 

THE  RHIND  LECTURES  IN  ARCHAEOLOGY— 1879. 

BY  JOSEPH  ANDERSON,  LL.D. 

KEEPER  OF   THE   NATIONAL  MUSEUM  OF  THE  ANTIQUARIES  OF  SCOTLAND 


IN    THE   BURYING-GROUND,   EILEAN   NA   NAOIMH 


CONTENTS.  —  Celtic  Churches  —  Monasteries  —  Hermitages  —  Round  Towers  • 
Illuminated  Manuscripts-i— Bells — Crosiers — Reliquaries,  etc. 


EDINBUKGH:    DAVID    DOUGLAS 


One  Volume  8vo,  fully  Ittusl/rated,  12s. 


SCOTLAND 


IN 


EARLY   CHRISTIAN   TIMES 

(SECOND     SEEIES) 
THE  RHIND  LECTURES  IN  ARCHAEOLOGY  FOR  l88o 

BY  JOSEPH  ANDERSON,  LL.D. 

KEEPER  OF   THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM  OF  THE  ANTIQUARIES  OF  SCOTLAND 


CONTENTS. — Celtic  Medal-Work  and  Sculptured  Monuments,  their  Art  and 
Symbolism — Inscribed  Monuments  in  Runics  and  Oghams — Bilingual  Inscriptions, 
etc. 


EDINBUKGH:    DAVID    DOUGLAS 


One  Volume  Svo,  fully  Illustrated,  1 2s. 


SCOTLAND 


IN 


PAGAN     TIMES 


3ron 


BY  JOSEPH  ANDERSON,  LL.D. 

KEEPER    OF   THE   NATIONAL   MUSEUM   OF  THE  ANTIQUARIES   OF   SCOTLAND 


CONTENTS.  —  The  Iron  Age. — Viking  Burials  and  Hoards  of  Silver  and  Ornaments 
— Arms,  Dress,  etc.,  of  the  Viking  Time— Celtic  Art  of  the  Pagan  Period — Decorated 
Mirrors — Enamelled  Armlets — Architecture  and  Contents  of  the  Brochs — Lake- 
Dwellings — Earth  Houses,  etc. 


EDINBURGH:  DAVID  DOUGLAS 


One  Volume,  8vo,  fully  Illustrated,  12s. 

SCOTLAND 


IN 


PAGAN     TIMES 


Bronse  ant)  Stone  ages 

THE  RHIND  LECTURES  IN  ARCHAEOLOGY  FOR  1882 

BY   JOSEPH    ANDERSON,    LL.D. 

KEEPER   OF   THE    NATIONAL   MUSEUM    OF   THE 
ANTIQUARIES   OF   SCOTLAND 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  II. 

The  Bronze  and  Stone  Ages. — Cairn  Burial  of  the  Bronze  Age  and  Cremation 
Cemeteries — Urns  of  Bronze  Age  Types — Stone  Circles — Stone  Settings — Gold 
Ornaments — Implements  and  Weapons  of  Bronze — Cairn  Burial  of  the  Stone  Age — 
Chambered  Cairns — Urns  of  Stone  Age  Types — Implements  and  Weapons  of  Stone. 


EDINBUBGH:     DAVID     DOUGLAS 


One  Volume  8^0,  fully  Illustrated,  15s. 


THE 

PAST    IN    THE   PRESENT 

WHAT  IS  CIVILISATION? 

BY  SIR  ARTHUR  MITCHELL,  M.D.,  LL.D. 


I.  The  Spindle  and  Whorl. 
II.  Craggans  and  Querns,  etc. 
III.  Beehive  Houses,  etc. 


CONTENTS. 

IV.  Cave  Life. 

V.  Stone,  Bronze,  and  Iron  Ages. 
VI.  Superstitions. 


EDINBURGH:     DAVID    DOUGLAS 


William  F.  Skene. 
Celtic    Scotland.       A    History   of    Ancient    Alban.       By 

WILLIAM  F.    SKENE,   D.C.L.,   LL.D.,   Historiographer  -  Royal    for  Scotland. 
3  vols.  demy  8vo,  with  Maps,  45s. 

Vol.         I.       HISTORY   AND    ETHNOLOGY.       15s. 
Yol.      II.       CHURCH   AND    CULTURE.       15s. 
Vol.    III.       LAND    AND    PEOPLE.       15s. 

"  Forty  years  ago  Mr  Skene  published  a  small  historical  work  on  the  Scottish 
Highlands  which  has  ever  since  been  appealed  to  as  an  authority,  but  which  has  long 
been  out  of  print.  The  promise  of  this  youthful  effort  is  amply  fulfilled  in  the  three 
weighty  volumes  of  his  maturer  years.  As  a  work  of  historical  research  it  ought,  in 
our  opinion,  to  take  a  very  high  rank." — Times. 

E.  W.  Robertson. 
Scotland   under    her    Early   Kings.        A    History   of    the 

Kingdom  to  the  close  of  the  Thirteenth  Century.     By  E.  WILLIAM  ROBERTSON. 
2  vols.  demy  8vo,  cloth,  36s. 

Eistorical   Essays,   in   connection  with  the   Land  and  the 

Church,  etc.      By  E.  WILLIAM  ROBERTSON,  Author  of  "Scotland  under  her 
Early  Kings."    1  vol.  demy  8vo,  10s.  6d. 

Lord  Cockburn. 
Circuit  Journeys.     By  the  late  LORD  COCKBURN,  one  of  the 

Judges  of  the  Court  of  Session.     Second  Edition,  1  vol.  crown  8vo,  6s. 

"One  of  the  best  books  of  reminiscences  that  have  appeared." — Morning  Post. 

"The  attraction  of  this  book  is  due  to  the  charm  of  the  style,  the  cleverness 
with  which  characters  are  graphically  sketched  in  a  few  words,  and  the  impressions 
of  Scotch  life  from  1837  to  1854  given  by  a  Judge  making  his  Circuit  with  most  of 
his  family  '  in  and  about '  his  carriage.  Lord  Cockburn  had  a  real  love  of  Nature, 
and  all  the  time  he  could  spare  from  dealing  with  criminals  he  spent  in  exploring  the 
lovely  country  through  which  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  travel.  The  book  there- 
fore combines  records  of  vile  or  insane  deeds,  and  the  curious  idiosyncrasies  of  their 
perpetrators,  with  the  most  charming  and  even  poetical  description  of  scenery." — 
Murray's  Magazine. 

' '  Delightful  alike  for  its  pleasant  landscapes  ;  its  sound  criticisms  on  men,  law, 
and  books  ;  for  its  sharp  things  said  in  a  good-natured  way." — Academy. 

"Valuable  for  their  topographical  descriptions ;  and  they  form  an  indirect  con- 
tribution to  the  social  history  of  Scotland. " — Scotsman. 

"A  record  of  trials  and  travels,  kept  with  praiseworthy  punctuality  from  the 
autumn  of  1837  to  the  spring  of  1854,  ought  to  be,  and  really  is,  worth  reading." — 
Saturday  Review. 


EDINBURGH:     DAVID    DOUGLAS. 


One  Volume,  Small  4to,  21s. 


LINDORES   ABBEY 


AND 


THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBTJRGH 

3D{rar  Ifistorg  mb 


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P.  8.  A.  SCOT. 


"This  is  a  charming  volume  in  every  respect." — Notes  and  Queries. 

"  The  prominent  characteristics  of  the  work  are  its  exhaustiveness  and  the  thoroughly  philosophic 
'irit  in  which  it  is  written." — Scotsman. 


EDINBURGH  :   DAVID  DOUGLAS 


ICELANDIC  SAGAS,  Translated  by  Sir  GEORGE  DASENT 


Two  Volumes,  Demy  8vo,  with  Maps  and  Plans,  28s. 
THE    NJALA    SAGA 

BURNT     NJAL 

FROM   THE   ICELANDIC   OF  THE   NJAL'S   SAGA 


BY 


SIR  GEORGE  WEBBE  DASENT,  D.C.L. 


drnjstcel 


Small  4to,  with  Illustrations,  7s.  Qd. 


THE    GISLI    SAGA 

GISLI    THE    OUTLAW 


FROM    THE    ICELANDIC 


BY 


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EDINBURGH  :    DAVID  DOUGLAS 


Demy  4:to,  Illustrated,  42s.  and  84s. 
THE 

HISTORY  OF  LIDDESDALE 
ESKDALE,  EWESDALE,  WAUCHOPEDALE 

AND   THE 

DEBATEABLE  LAND 

I.  from  the  ^toelfth  Centura  txr  1530 


BY 


ROBERT  BRUCE  ARMSTRONG 


CRUKILTON    CASTLE 


EDINBUKGH:  DAVID  DOUGLAS 


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SCOTLAND 


AS  IT  WAS  AND  AS  IT  IS 


BY   THE 


DUKE  .OF    ARGYLL 


ROB  ROY  S  HOUSE,  GLENSHIRA 


A    HISTOEY    OF    EACES,    OF    MILITAEY    EVENTS 
AND    OF    THE    EISE    OF    COMMEECE 


EDINBURGH:     DAVID     DOUGLAS 


Two  Volumes  4to,  21s. 


ARCHJ10LOGICAL    ESSAYS 

BY   THE    LATE 

SIR   JAMES    Y.   SIMPSON,    BAET. 


EDITED   BY   THE   LATE 

JOHN     STUART,     LL.D. 

AUTHOR  OF  THE  "SCULPTURED  STONES  OF  SCOTLAND  ' 


ANCIENT  ORATORY  IN  THE  ISLAND  OF  INCHCOLM 


1.  Archaeology. 

2.  Inchcolm. 

3.  The  Cat  Stane. 

4.  The  Magical  Charm- Stones. 

5.  Pyramid  of  Gizeh. 


CONTENTS. 

6.  Leprosy  and  Leper  Hospitals. 

7.  Greek  Medical  Vases. 

8.  Was  the  Roman  Army  provided 

with  Medical  Officers  ? 

9.  Roman  Medicine  Stamps,  etc.,  etc. 


EDINBURGH:  DAVID  DOUGLAS 


Two  Volumes  Demy  Svo,  19s.  Qd. 


SOCIAL     LIFE 

IN  FORMER  DAYS 


CHIEFLY  IN  THE  PROVINCE  OF  MORAY 


Illustrated  bj)  |Detter0  anb 


BY  E.  DUNBAR  DUNBAR 

LATE   CAPTAIN    2IST   FUSILIERS 


THUNDERTON    HOUSE. 


EDINBUKGH:  DAVID  DOUGLAS 


Andrew  Jervise. 
Epitaphs  and   Inscriptions  from   Burial-Grounds  and  Old 

Buildings  in  the  North-East  of  Scotland.     By  the  late  ANDREW  JERVISE,  F.S.  A. 
Scot.     With  a  Memoir  of  the  Author.     Vol  II.     Cloth,  small  4to,  32s. 
Roxburghe  Edition,  42s. 

The  History  and  Traditions  of  the  Land  of  the  Lindsays  in 

Angus  and  Mearns.    By  the  late  ANDREW  JERVISE,  F.S. A.  Scot.    New  Edition, 
Edited  and  Revised  by  the  Rev.  JAMES  GAMMACK,  M.A.     Demy  8vo,  14s. 
Large  Paper,  demy  4to,  42s. 

Memorials  of  Angus  and  the  Mearns:  an  Account,  Historical, 

Antiquarian,  and  Traditionary,  of  the  Castles  and  Towns  visited  by  Edward  I., 
and  of  the  Barons,  Clergy,  and  others  who  swore  Fealty  to  England  in  1291-6. 
By  the  late  ANDREW  JERVISE,  F.S. A.  Scot.  Rewritten  and  corrected  by  the 
Rev.  JAMES  GAMMACK,  M.A.  Illustrated  with  Etchings  by  W.  HOLE,  R.S.A. 
2  vols.  demy  8vo,  28s.  Large  Paper,  2  vols.  demy  4to,  63s. 

Bishop  Forbes. 
Kalendars  of  Scottish   Saints.     With  Personal  Notices  of 

those  of  Alba,   etc.      By  ALEXANDER  PENROSE  FORBES,   D.C.L.,   Bishop  of 
Brechin.     4to,  price  £3,  3s.     A  few  copies  for  sale  on  large  paper,  £5,  15s.  6d. 
"  A  truly  valuable  contribution  to  the  archaeology  of  Scotland." — Guardian. 

Thomas  S.  Muir. 
Ecclesiological  Notes  on  some  of  the  Islands  of  Scotland, 

with  other  Papers  relating  to  Ecclesiological  Remains  on  the  Scottish  Mainland 
and  Islands.  By  THOMAS  S.  MUIR,  Author  of  "  Characteristics  of  Church 
Architecture,"  etc.  Demy  8vo,  with  numerous  Illustrations,  21s. 

Sir  Samuel  Ferguson. 
Ogham  Inscriptions  in  Ireland,  Wales,  and  Scotland.      By 

the  late  SIR  SAMUEL  FERGUSON,  President  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  Deputy 
Keeper  of  the  Public  Records  of  Ireland,  LL.D.,  Queen's  Counsel,  etc.  (Being 
the  Rhind  Lectures  in  Archaeology  for  1884.)  1  vol.  demy  Svo,  12s. 

Miss  Maclagan. 
The  Hill  Forts,  Stone  Circles,  and  other  Structural  Remains 

of  Ancient  Scotland.  By  C.  MACLAGAN,  Lady  Associate  of  the  Society  of 
Antiquaries  of  Scotland.  With  Plans  and  Illustrations.  Folio,  31s.  6d. 

"We  need  not  enlarge  on  the  few  inconsequential  speculations  which  rigid 
archaeologists  may  find  in  the  present  volume.  We  desire  rather  to  commend  it  to 
their  careful  study,  fully  assured  that  not  only  they,  but  also  the  general  reader,  will 
be  edified  by  its  perusal." — Scotsman. 

Prof.  Baldwin  Brown. 
From  Schola  to  Cathedral.      A  Study  of  Early  Christian 

Architecture  in  its  relation  to  the  life  of  the  Church.  By  G.  BALDWIN  BROWN, 
Professor  of  Fine  Art  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  Demy  Svo,  Illustrated, 
7s.  6d. 

The  book  treats  of  the  beginnings  of  Christian  Architecture,  from  the  point 
of  view  of  recent  discoveries  and  theories,  with  a  special  reference  to  the  out- 
ward resemblance  of  early  Christian  communities  to  other  religious  associations 
of  the  time. 


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