Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/123

 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