Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/128

 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-