Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/184

 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