Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/234

 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