Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/244

 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 lf pit" 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