Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/256

 THIRD PERIOD 236 ELPHINSTONE CASTLE hall arch (Section looking west). Another stair in the south-west corner leads to both floors above the hall, and also to the battlements, while another private stair in the thickness of the north wall communicates between these two floors. Both of the upper floors are divided into two rooms, all having fireplaces, garde-robes, and wall closets. Adjoining the apartments over the hall in the north wall (plan of second floor) is a gallery 30 feet long by 6 feet wide communicating with both rooms. This is perhaps the most striking example of the system of wall chambers carried to excess. It will be recollected that we drew attention to this practice as possibly being a tradition from the time of the Celtic Brochs, and we believe that a careful study of this plan, and still more of the building itself, will tend to confirm this view. The present Lord Elphinstone, in M'Neill's Tranent and its Sur- roundings, assigns the erection of this castle to John de Elphinstone, who died about the year 1260; but we cannot agree with his Lordship in giving it such an early date. In all its architectural features it resembles ordinary fifteenth-century work, while the corbelling, cable tm>. FIG. 194. Elphinstone Castle. View from the South-West. moulding, and gargoyles at the parapet (Fig. 194-), some of which are carved to resemble cannons, cannot be earlier than the end of the