Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/293

 KINNAIRD TOWER - 273 - THIRD PERIOD which the lowering and raising rope or chain passed being still in posi- tion. Opening off the terrace the entrance door to the tower is in the centre of the south front, and is strongly protected with an iron " yett " formed with a circular top to fit the doorway, and constructed in the usual way, having the upright and horizontal bars reversing in the opposite quarters. The stair starts on the left hand on entering. It is formed in the thickness of the wall, and continues as a straight flight till it joins the wheel stair leading to the upper floors. The ground floor has the peculiarity of having been only partly vaulted for a space of from 5 feet to 6 feet at each end, while the centre portion between (about 16 feet inches long) has been of timber, as is apparent from the corbels for resting the beams, which are still in position. All the upper floors of the tower have also been of timber supported on similar corbels, while two of the small mural chambers in the south wall are arched in stone, the stone arches being carried through the wall so as to show on the outer face, as seen on sketch (Fig. 223). In the ground floor, where shown on plan, there is a pit cut out of the solid rock. It is 18 feet deep by about 4 feet 8 inches in diameter. It is believed to have been used as a dungeon, and not as a well. This may have been so, as it is quite dry, and is tapped by the ravine behind, and by the ground descending rapidly to the front. There is a small dungeon in the south-west wing under the stair, at the depth of a few feet below the floor and the outside terrace. Throughout the ground floor the rock crops up in various places. There are garde-robes in the walls of all the upper floors, the soil from those at the north being thrown clear from the walls by well-pro- jected sloping stones. The small projecting buttress at the south-west angle is a remarkable feature. It has apparently been intended partly to contain the staircase, and also to be carried up as a watch-tower. It is also utilised for wall chambers on each floor. The upper chamber in the south-west turret is shut off from the rest of the house by an iron " yett," suggesting that it may have been a sort of prison. Adjoining the tower (Fig. 224) there is a two-storied house. From its dormer window (Fig. 225) we learn that it was built in 1610. It PT contains the letters u MQ. This building on the ground floor contained the kitchen, 14 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 6 inches, with a high-arched fireplace, 13 feet 6 inches by 6 feet. The floor above is reached by a modern stair, the house being inhabited by the keeper of the castle. There is a small service window at the end of the kitchen next the tower, opposite the terrace steps (see Plan). This kitchen is interesting, as showing the progress of ideas in domestic comfort and convenience. It is probably about a century later than the tower itself, and doubtless