Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/334

 THIRD PERIOD - 314- - AUCHINDOUN CASTLE THIRD PERIOD KEEPS WITH ONE OR TWO WINGS. We shall now give some examples of keeps built during the Third Period 011 the L plan, i.e, with a wing at one end, or with two wings. It will be observed that although these retain the general features of the plans of similar keeps erected in the fourteenth century, they gene- rally exhibit more refinement and ornament in details. Some modifica- tions of the plan, such as the insertion of a tower in the re-entering angle of the L to contain the staircase, are introduced during this period. AUCHINDOUN CASTLE, BANFFSHIRE. This massive ruin is situated on the top of a conical hill which rises in the centre of an amphitheatre of bare and barren mountains in Mort- lach parish, Banffshire. It is about three miles from Dufftown, and lies on the way from Elgin into Aberdeenshire. A more desolate and lonely site for a dwelling can scarcely be imagined ; but it seems from the earliest times to have been selected as suitable for a place of strength. The hill on which the present castle stands is surrounded with the remains of several wide and deep ditches, which have evidently been the defences of an early hill fortress. The steep banks sloping on three sides to the glen of the Fiddich, about 200 feet below, formed a good position for these primitive fortifications, and the hill was cut off from the adjoining ground on the fourth side by a wide fosse. The castle is said to date from the eleventh century, but the present building does not appear to be older than the fifteenth century. It is reputed to have been rebuilt by Cochrane, the favourite of James in., and so far as its style goes, it might belong to that period. The castle came into the possession of the Gordons from the Ogilvies in 1535, and it is possible that it may then have undergone alterations, and the additions round the walls of the courtyard may then have been made. It is now a very massive and imposing ruin, and has not been occupied for the last two hundred years. This castle (Fig. 268), although built on the L plan, has not the entrance, as is usual, in the re-entering angle. The south or entrance front is demolished, but the door has evidently been near the staircase at the south-west angle. There is another staircase at the north-west angle, but it is smaller, and appears to have led to a postern doorway. The ground floor would enter from the level of the entrance doorway. It contains one large apartment, with elliptic barrel vault, and is lighted by one narrow loop at the north end. There is a stone sink in the west side, with drain, which would seem to indicate that this was the kitchen, but there is no fireplace. It may have been the cellar, in connection with which the sink would be useful. The other room on the ground floor in the