Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/371

 BORTHWICK CASTLE 351 THIRD PERIOD Fig. 300), with a hooded fireplace, which was evidently meant for a principal or guest's bedroom or boudoir. This is the room which., as we noticed, the stair in the north wing passes but does not communicate with. The section C B also shows the remarkable manner in which the wall of this room, and the two rooms below it, are affected by the slope of the inner wall of the kitchen chimney. The chapel was FIG. 302. Berth wick Castle. Enrichments of Fireplace. probably also used as a sitting-room, the oratory (Fig. 298) being confined to the recess of the east window, in which are situated the piscina and locker. The two upper floors were no doubt bedrooms, that in the loft of the vault being probably used by the garrison who manned the roof. The defences of the keep are, as usual, at the roof (Fig. 303). The parapet is carried on bold corbels with open machicolations on all sides except the east where the parapet is continued straight up from the face of the wall. This is a subject which has given rise to some ingenious theories, but although at first sight somewhat puzzling, its ex- planation is very simple and natural. This side of the keep has been battered by artil- lery, generally supposed to have been by Cromwell in 1650, and it still bears dis- tinct marks of such action. The east parapet, with its corbels and angle bartizans, were then destroyed, and, in restoring the parapet, it has been carried up flush with the face of the wall. This is quite evident on a careful examination on the spot. Parts of the circular bartizans at the angles and some of the corbels, and the holes where the others have been inserted all round, are still to be seen. FIG. 303. Borthwick Castle. Plan of Roof and Battlements.