Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/438

 THIRD PERIOD 418 DOUNE CASTLE While there is a rudeness in the construction of the earlier keeps and castles of this period, above described, which renders them scarcely dis- tinguishable from those of the previous century, we have already seen, in many even of the simple keeps, and still more in the later keeps with wings, a gradual improvement both as regards accommodation and orna- ment. The same remark applies to the castles designed with buildings surrounding courtyards. The early types, although extended in accom- modation, are somewhat rude in design, being evidently intended rather for strength than elegance. The later castles of this epoch, however, such as the Royal palaces, not only contain the numerous halls and suites of apartments common at the time in French and English man- sions, but they are also built and decorated in a style almost as ornate and sumptuous as their foreign prototypes. The castles and palaces of this period exhibit a completeness and large- ness of conception not to be met with in any other period of our Scottish Architecture. In this they contrast favourably with the Ecclesiastical Architecture of the period. While the splendid cathedrals and churches of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries were erected, the Domestic and Castellated Architecture of the country was (with a few exceptions, such as Bothwell and Kildrummie) in a very primitive and backward condition ; but now, during the fifteenth and the early part of the six- teenth century, Civil Architecture developed at the expense of the Ecclesiastical. Palaces and mansions of great extent and magnificence arose and overshadowed the small and somewhat debased collegiate churches which almost alone were erected at that time. Some of the rich abbeys no doubt vied in the elegance of their build- ings with those of the nobility, but these were rather feudal than ecclesiastical establishments. DOUNE CASTLE, PERTHSHIRE. Doune Castle is a striking and magnificent example of the style of castles of the beginning of the fifteenth century designed with build- ings surrounding a courtyard. This castle was built by Murdoch, Duke of Albany, who was Regent in Scotland (from 1419 to 1424) during the captivity of James i. in England, and who was executed by James on his return to Scotland in 1424. Doune must therefore have been built before that date. The castle then lapsed to the Crown, and was bestowed by James iv. on his Queen, Margaret, through whom it again passed to the Stewart family, and remains at present the property of the Earl of Moray. Doune Castle is situated close to the town of Doune, on a tongue of land lying between the rivers Teith and Ardoch at their junction, and has been further defended by the steep slope of the ground all round, and