Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/87

 KINCLAVEN CASTLE 67 FIRST PERIOD bably wooden or other buildings within the enclosure with roofs sup- ported against the curtains, but no trace of these now exists. KINCLAVEN CASTLE, PERTHSHIRE. Kinclaven Castle is situated on the right bank of the Tay, opposite its junction with the river Isla, and about 8 miles north from Perth. The Tay is here a stream of about 130 yards wide, swift and clear, with banks of moderate height, abundantly wooded. The castle (Fig. 47) consists of a square enclosure, ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~| measuring on the average 130 ^^ y |, feet over the walls, which are 7 feet 6 inches in thickness, and in height vary from 15 to 25 feet. There were evidently towers at each of the angles, and, as far as can be made out, these were square on plan. They were entered from the courtyard by narrow doors about 2 or 3 feet wide. Parts of their rybats still remain, showing that the doors opened . . . rr.1. FIG. 47. Kinclaven Castle. Plan. into the towers. Ihe prin- cipal entrance was near the south end of the west side, being the side furthest from the river. The gateway is 9 feet 8 inches wide, and, as far as can be judged from the scanty remains, it was provided with a portcullis. There is a postern in the centre of the south front, 2 feet 2 inches wide, which, entering from the outside, turns along in the thickness of the wall for 16 feet 2 inches, and, descending three steps, opens into the court. The roof of this passage, which is some 8 or 9 feet high, is formed with flat stones. The postern was evidently defended by a square tower, of which only one side partly remains. Opposite the door there is a small window looking from the entrance passage into the courtyard. In the centre of the west side, and about 13 feet distant from the portcullis entrance, the wall is thickened on the inside for a length of about 24- feet, the additional thickness being some 6 feet. This was probably for the support of a stair leading to the walk on the top of the walls, as also to the place for working the portcullis ; but it is so very much overgrown with vegetation and covered with ruins that one cannot be certain. The southern half of the west front has a projecting base outside, which stops short with a properly wrought return about