Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/137

 GLAMIS CASTLE 121 FOURTH PERIOD circular,, and the space for it has been partly dug out of the old walls of the keep. Its diameter is about 15 feet 9 inches, with a hollow newel in the centre, 2 feet 1 inch diameter, so that the width of the steps is thus 6 feet 10 inches. A recessed circular inner stair (leads to the upper floors and roof, the central portion of which is flat, affording a length of promenade of about 90 feet. Glamis Castle being situated in a low position in a valley, this promenade on its lofty roof at a height of 92 feet above the ground is a most desirable adjunct. There is a fine wrought-iron railing round the platform on the roof (Fig. 582), erected about l6?3. This castle presents us with a good illustration of an old building which has been altered and heightened in the seventeenth century. A careful examination of this plan confirms the view above expressed as to Craigievar and Crathes, viz., that these castles, although, like Glamis, plain below, and ornamented at the top, have been so designed and built from the first, and have not been heightened and enriched at a later date. It has been pointed out that those castles had plans modified from the ancient tradi- tional L plan, whereas at Glamis, on the contrary, we find the old forms and features adhered to. The walls are 10 feet thick, and contain the wall chambers common in the older keeps, and the simple L form is adopted without any innovations. The well in the wall, with well chambers above, and the small internal staircase, are also characteristic of the older plans. The large seventeenth-century staircase and tower are evident additions, and (as above mentioned) the old walls have been cut out to receive them. The elevations also show signs of having been operated upon. Besides the old corbels in the west gable above referred to (and shown on Figs. 577 and 579), the slappings for the inserted large windows are distinctly observable. The upper part of the keep is very characteristic of the Scotch design of the seventeenth century. The large angle turrets, two stories in height, with small upper windows and high conical roofs, completely drown the gables, which are here entirely obliterated, and their place occupied with horizontal parapets, which form the end of a flat platform roof, and are crowned with a picturesque stone turret. These turrets, one only of which is shown in Grose's view, appear to have been restored at a comparatively recent date, but, we should imagine, on the model of the original ones. The scrolls over the windows, and the numerous coats of arms, dates, etc., are also in accordance with the taste of the time. The entrance doorway (Fig. 583) is quaint, and quite in keep- FIG. 582. Glamis Castle. Plan of Koof.