Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/173

 FERNIEHERST CASTLE 157 FOURTH PERIOD The present house, which is all of about one age, is on the L plan (Fig. 614), but it is of an unusual length, and may possibly have been intended to form part of a courtyard. The part of the top limb tinted black is the most important, and probably the oldest portion, and contains the fine entrance doorway (Fig. 615), and a straight staircase to the first floor, the upper floors being reached by the wheel stair in the angle turret (Fig. 6l6). This part may be described as being in a state bordering on ruin. Although yet entire, the ivy has it in its deadly embrace, and with the con- sequent dampness, the masonry in several places outside and inside is in a very unsatisfactory state, while most of the characteristic wood panelling round the walls of the rooms either hangs in loose fragments, or has entirely disappeared. The old kitchen, forming the other part of the top limb, is at the north-west corner, and although shown by hatched lines on the plan, it was probably built about the same time as the house. It is vaulted, and contains a fine arched fire- place, with a stone drain and a service staircase, now built up. There were evi- dently rooms above the kitchen, which have now disappeared, and adjoining it at the west end are old offices, now used as cottages. The long wing of the house is still inhabited, having a most incongruous entrance in the centre, which cuts the building into two portions. The ground floor consists of a series of vaulted cellars, and the upper floors contain the living- rooms, entering off each other in the usual way in houses of this age. On the first floor of the round tower, adjoining the southmost room, there is a small circular apartment called the library. In this room is the beautiful wooden ceiling shown by Fig. 6l7i which, we are sorry to say, is in a most deplorable state of ruin. It is by no means in the perfect condition shown in the sketch, which, however, may be relied on, as representing the ceiling as it actually was. Enough remains to indicate the complete design. Several of the moulded ribs have fallen FIG. 615, Fernieherst Castle. Entrance Doorway.