Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/201

 (iRANTON HOUSE 185 FOURTH PERIOD somewhat similar to the pavement in the large hall of Tolquhan Castle, Aberdeenshire. Northfield is still inhabited, and is well cared for, and John Marjorie- banks' house is in this respect quite a contrast to that of his brother-in- law, Sir John Hamilton, above referred to, on the other side of the road. GRANTON HOUSE, MIDLOTHIAN. The property of Easter Granton from 1479 to 1592 belonged to the Melvilles of Carnbee in Fife. The original part of the house is in the style prevalent in the sixteenth century, and, as suggested by Wood, the historian of Cramond parish, it was probably built after the English invasion in 1544, when Hertford landed his troops at Granton, and carried destruction far and near. The house with its court- yard is situated on a platform having its northern front facing the sea, from which it is distant about 30 yards. It was built on the L plan (Figs. 644 and 644A), with a turret in the angle, which contained the entrance door and the original newel Staircase. Fio. 644. Granton House. Plan of First Floor. After passing through the hands of several proprietors, Granton became the property, in 1619, of Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall, who during the reign of Charles i. made Granton his principal residence. The building has undergone alterations at various times, as is seen by the insertion of the boldly moulded windows in the staircase turret, etc. (Fig. 645), but it was no doubt in Sir Thomas Hope's time that the great alterations and additions were made which almost entirely changed the character of the building, and left it very much as we now find it. The newel stair was taken out, and a new scale stair introduced in its stead. An entrance hall and room were formed on the ground floor, where no doubt the kitchen and cellar formerly were, almost the only part of the basement unchanged and retaining its original vaulted ceiling, being part of the north wing. The south windows were enlarged, and a central door (Fig. 646) leading to the garden introduced. This probably now became the entrance door, the south side being converted into the principal front of the mansion, with a carriage gate in the south wall of the garden, and a drive up to the front door. The north courtyard would now become the kitchen court, containing the stables and other offices. A new kitchen wing was added to the west, and a wide passage was left between the wing and the main building to permit horses to pass from the front drive to the stables (see Fig. 645). The first floor was also much modified.