Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/237

 DROCHIL CASTLE 221 FOURTH PERIOD them, the little hour-glass-looking ornaments on the string-course at the corners, and the small ornamental corbellings at the parapet, all indicate a later age than Bishop Thomas's time. The upper tier of windows below the corbels at the east tower (see enlarged sketch, Fig. 675), are almost identical in design with the three windows at Balmbreich, shown over the high arch in the view from the courtyard, and of which a large sketch is given. This part of Balmbreich is unquestionably early seven- teenth century, and the Fyvie staircase which so closely resembles the Notland one, was erected in the sixteenth century, so that, judging of the age of Notland by its style, it cannot be placed earlier than the latter half of the sixteenth century. Possibly the walls of the main building may represent the castle founded by Bishop Tulloch, and re- ferred to by Ben as being unfinished in the beginning of the sixteenth century, while the upper stories and the wings may have been added at a later date. Gilbert Balfour of Westray, a strenuous supporter of Queen Mary, obtained possession of the castle from Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney, in 1560, and is said to have had it prepared by the Queen's orders for the reception of herself and her husband Bothwell, Duke of Orkney. The style of the building would indicate that the upper part and the staircase may have been built at that time. Although so remote, this castle is not destitute of historical interest. It afforded refuge to the officers of Montrose after his defeat, and in consequence suffered from Cromwell's forces, by whom it was burned, and has since remained a ruin. DROCHIL CASTLE, PEEBLESSHIRE. This is a massive ruin situated on a height in a retired spot at the junc- tion of the Tarth and Lyne Waters, and commanding a fine view of the valleys of these rivers and of that of the Tweed. This edifice is believed to have been built by the Regent Morton shortly before his execution in 1581, but never to have been finished. It is described as being intended for a palace rather than a castle, and its arrangements justify this view the defences consisting almost exclusively of shot-holes in the round towers at the north-east and south-west angles, so placed as to command the various sides of the building. These towers are round, and are placed in the usual position at two of the diagonally opposite angles, but they are very diminutive in proportion to the size of the castle as compared with most other similar buildings (Fig. 678). The plan of the main building is quite unique. Castles and houses in the sixteenth century, and for long after, were almost invariably built as single tenements, the rooms having windows on both sides, and entering through one another. But Drochil Castle is designed as a double tene- ment, with a great corridor or gallery 12 feet 6 inches wide on each story running through the building from east to west, and dividing it