Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/332

 FOURTH PERIOD 3l6 - CAWDOR CASTLE ancient Royal keep may possibly have existed on this site,, as there is an entry in the Exchequer Rolls for 1398 of an outlay on ' ' Calder Castle." The keep was probably begun about the time when the licence was obtained. The older parts bear the character of work of the fifteenth century, in the thick walls, with numerous wall-chambers for bedrooms, garde-robes, etc. (Figs. 766, 767, and 768). The entrance doorway, which, although now opening from the principal staircase of the extended mansion, still retains its iron " yett," is on the ground floor, but may have been a few feet above the ground outside, as it is now on the level of the first landing of the main staircase. The ground floor contains the ordinary vaulted storeroom, and is almost unaltered, having small loops opening into deep square recesses in the walls, with full centred arches. This apartment con- tains a very remarkable relic in the shape of the stem of a thorn tree still standing as it grew, probably before the castle was built (Fig. 769, Section of Keep). From the FIG. 768. Cawdor Castle. FIG. 767. Cawdor Castle. Plan of Second Floor. Plan of Third Floor. entrance doorway a straight staircase in the thickness of the wall leads to the first floor, whence a wheel stair in the angle of the north and east walls conducts to the upper floors, and finally, by another straight flight, to the battlements. The upper floors have been to a certain extent modernised, and form part of the modern mansion. The windows have been enlarged, and openings cut through the walls, and the wooden beams and floors have been renewed, some of the corbels which carried the original beams being still visible. A projection near the top of the north wall overhangs on bold corbels (Figs. 768 and 771), and protected the entrance doorway with a large machicolation. There is a recess in the adjoining wall, which was no doubt intended to contain stones and other projectiles within easy reach. The top story is covered with a lofty pointed vault, which possibly carried a flat stone roof like that of Craigmillar. In more recent times the upper part of the keep has been remodelled. The parapet wall, which