Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/35

 OF DESIGN - 19 - FOURTH PERIOD beginning of the seventeenth century. The regular quadrangular plan now became more common, with well-balanced symmetrical arrangements and a stronger infusion of Renaissance detail and ornament. " Argyll's Lodging " at Stirling and Drumlanrig Castle are prominent instances of this influence. In the former we have an admirable example of a town-house of this period built on the quadrangle or courtyard plan. This house also shows the peculiar interlacing ornament so much used over cornices of doors and windows in late Scottish work, the idea of which we believe to have been imported from Germany. Innes House, Morayshire (which was built by the architect of Heriot's Hospital), also shows Renaissance details, together with interlacing orna- ments applied to the old L plan. Huntly Castle, Aberdeen shire, the upper story of which was rebuilt in 1603, already shows the importation of oriel windows from England. These common and beautiful features of Elizabethan architecture are very unusual in Scotland. There are rare specimens at Pinkie and Maybole, but, strangely enough, the finest oriels were in the Earl's- Palace at Kirkwall, erected in 1607. These unfortunately are now sadly destroyed. Pinkie House and Wintoii House are good and familiar examples of the influence of the English taste, the former having a mixture of Scotch and English features, while the latter is almost entirely English in feel- ing and detail. Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire, was built by the Chancellor Seton, who was also builder of Pinkie House. In this case he adhered to the old Scotch style, so as to maintain the character of the old keep to which he added. But he could not avoid the prevailing tendency to symmetry, the principal front being arranged with the doorway in the centre, and the elevation made to balance on each side of it by repeating the form of the old keep at the other end. It is unnecessary here to multiply examples, as attention will be drawn to the various points of interest connected with each building in the following detailed description of the Castles and Mansions of the Fourth Period. In describing these edifices we shall adhere to the plan adopted in the descriptions of the previous periods, com- mencing with the simple keeps or peles, then following up with the buildings exhibiting the various modifications of the keep, viz., the L plan, simple and with additions; the Z plan, or oblong tower, with wings at two of the diagonally opposite angles ; the double tower, etc. To these will succeed the castles with quadrangles, and finally the mansions, the plans of which show a gradual departure from the tradi- tional arrangements, and a close approximation to the dispositions of modern houses. This period being one of transition from the old Scottish style to the