Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/382

 FOURTH PERIOD 366 STOBHALL bedrooms up-stairs. An extra room is gained over the entrance passage or pend by rising a few steps. Some of the rooms contain their original furniture and fittings. The straight stair is a sure sign of modern innova- tion, and the style of the plaster ceiling (Fig. 811) shows its late date. Besides classic scrolls, it contains the thistle, rose, and portcullis apper- taining to the Royal arms after the accession of James vi. to the throne of England. It may, however, be mentioned (as stated by Nisbet) that " the portcullis has been a device used by our kings since King James i. of that name in Scotland," " since the marriage of that king with Jane Beaufort, eldest daughter of John, Earl of Somerset," and its use here may have reference to the connection of the Drummonds with the Royal family. Via. 814. Stobhall. Confessional. The laundry forms a separate building, and, as seen from the court- yard, with the group of the chapel and turreted house (Fig. 808) has a most quaint appearance, with its low side walls only 3 or 4 feet in height, and its lofty roof seeming to rise almost from the ground. Beneath the laundry, and entering from the lower court, are the brew- house and bakehouse, with wide fireplace and oven. There is still another building to the south-east of the chapel, which bears the date 1781. It is shown on Fig. 813, being the building on the right, and is perfectly plain, having no architectural pretensions whatever ; but it undoubtedly occupies the site of an older building, some of the masonry of which is still preserved in the lower part of the walls. Down at the river-side there is a boat-house dated 1736. The barony of Stobhall was granted by King Robert i. to Sir Malcolm Drummond after the battle of Bannockburn. His grandson, Sir John Drurnmond, married Mary, daughter and heiress of Sir William de