Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/385

 MUCHALLS HOUSE 369 FOURTH PERIOD the " wlonkest waw " of the ballad bearing indubitable evidence to the long vanished joyous and sprightly walls of Stobhall. The chapel and buildings attached seem to have been built by David, second Lord Drummoiid, who succeeded to the estates about 1520. He was twice married first, to Margaret, daughter of Alexander, Duke of Albany, and granddaughter of King James n. ; and second, about the year 1559, to Lilias, daughter of Lord Ruthven and Jean Haliburton of the Dirleton family. On the lintel of the fireplace in the upper room of the Dowery House are cut the initials D. L. D. (David, Lord Drum- mond) and D. L. R. (Dame Lilias Ruthven), with their arms between, having the date 1578 beneath (Fig. 811). The same arms and date again occur over the north gable of the chapel (Fig. 808), and again over the south porch (Fig. 815). The Dowery House was evidently built by John, second Earl of Perth. He succeeded to the estates about 1612, and married Lady Jane Ker, eldest daughter of the Earl of Roxburgh. She died young, after about ten years of married life, while her husband survived her in widowed solitude for forty years. Over the entrance the initials occur of Earl John Perth and Countess Jane Perth (Fig. 81 6), with their arms between, surmounted by a coronet. A date (1671) occurs on another part of this building. Now, as Earl John died in 1662, the Dowery House may not have been entirely completed at one time. The second Earl was created Duke of Perth by James vn., at St. Germains in 1695, and the Dowery House was probably finished by him. The boat-house, which is the next in order of the buildings, was evidently built by James, the third Duke. He was wounded at Culloden, and died during his passage to France on board a French frigate. Fourteen years afterwards, or in 1760, the Perth branch of the family ended, when a second cousin of the Lundin family succeeded and assumed the title of Earl of Perth, and erected the building towards the south-east 011 the site of the old walls already referred to. Stobhall, although no longer used as a residence, except for a gardener or caretaker, is kept in perfect order. Its excellent preserva- tion forms quite a contrast to the neglectful apathy with which many specimens of our ancient architecture are regarded. MUCHALLS HOUSE, KINCARDINESHIRE. This is a well-preserved specimen of the Scottish mansion of the beginning of the seventeenth century. It is pleasantly situated on a rising ground not far from the Muchalls Station of the Aberdeen Railway, and is surrounded with fine old trees and gardens in terraces, commanding an extensive view towards the sea. The history of the building is recorded on a tablet in the wall as follows : " This work on the East and North VOL. II. 2 A