Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/414

 FOURTH PERIOD - 3Q8 - PINKIE HOUSE rooms adjoining the " gallery " have fine plastered ceilings, as will be seen from the sketches (Fig. 837). These are in the style of the seven- teenth century, and correspond in character and details with those of Winton House, Moray House, and other buildings of that date. As already mentioned, Pinkie House owes its principal features to the same Chancellor Seton who, as we have previously seen, executed such extensive works at Fyvie. Here, as at Fyvie, the Chancellor found an existing old Scottish castle, and by the additions and alterations he made he converted both into large and commodious residences. Mr. George Seton, in his Life of the Chancellor, tells us that il the following inscription, although unfortunately no longer visible, in con- sequence of modern additions, is cut upon the front of the mansion : ' Dominus Alexander Setonius, hanc aedificavit, non ad animi, sed for- tunarum et agelli modum l6l3." J In all probability the Chancellor raised the tower (Fig. 838), adding its angle turrets, and the two square turrets with balcony at the north end of the old house. The fine plaster-work, already referred to, is un- doubtedly of his time. Although this building is not so stately or grand in its design as Fyvie, it must be allowed that the east front of Pinkie (Fig. 839), with its long row of lofty chimney-stacks, and with the dormer windows, which no doubt existed when it was first erected, must have been a very imposing building, although designed with simple features. The beautiful oriel window in the south front is one of the finest of the few oriels in Scotland, while there is nothing at Fyvie to compare with the splendid painted gallery. In the centre of the courtyard there is a very beautiful well canopy (Fig. 840), having four square piers supporting arches, with engaged round columns of the Roman Doric order, above which is an open lantern of four pointed arches, the whole surmounted by a vase. The erection is profusely decorated with carving, monograms, and heraldic devices, having reference to the Seton family, with the following inscriptions round the frieze : west side, VTILIS VNDA. FLUIT ; north side, ET CAPITI ET MEMBRIS ; east side, QVO NONVEL PVRIOR ALTER ; SOUth side, f FONTE HOC FRIGIDIOR. The structure, which stands on three steps, is about 24 feet high, and of the width shown on the plan. A stair on the west side leads down to the well. The water was brought up in a bucket to the level of the pedestal on which the columns stand by a rope and pulley suspended from an ornamental ceiling at the level of the cornice. An arched and recessed bower, surmounted by the arms of the Hays, in the centre of the east front, seems to have been inserted while the property was in the possession of the Tweeddale family between 1690 and 1788.