Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/425

 MENSTRIE CASTLE 409 FOURTH PERIOD A little stream running into a small lake or pond to the south-west, seems to have been the means of filling it with water at need, though there is also a spring communicating with it from the east. Indications of walls and solid foundations are found in places just inside it, especially at the north-east and south-east angles. Although so much fresh water is about, a deep well is in the inner courtyard. Notwithstanding the many changes to which it has been subjected, Ethie yet retains a wonderful amount of the genuine character of a Scottish mansion. MENSTRIE CASTLE, CLACKMANNANSHIRE. This is a fragment of what was once a large mansion with a courtyard surrounded with buildings. It stands about two miles west from Alva, and 3j miles eastwards from Bridge of Allan. It is celebrated as the birthplace of Sir William Alexander, first Earl of Stirling, the poet, the coloniser of Nova Scotia, and the builder of "Argyll's Lodging" in Stirling. It is also believed to be the birthplace of Sir Ralph Aber- cromby, of Egyptian fame. This castle was destroyed by Montrose during the same raid in which he wreaked his vengeance also on Castle Campbell. Little is now left of this once very interesting building, and what little remains is turned to ignoble uses. The south front, shown to the right in the view (Fig. 850), is tolerably complete. The tympana of the dormers have, however, disappeared. FIG. 850. Menstrie Castle. 17 iew from the South-Went. The entrance gateway, which is a very characteristic feature of seven- teenth-century work, still remains (Fig. 851). It exhibits a curious mix- ture of Classic and Scottish architecture. The shafts, caps, and drip-stone