Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/481

 RUTH YEN CASTLE 465 FOURTH PERIOD time of the Comyns, Lords of Badenoch, and was the chief fortress of the Wolf of Badenoch during the fourteenth century. In the sixteenth century another castle was built on this site by George, sixth Earl of Huntly. It was frequently besieged in the seventeenth century, and demolished by Claverhouse in 1689. It seems, however, to have been again resuscitated, as it played a somewhat important part in the Rebel- lions of 1715 and 1745. The present castle or " Barracks " was built by the Government in 1718, for a garrison to keep the district in check, and in 1746 it was burnt by the fugitives from Culloden, and has never since been repaired. ,, RUTHVEN CASTLE ^^> INVERNESS-SHIRC // // ^^^: ///% (// Pio. 898. Ruthven Castle. Plan. The building as it stands is entirely of the eighteenth century. Not a vestige of any earlier work can now be traced. It is thus outside of the period we have to deal with, but we give it as a contrast to the castles of the earlier times. The plan (Fig. 898) shows the configuration of the level top of the mound. The approach is by a steep slope up the south-east side of the hill (Fig. 899). There are here traces of terraces which may perhaps have been formed in connection with older works. A separate entrance led to the central court, between the main building and the outbuildings to the west. The whole platform was surrounded with a wall, of which only some portions now remain. It is not over 2 feet thick, and in this respect, as well as its want of durability, it presents a striking contrast to the walls of enceinte of the early castles. The main building consists of a court- yard, 75 feet long by 40 feet wide, surrounded with buildings, those on VOL. II. 2 G