Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/257

ELPHINSTONE CASTLE 237 THIRD PERIOD century. As throwing some light on the subject, we may draw attention to the armorial bearings carved over the hall fireplace, and which are illustrated and named in their order (Fig. 195). The Seaton arms occur SEATON MArTLAND'DOUGLAS MENZTES ELPHINSTONE JOHNSTON MAJTLAND FIG. 195. Elphinstone Castle. Arms over Fireplace in Hall. twice, and that family was twice connected with the house. The Johnston arms also occur. After the battle of Piperdean, in 1435, where Sir Alexander Elphinstone was killed, his only daughter Agnes suc- ceeded to the estate. She married a Johnston of Annandale, and it was in all probability after this event that the castle was built, and hence the Johnston arms, which are also painted on the arched roof of one of the hall closets with the letters S. D., along with a pierced heart, a thistle, and a rose. The other arms probably indicate previous alliances with the house. Traces of painting can be seen throughout the great hall, but in too fragmentary a state to admit of description. It is a pleasure to add that the building is well cared for, and the roof, which is modern, is in good order, and is perfectly water-tight. In the seventeenth century a wing was added to the north of the keep, but it has now been removed. COMLONGAN CASTLE, DUMFRIESSHIRE. Comlongan Castle, Dumfriesshire, is situated about midway between Dumfries and Annan, and lies about two miles inland from the Solway Firth. It is very similar to Elphinstone Castle, and is clearly of about the same date. The building is in a good state of preservation, but no