Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/178

FOURTH PERIOD 162 FERNIEHERST CASTLE the chapel,, but now used as a stable, having a highly ornamented door- way,, with a window on each side. This structure dates from the seven- teenth century, the details (illustrated in Fig. 620) resembling those of the arched gateway at the house just referred to. TORWOODHEAD CASTLE, STIRLINGSHIRE, A mansion, situated on the top of a low hill about two miles north- west from Larbert, and surrounded with some scant remains of what is called the Caledonian Forest (Figs. 623 and 624). This building is of a very plain and simple design externally, and is given as an example of a Scottish mansion of the seventeenth century erected after the angle turrets had been dispensed with. It is on the L plan (Fig. 622), but the arrangement of the entrance door and stair- Fio. 622. Torwoodhead Castle. Plans. cases is somewhat peculiar. The old plan of the turret in the re-entering angle containing the staircase is preserved. The entrance door, however, is not, as usual, in this turret, but in the wing adjoining, which contained a wide circular stair to the first floor. The panel for the arms over the door is well designed. The small guard-room, with shot-holes, next the principal stair, still remains, as well as the partition walls of the base- ment, which is vaulted and divided into kitchen and cellars, lighted with small loops, one of the cellars having the invariable stair from the hall. The kitchen has a trough for water-supply. The stair in the turret would be used as a service stair to the hall. The first floor contains the great hall and private room. The two central windows of the hall are kept high up from the floor, probably to allow of a handsome sideboard being placed against the wall under them.