Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/26

FOURTH PERIOD 10 CORBELLING Domestic Architecture of the period, as shown in the groined vaulting and early Gothic details above alluded to. FOURTH PERIOD Corbelling and Angle Turrets. There are two points connected with this period of our Architecture which are worthy of a little further consideration, as tending to illustrate the native and natural growth of the style. The peculiarly picturesque effect of the buildings of this period depends greatly (1st) on the large amount of corbelling employed,, together with the frequent and capricious change from round to square on plan ; and (2d) on the free and constant use of angle turrets. 1st, As regards the Corbelling. Although corbelling in stone is not uncommon in other countries, it is not met with to anything like the same extent anywhere else as it is in Scotland, where during the six- teenth century it formed one of the leading features of the style. It is not easy to account for this, but it may be to some extent explained by the fact that Scotland is a stone-building country. The abundance of good building stones and the severity of the climate have always encouraged the use of stone in preference to wood in buildings of any pretension. The excessive stone corbelling so characteristic of the sixteenth-century work in Scotland is thus the native mode of carrying out the general style of the period, being, in fact/simply an imitation in stone of the overhanging timber construction and framed work so common everywhere at this period, both in England and on the Continent, and even in the Scottish towns. A glance at Claypotts and Amisfield will show a similar effect in stone to a style of construction very common in timber, especially during the period now under consideration. In support of this view it may be mentioned that wooden corbels are sometimes found supporting a stone superstructure, as at Queen Mary's Bath, Canongate. It would thus appear that, wherever the idea of corbelling was derived from, the mode of application of the idea was peculiar to Scotland. %d, As regards the Angle Turrets. Although pinnacles, peaked roofs, and angle turrets were common everywhere about this period, the latter are a leading feature of Scottish Architecture. Angle turrets took their origin from the open bartizan so commonly corbelled out at the salient angles of all walls. These were afterwards raised higher than the parapet, and were roofed in. They had a some- what chequered existence, being for some time a feature of the greatest importance, but they afterwards gradually dwindled away, and were ultimately ignominiously thrust out. The form of turret so common in Scotland may be shown to be of