Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/394

FOURTH PERIOD 378 ROWALLAN CASTLE period, of which Castle Stewart, Claypotts, and Newark on the Clyde, may be taken as representative examples. Rowallan forms on plan three sides of a square, having the front and entrance on the east side (Fig. 822). It measures about 86 feet from north to south by about 72 feet 4 inches from east to west, with a central courtyard, enclosed by a curtain wall, on the fourth or west side. The house is built round a small knoll, with the courtyard on the summit, at a higher level than the exterior walls. Thus, while the buildings to the outside are three or four stories high, towards the courtyard they are lower. This knoll was doubtless selected as the site of the original fortress from the circumstance that it was then surrounded by a swampy lake. The appearance of the low-lying ground between the house and the Carmel is quite in conformity with this idea. Before the main portion of the present house was built, which really hides the knoll, the effect of the rocky hillock, with the tower upon its summit, must have quite justified the appellation of the " Craig of Rowallan," by which it is sometimes designated. The conspicuous feature of the east front (Fig. 823) is two drum towers, each 8 feet 6 inches in diameter, divided into four stages by massive string-courses, and covered with conical roofs having pear-shaped stone finials. The length of this front is 62 feet. The arched entrance doorway between the towers (Fig. 824) is on the courtyard level, and is reached by a straight flight of steps in front. From the doorway a passage leads to the courtyard, and, as usual, no part of the buildings, except what are called the guard-rooms, enter from the passage. There is a stone seat in the passage for accommodating the guard or porter. The courtyard measures 53 feet by 33 feet 4 inches. A plain doorway in the south side leads into the entrance hall, at the end of which a few steps on the right hand lead down to an apartment which occupies the south-west corner. Beneath this room is the kitchen, with its service-stair landing in the entrance hall. The kitchen (Fig. 825) has the usual wide fireplace, with an oven behind it, under the stair. At the south end is situated the well, also under the staircase. The water-supply was obtained by a pump which was worked in the kitchen. The eastern part of the basement contains vaulted cellars, lighted with narrow loops (Fig. 829) with top and bottom oylets. Returning to the first floor, on the east side of the entrance hall is the dining-room, the walls of which are panelled in wood. The panelling is of various designs ^pig. 826), and the entrance door is ornamented with pilasters. Beyond the dining-room, in the south-east angle of the SUNK FLOOR X! IG. o/O. - Rowallan Castle. Plan of Basement Floor.