Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/76

FOURTH PERIOD 60 BISHOP'S HOUSE Royal arms, and also two smaller shields one with the initials A. L., possibly Alexander Lindsay, who obtained the estates and title of Lord Spynie in 1590, and, by the insertion of this shield, set his own and his Royal master's seal on the building. TOWER OF REPENTANCE, DUMFRIESSHIRE. This remarkable little tower is situated on the top of a conical hill some 300 to 400 feet high, close to Hoddam Castle. It stands in an old churchyard, and is surrounded with gravestones. The hill forms part of the farm occupied for a time by Thomas Carlyle and his brother, and the site of the tower, which commands a most extensive and splendid view in all directions, especially over the Solway to the Cumberland mountains, was a favourite resort of the young Carlyle. The tower, both in situation and structure, is somewhat peculiar. TO^CR or It is almost square on plan and very small (Fig. 527), being 23 feet 9 inches by 21 feet 6 inches externally, with walls 5 feet 6 inches thick. The interior is not planned like an ordinary pele tower for residence, there being no fireplaces in the rooms. The entrance door- way is on the first floor, and is defended with a double ' door. There are loopholes or shot-holes all round the PIG. 527. Plan of walls, and a curious angle cupboard in one corner, with the stone sill raised about 2 feet from the floor. The staircase was probably of wood, and was carried up round the interior of the walls in the same way as that now existing. The first floor had a window 2 feet 9 inches wide on one side (now built up). The second floor contained a similar apartment, now con- verted into a dovecot, and inaccessible. This room is evidently vaulted so as to support the stone roof (Fig. 528), which is hipped, i.e. it has no gables, but slopes on all four sides towards the centre. At the highest point of the roof a stone chimney is erected, which it seems most likely was intended to contain a beacon fire. A parapet resting on a con- tinuous corbel table goes all round the top of the walls. A doorway built in stone gives access to the parapet walk from the top of the stair- case. As it now stands this doorway is lintelled over with a single stone, cut with grooves to resemble a straight arch, like those frequently introduced in classic "rustic" work, and the door jambs have similar "rustic" corners. The roof of the doorway is now flat, but may have originally been surmounted with a small pediment. There are many stories told about the origin of this strange tower and its peculiar name, and it is generally supposed to have been built by a chief who repented of his cruelty in killing his prisoners on returning from a raid into England, etc. Others say that the deed repented of was