east-lothian-1924/05-114

Transcription

HADDINGTON.] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. -- [HADDINGTON.

ward and is 31 feet broad. The walls at base
are 8 1/2 to 10 feet in thickness. There are two
entrances to the tower, one at the re-entering
angle and another in the east wall of the main
block. Two entrances on the same level are
not usually found in buildings such as this and
suggest a reconstruction. The last mentioned
is probably the original entrance, the panel
above it bearing a shield charged : within a
double tressure flory-counter-flory a lion ram-
pant demembered (Maitland). The shield is
supported by two eagles and is surmounted by
a helmet with flowing mantling, wreathed and
crested, a lion sejant affronté holding in the
dexter paw a sword and in the sinister a
fleur-de-lys. On a label above the achievement
is the Maitland motto " CONSILIO ET ANIMIS."
Another motto below the shield, is illegible.
This entrance admits to a small vaulted lobby
within the thickness of the wall, off which is
entered the basement of the main building on
the west and a small mural passage on the
south. This passage may originally have con-
tained a straight flight of stairs linking up
with the turnpike stair at the re-entering angle
which now ascends from ground to second floor.
The other entrance is at the foot of this stair ;
above the door is a panel inscribed :
QUISNAM E MÆTELLANA STIRPE FUNDA-
MENTA LECE/RIT (sic) QUIS TURRIM EXCITA-
VERIT, INVIDA CELAVIT/ANTIQUITAS :/
LUMINARIA AUXIT, FACILIOREM ASCENSUM
PRÆBUIT ORNA/TIOREM REDDIDIT IOANNES
MÆTELLANUS LAUDERIÆ COMES/AN. ÆRÆ
CHR. MDCXXVI.
" Who of the race of Maitland laid the foun-
dations, who raised the tower, envious anti-
quity has concealed. John Maitland, Earl of
Lauder, increased the lights, provided an easier
stairway and made it more handsome in the
year of the Christian era 1626." As this in-
scription relates, the windows throughout the
tower have been enlarged and the staircases
altered to give easier communication. The
entrance at the stair is furnished with a fine
iron gate in situ, which is apparently of 16th
century workmanship. It is in excellent pre-
servation and still retains its two ponderous
bolts, while a massive staple, which projects
inwardly, was secured by a bar. At the stair-
foot beneath the soffit of the steps a stand pipe
is stated to lead from a well below.

45

The main block on the basement floor com-
prised one large chamber with a lofty barrel-
vault which is lit by a narrow light high up in
the south and west walls; the mid-partition is
modern. At the south-eastern angle of the
chamber there is an access to a second well.
At springing level of the vault there was
probably an intermediate floor of timber, to
which, from the floor above, a small mural
staircase led down and apparently penetrated
the vault and gave access. The wing also
contains a chamber on the basement floor.
This too is vaulted, but the ceiling is low and
the floor is lower than that of the adjoining
basement chamber with which it now communi-
cates. There was originally no inter communi-
cation, and the only access and light to this
eastern chamber was furnished by a hatch in
the vault opening in the floor of a chamber
above, which is entered from the wheel-stair
five steps up from the stair-foot. This chamber
has a fireplace and window, and its relation
with the cellar below suggests that it originally
served as a prison, but it should be noted that
there is no sanitary provision.
On the first floor level the main block
consists of one large chamber with a lofty
barrel-vaulted ceiling. The three hatches in
this vault are noteworthy, as they appear to
be provided for the emission of smoke from a
central hearth on the floor of the hall ; the
chimney flue in the north gable behind the
modern fireplace would therefore be an in-
sertion. The windows have certainly been
altered as noted above, by Sir John Maitland
and in modern times. On the east wall at the
level of the vaulting spring an inscribed panel,
which formerly stood out of doors, has been
inserted. The lower portion of the panel is
shield shaped and is charged per pale : dexter,
a lion rampant (demembered ?) within a double
tressure flory-counter-flory and sinister, 1st and
4th, a chevron within a tressure flory-counter-
flory, 2nd and 3rd six cinquefoils three and
three : being the shields of John Maitland 1st
Lord Thirlestane and Janet Fleming his wife.
Above the armorial bearing is an inscription
in debased Gothic lettering, which is insuffic-
iently preserved to be read. Intercommuni-
cating with the hall is a chamber in the wing
which was the kitchen ; in the east gable above
the 17th century fireplace there is the wide