east-lothian-1924/05-143

Transcription

NORTH BERWICK.] INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. [NORTH BERWICK.

artifice to make it unassailable. The rock rises
almost sheer on all sides but the south to a
height of 350 feet above the sea. The process
of denudation has resulted in a steep but
ascendable western slope from base to crest
and in the formation of terraces or rather
ledges in the rock. The landing is on a low
spur of rock at the south-east corner, and the
fortifications may be summarised as screen
walls, lodged on terraces, shutting off this
landing from the remainder of the rock (fig.
110). The remains which exist are of 16th
century date, and are built in rubble of the trap
rock of the site with an admixture of imported
light coloured freestone in the dressings. Facing

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 108.-The Bass Castle (No. 108).

south-south-west, a great wall, averaging
40 feet in height, returns just above the 100
feet contour line between the cliffs on east and
west at a distance of 100 feet back from the
southern brink ; from this wall a second, dis-
posed almost rectangularly to the first, returns
in a southerly direction on the slope to the
edge of the cliff (fig. 108). These walls are
surmounted by parapets crenellated for guns,
and the first mentioned terminates at its
western end in an angular projecting battery.
A half-moon battery, with a low vaulted under
chamber fitted with gun ports, is placed at the
lower level of the cliff verge at the southern
end of the outer wall ; the higher wall alone
has salient projections.
From the landing there is rough walking
over the uneven surface of the rock to an

69

entrance in the east screen wall, and 79 feet
inwards from this lies the return of the southern
screen, within which is an enclosure 17 feet
long and 15 feet wide before the gable of the
residential portion. This latter is a structure
of two storeys and a garret ; below the lowest
storey a pended staircase ascends to the higher
level of the terrace beyond. The freestone
jambs and lintels of the entrance to the dwelling
are chamfered, but the only other moulded
feature is the fragmentary fireplace on the
lowest floor, which has moulded jambs and
head, the latter slightly ogival in form. Beyond
this structure to the west, there are against
the back of the terrace the ruins of a range of

[illustration continued]
FIG. 108.-The Bass Castle (No. 108).

two storeyed buildings, which, with the little
chamber opposite formed in a projection of
the screen wall, housed the Covenanting
prisoners in the last quarter of the 17th century.
In this latter dwelling was lodged John Black-
adder, minister of Traquair, whoo died in con-
finement here at the age of 70. Although tiny,
measuring only 8 feet 2 inches by 10 feet
9 inches, it has been a not unpleasant chamber,
being furnished with fireplace, windows and a
door opening out on the parapet walk. Beneath
it is an irregularly shaped well of masonry
about 6 feet in diameter, which has a present
depth of 8 feet. It is provided with a door
opening on the open passage between the
screen and the structures at the back of the
terrace. This well is popularly held to have
been a bottle dungeon for the incarceration of