east-lothian-1924/05-060

Transcription

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

T-shaped and consists of an oblong block
lying east and west, measuring externally 70 1/2
feet by 28 feet, with a square tower containing
a wheel-stair projecting externally from the
centre of the south wall. While the plan of
the northern portion of the main block is
reminiscent of late 15th century work the
surviving portions of the early building are of
a century later, having been built by Sir Patrick
Hepburn in 1584. Sir Patrick's building has,
in its turn, been extended and added to within
modern times.

The masonry is of uncoursed rubble free-
stone dressings, moulded and wrought with a
quirked edge roll at the window jambs and
ornamented with the cable and billet ornaments
on the corbelling, which supports a turret pro-
jecting at eaves level from the south-west angle.
A corresponding turret on the north-east and a
turret-staircase within the east re-entering angle
rest on moulded corbels without enrichment.
The main block contains three storeys beneath
the wall head and an attic within the roof.
As is usual, the main staircase, which is spacious,
is not carried up the full height of the tower
containing it but terminates at second floor
level, and access from this to the attic floor is
provided by the turret-staircase. The cor-
belling supporting this turret is reinforced by
a squinch arch, bridging the angle. The
building is now entered from a doorway
slapped through the east gable, but was
originally entered through the renaissance door-
way in the west re-entering angle, against
which a modern wing has been built. The old
entrance opened on the stair foot and passed
through the south wall into a passage giving
access to a chamber at either end, the northern
being the kitchen, as shown by the large fire-
place in the south gable ; between these
chambers are two smaller ones also entered off
the passage. These apartments are all ceiled
with semi-circular barrel vaults. In the N.E.
angle of the basement of the nucleus is a stone
basin and drain 6 feet above the present floor
level.

On the first floor there have been originally
two intercommunicating apartments, the west
of which has been shortened by the formation
of a passage at its northern end. The east
chamber has several mural closets formed
within the thickness of the walls. This arrange-
ment of rooms appears to have been repeated
on the two upper floors, but partitions and
passages have been inserted at a later period.
The building has been considerably altered ex-
ternally, windows have been enlarged and
chimneys heightened. The only defensive pro-
visions are the gunloops in the staircase tower
and angle turrets. The structure is inhabited
and is in excellent repair

DOOR, c. 17th CENTURY. - An oak door,
studded with bolts, taken from Kilspindie
Castle is re-hung in the upper part of the
staircase at Luffness.

ARMORIAL STONES. ETC. - (a) On the south
west turret is a panel probably not in situ
containing the initials S.P.H. and I.H. (Sir
Patrick Hepburn and his wife , " Issobelle
Halden ") ¹ and underneath, the date 1584.
(b) On a modern addition on the south is
an old stone bearing three shields, one and two,
all very decayed. The upper shield, below a
mitre, appears to be charged with three boars'
heads erased : the lower dexter with a chevron.
The shields together give the Elphinstone arms.
(c) Another stone is inserted in the modern
wing built within the south-west re-entering
angle. It bears a shield flanked by ladies
symbolising Hope and charged per pale, dexter
a bezant below a chevron ; sinister quarterly,
1st and 4th, a saltire below three cushions in
chief, 2nd and 3rd, an anchor : a Hope-
Johnstone marriage. The first Earl of Hopeton
(Hope) bought Luffness in 1739. The south-
west skew-put of this wing is an old stone
re-used ; it is inscribed S P H : E H (see above)
DOVECOT. - One hundred yards east of the
house is a fine 16th century dovecot, circular
on plan and rising in three stages to a wall-head
cornice enriched with a billet ornament (fig. 21).
SUNDIALS. - (a) On a corbel projecting from
an addition is a 17th century dial formed of
a cube of freestone and initialled DR and MH.
The dial is placed on the outer face. Human
figures are carved on the sides, and the whole
is surmounted by a crudely executed head
wearing a conical cap with a star in front.
CIST COVERS. - Two stone slabs 3 feet 8
inches long, 1 foot 9 inches broad and 5 inches
thick lie in the kitchen garden. They are
presumed to be covers of cists, of which three
were found beneath the floor of the entrance
hall.

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