east-lothian-1924/05-073

Transcription

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

The turret stair contained within the west
re-entering angle leads from the attic to the
garret storey and is borne on the usual cor-
belling, but this, in its turn, is supported by a
squinch arch. The squinch is here employed,
not to reinforce the corbelling, which of itself
is sufficient to support the stair, but to obtain
an extended space for the stair without en-
croaching on the wings. This is effected by
placing the centre of the stair over the plane
of the squinch not, as is usually done, over the
apex of the re-entering angle.
The two storeyed out-building in the eastern
re-entering angle is probably an addition.
The basement contains the kitchen and
offices ; the first floor the living apartments.
On this latter storey the drawing-room, on the
west, has a good contemporary plaster ceiling
with moulded ribs and modelled enrichments.
The windows in the west gable are blinded.
The eastern apartment has been subdivided to
provide a central hall and a dining-room on the
east. All the apartments are panelled in pine.
The central window of the south wall is cut
down to form a doorway, which communicates
by a flight of steps with the garden and is
utilised as the principal entrance.
The second floor - an attic - contains the
family bedrooms. These chambers are also
panelled, and the finishings of pine are elab-
orately moulded and in the western apartment
enriched with carving of early 18th century
type.
The main staircase goes no higher than this
floor ; the turret stair provides access from this
level to the garret and a small bedroom above
the main staircase.
The building measures externally some 57 1/4
feet in length over the main block by 21 1/4 feet
in breadth. The gables are 3 feet 9 inches thick
and the lateral walls from 2 feet 4 inches to
2 feet 9 inches. The staircase wing projects
9 feet 7 inches from the north wall and is 12 1/2
feet broad. The main stair is 4 feet and the
turret stair 2 feet 8 inches wide. The building
has been carefully conserved and is occupied.
DOVECOT. - Some 100 yards south-east of the
house is a contemporary dovecot, rectangular
on plan, having a lean-to roof (fig. 24). It is
25 feet in height, measures externally 19 feet
2 inches by 17 feet 4 inches and contains stone
boxes for over 1000 birds.
HISTORICAL NOTE. - William Cairns of Pil-
muir (d. 1653) had a son Richard, who suc-
ceeded him, but dying s.p., left the estate
entailed upon William Borthwick eldest son of
his sister Sibilla and Alexander Borthwick in
Johnstounburn. The deed of entail is dated
1659. William Borthwick of Pilmuir was dead
before 1689. ²

1 History of the Cairnses, p. 220.
2 Minutes of Evidence, Borthwick Peerage
Case, pp. 73-6. cf. Reg. Mag. Sig. 1656,
No. 543.
xv. N.W. 23 June 1913.

21. Eaglescairnie - This house, 3/4 of a mile
south-east of Bolton, is mainly modern, but
the northern portion dates from the late 17th
or early 18th century. This portion is L-shaped
on plan, and within the re-entering angle is a
stair tower. That there was an earlier house
is evidenced by an armorial panel, dated 1595,
now inserted above the coach house door. The
panel is flanked by initials G H and A H for
George Halyburton of Eaglescairnie and his
wife A Hunter and bears on the upper part
three mascles on a bend, with a star in sinister
chief and a rose (? actually a cross within a
circle) at the dexter base, one or other for
difference ; on the lower part the three hunting
horns of Hunter. The treatment of these arms
is uncommon : instead of being impaled they
are placed one above the other, that of Haly-
burton occupying what would be the chief of
a shield treated as a segment of a circle pro-
jecting downwards.

x S.W. 19 February 1923.

DEFENSIVE CONSTRUCTION.

22. Fort, "The Chesters." - The remains of
the earthen walls of this fort lie on rolling
ground 400 feet above sea-level, on the south-
western side of the Gifford and Bolton Road and
almost opposite the road to Eaglescairnie Mains.
With the exception of a small portion, which is
seen in a plantation along the side of the road,
the area occupied by the fort is now under
regular cultivation, and it is with the utmost
difficulty that the defences can be traced. The
main axis of the fort, which has been oval in

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