east-lothian-1924/05-086

Transcription

DIRLETON.] -- HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION. -- [DIRLETON.

boundary, and a range of subsidiary buildings
has apparently run parallel to this on the north
with a courtyard wall on east and west to
complete the enclosure (fig. 61).
The portions now remaining are fragmentary;
of the main buildings the north wall and the
inner partitions are absent ; of the buildings
on the north only one portion at the north-east
angle is complete and that only on the ground
floor. The heavy walls usually found enclosing
the gardens are still in existence but have been
extensively patched.
The main structure is an oblong building,
measuring externally 72 feet from east to west
and 23 1/2 feet from north to south, and terminates
on the west in projecting angle towers, which
are circled at base and develop as they rise to
a square carried on corbels some distance
above ground. At a later period the inter-
space between the towers has been bridged by
a segmental arch, as though the builder had
decided to add to a domestic structure details
of an earlier age. Furthering this idea the
window in the interspace between the towers
is the height of a doorway, but has clearly
been half-glazed and served no other purpose
than that of lighting a portion of the first floor.
In the north tower are gunloops, the lower
cruciform, the upper keyhole-shaped ; these
appear to have been more ornamental than
useful. An unusual feature is the provision of
no less than 14 close set gargoyles on the
southern face above the towers (fig. 54).
The building is constructed of coursed rubble
with ashlar dressings.

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 61.-Saltcoats Castle
(No. 28).

It has been entered
from the courtyard
by a doorway, now
represented only by
its west jamb, in
the north wall
close to the tower at
ground level. The
ground floor contain-
ed three apartments
ceiled with semi-
circular barrel-vaults;
the central one ran
north and south,
those at the ends
east and west. These chambers have narrow
slits on the south admitting littlelight. A nar-
[proof correction mark] X (insert space)

22

row turnpike staircase in the north tower gives
access to the first floor level and there termin-
ates. The first floor has been lit by large
windows in the south wall, of which the upper
portions have been glazed, the lower closed by
shutters.
Above this floor a high pitched roof com-
pleted this portion ; but on the extreme west
the portion containing the towers is carried up
two additional storeys, which are reached from
a turret-staircase contained within the re-
entering angle of the south tower and wall.
Above the upper storeys on the west there
may have been a parapet walk.
The only surviving portion of the north range
is a vaulted chamber containing a wide fire-
place at its eastern end provided with an oven
and an outlet for slops. This was the kitchen.
South-west of the castle the well remains and
is in use but has been repaired in brick.
Over the doorway of a cottage west of the
castle is an heraldic panel within a crimped
border containing beneath a helmet and
mantling a shield charged per pale : dexter, a
bend with a boar's (or otter's) head (?) couped,
and sinister, a fess between three roundles.
Flanking the shield are the initials P. L. and
M. F., which have been re-cut and the date 1390,
which is apparently a misreading of an original
1590 (cf. below). This stone probably came
from above the doorway of the castle and the
date 1590 would agree with the detail of the
building.
DOVECOT.-A rectangular dovecot measuring
externally 14 1/4 feet by 16 1/3 feet and 25 feet in
height, which lies north-north-west of the
castle, may be a contemporary structure.
DETAILS.-In the north wall of the garden
is a door lintel inscribed : 16 G.L. 95. In the
west wall is a wide arched entrance with a
segmental head, which has been built up.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-The initials P.L. are
those of Patrick Levingtoun of Saltcoats
(" Saultcottis ") on record in 1588-9, 1594 &c.1
Nesbit says he had seen an armorial seal
charged with a bend and " an otter's (or boar's)
head couped in chief " with the legend " Sig.
Patricii Livingtoun de Saltcoat 1593."2 These
arms are given for " Levingtoun of Saltcottis "
by Lindsay and are those on the panel here,
save that the head is more probably that of
a bear muzzled. The bend blazon is probably

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Douglas Montgomery

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