dumfries-1920/04-074

Transcription

INVENTORY
OF THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND
CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE COUNTY OF DUMFRIES.

ANNAN.
CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURES.

1. Bonshaw Tower. - Bonshaw Tower (fig.
4 of Introduction), dating from the 16th
century, lies less than 1/2 a mile south-
south-east of Kirtlebridge Station, on the

[Plan inserted]
Fig. 8. - Bonshaw Tower (No. 1).

western bank of the Kirtle Water, which
washes the eastern base of the declivity
on the summit of which the tower is set.
To the south is a ravine traversed by a
burn; to the north and west there are no
defences visible, a walled courtyard, which
extended eastwards from the tower to the
cliff and through which the tower was reached,
being deemed sufficient. The entrance to the
tower is in the east wall; over it is carved
in raised characters the motto
SOLI · DEO · HONOR · ET · GLORIA.
The door opens on a passage admitting to
the basement and the wheel-stair in the
north-eastern angle. From the stone roof of
the vestibule hangs a pendant, on which is
carved IHS in monogram, as at Robgill Tower
(No. 107). The building measures exteriorly
some 36 feet 6 inches by 27 feet 1 inch; the
walls terminate at a height of 39 feet 9 inches
from the ground in a parapet and walk carried
on corbels of simple design; a splayed base-
ment-course returns along the walls at a
height of 2 feet 6 inches from the ground.
The basement, measuring 15 feet 9 inches
by 25 feet, has a vaulted ceiling fitted with a
hatch, and is provided with a gunloop in each
wall at the level of the basement-course and a
small window in the south wall high up in the
vault. A stone bin, possibly for storage of
provisions, is built against the east wall. A
prison, measuring 8 feet 2 inches by 4 feet
4 inches, is formed in the south-west angle.
This apartment has no window, but a flue for
ventilation is provided in the vaulted ceiling.
The upper floors are three in number. The
hall occupies the first floor; it measures 27
feet 2 inches by 17 feet 8 inches and is lit by
a window 2 feet 6 inches wide, with modern
mullions, in each wall. Those in the east and
west walls have an aumbry set in the jamb,
and against the jambs of the south window
are stone seats. Projecting some 2 feet from

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