stirling-1963-vol-1/05_238

Transcription

No. 192 -- CASTLES AND TOWER-HOUSES -- No. 192

[Plan Inserted]
Fig. 75. Stirling Castle (No. 192); second-floor plan of the Palace

rise from moulded bases to capitals carved with a cherub's
head on the face and a lion couchant on either side
(Pl. 81 B). This fireplace, like the others on this floor, has
a heavy plain lintel with a chamfered arris. A doorway at
the W. end of the N. wall opens into the gallery in the W.
quarter. The windows that light the gallery have been
contracted, but the old entrance-doorway, originally
served by a forestair, remains intact although blocked up.
In the W. wall may be seen a built-up doorway, which
once led into the missing W. quarter, as well as an 18th-
century fireplace. A modern stair within the gallery rises
to an inserted floor which contains no features of interest.
Some of the State Apartments retain old wooden doors
and other fittings (Pl 85 A-D), but these constitute a
mere fragment of their original furnishings. A set of
fifteen oak panels, believed to have come from these
rooms, is preserved in the Smith Institute, Stirling, and
is described on pp. 400 f.
The second floor of the Palace (Fig. 75) is today
reached by two staircases, one at the NW. angle of the
building and the other at the SE. angle. The former dates
from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries while the
latter is even more recent in origin (cf. pp. 188, 189, 202).
Nothing is known of the original disposition of the rooms

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