Access is now gained through what would have been an internal door in the Victorian wing.
Victorian fireplace. Note how the deposit of stone and dust from the army demolition exercise has raised the ground level.
Looking through a doorway in the wall between the Victorian section and the mediaeval part of the house. The ground falls away to the south and the older southmost part of the house had a lower floor which was only above ground level on its south face. Traditionally the entrance level of a Scottish tower house had a vaulted cellar and the Laird's Hall was on a raised level directly above the cellar. There was an arched vault running parallel with the south wall which was demolished in the Victorian alterations. Therefore the original Laird's Hall would have been level with the ground floor of the Victorian wing which was entered from the other (higher) side. The Victorian wooden floor has collapsed and silt and stone from the demolition has partly filled the cellar area.
The interior of the west wall.
The interior of the east wall.
A mediaeval piscine set into the south wall.
Looking out through the arrow slit in the south wall. In olden times a good view of approaching invaders from England would have been obtained from here, before the growth of the pine trees.
The partial demolition of the vaulted arch by the Victorians and the later collapse of the Victorian floor has allowed us to get down below the floor level of the original laird's hall. Looking east, we can see that the eastmost end of the stone floor was retained in the Victorian alterations. Where the stone and wooden floors joined, the top part of a lower level passageway has become exposed.
Down there and off through that opening to the left, I am told that mediaeval vaults still survive intact, but to explore them would need a good torch and the confidence of knowing that one would be capable of clambering back up into the daylight again. Note the substantial metal peg on which a door would once have hung. Hope you enjoyed.
Bookmarks