east-lothian-1924/05-213

Transcription

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

a chevron between three boars' heads, erased
and tusked, for Elphinstone; and the eighth,
a lion rampant. This heraldry seems to be
purely decorative in significance.
In the south-western angle a vice leads from
the Hall to the upper floors and to the parapet
walk. In the south in-going of the fireplace a
squint is formed to light the stairfoot at dark.
The Hall is lit by four windows in the lateral
walls, two on either side of the chamber. The
eastern windows have their sills at a con-
siderable height above the floor level ; the
other windows have intramural chambers open-
ing off the in-goings. The chamber opening
from the south-west window has an edge roll
and hollow moulding wrought on the jambs and
lintel of the entrance. It has two windows
in the south wall and has apparently been
shelved, while in the ceiling are the outlets of
two flues apparently from latrines above ;
a similar device is to be found in the contem-
porary castle of Borthwick, Midlothian. The
corresponding window in the north wall has
a small mural chamber opening off the east
in-going, and a doorway in the west in-going
leads to a vice, which ascends to a small private
room placed over a similar apartment entered
from the stairfoot. The upper of these rooms
had an access to the flue of the great fireplace,
so contrived as to admit of the Hall being
viewed while the spectator remained unseen.
The walls of the Hall have received a coating
of plaster " on the hard," and on this surface
can be seen traces of decoration in red
and black; a similar treatment may be noted
at Borthwick. A kitchen and service room
are placed within the east gable with a vice
in the north-east angle leading to chambers,
which are contrived above these but still
below the level of the vault of the Hall. A
vaulted gallery is placed on this upper level
over the main stair.
On the second floor the space corresponding
to the Hall is divided into two apartments,
each with a fireplace in the gable. The intra-
mural passages and chambers are repeated on
this floor also, while in the south wall are con-
tiguous latrines, one for each apartment.
The floor above has been borne on joists and
is partially an attic.
The roof is modern, but the parapet and
walk, the latter having spouts in the shape

122

of canon to remove the surface water, date
from the 16th century. The unusual breadth
of the walk on the north is due to the thickness
of the wall beneath.
The structure is unusually complete but has
settled badly on account of the neighbouring
mines ; despite the careful tying in and
bracing, further settlement will lead to serious
results.
HERALDIC PANEL.-A 17th century heraldic
panel is built into one of the exterior walls of
the farmhouse adjoining the castle ; it is
executed in high relief and, being deeply under-
cut, is consequently badly weathered. At top
there is a label incomplete, bearing an illegible
motto, below which is the crest, apparently a
demi-lion rampant, on a helm and mantling of
ornate character that surmounts a shield
parted per pale ; dexter, a lion rampant,
sinister, on a bend a star between two crescents
(Scott of Buccleuch). The shield rests on the
upper portion of an incomplete cartouche, on
which is wrought a grotesque human head set
between two scrolls.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-The tower was probably
erected in the 15th century, when Sir Gilbert
Johnstone, son of Sir Adam of Johnstone,
came into possession of the property by
marriage with Agnes Elphinstone, the heiress.1
Andrew Johnstone of Elphinstone is on record
in 1551.2 The line ended with Sir James,
third baron Elphinstone, who was alive in
1673, but had to part with the estates and
whose fate is unknown.3

1 Fraser's Annandale Family Book &c. i.,
p. xvi. ; 2 Johnstone MSS. p. 21 ; 3 Heraldry
of the Johnstones, G. Harvey Johnstone, pp.
30-32.

ix. S.W. (Edin.: iv. a S.W.) 30 August 1915.

193. Falside Castle.-On the summit of the
fertile upland which runs at an altitude of
four to five hundred feet above sea-level from
the Moorfoots northward to the sea at Preston-
pans about 2 miles south-west of Tranent, is
the ruin of Falside Castle represented by
Patten4 as " a sory castell " and " a little
castel or pile," a summary description in no
way warranted by the present remains, which
are those of a 15th century tower, to which,
in the 16th century, and apparently prior to the