HALLFOREST 157 SECOND PERIOD HALLFOREST, ABERDEENSHIRE. This is one of the very few examples of fourteenth-century keeps now remaining in the north. It is said to have been built by Bruce as a hunting-seat, and bestowed by him on Sir Robert de Keith, the Great Marischal ; and it is still the property of the Earl of Kintore, one of his descendants. In 1639 it was the residence of the Earl Marischal, and was frequently attacked in the wars of the period. The castle is situated on level ground about Ij mile from Kintore, and was no doubt formerly surrounded with a wall and fosse. It is a plain oblong on plan (Fig. 124), 48 feet long by 30 feet wide. The walls are 7 feet thick. There are two vaults, one at about half the height of the tower, forming the floor of the hall, and the other at the top, supporting the floor under the roof. Each of these vaulted compartments would probably be divided into two stories in the height, with wooden floors. The principal ,, , , , , f . , ,. FIG. 124. Plan of Ground Floor. entrance would be at the level of the hall floor at the south-east angle, where the aperture is still visible (Fig. 125), and where the remains of the circular well for the staircase to the battle- ments are traceable. The loops of the basement are as usual very small. There was pro- bably a door to the basement, for the admission of cattle, below that to the hall, where the long fissure in the wall is seen. The windows on the upper floors have been larger. There was originally, no doubt, a parapet similar to that at Drum, and probably a stone roof upon an upper arch, but these are now demolished, and are quite inaccessible. THREAVE CASTLE, KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE. This lofty grey stronghold of the Douglases is of great interest, both from its connection with many important events in Scottish history, and also as a good specimen of the habitation of a powerful baron of the period, and of the style of architecture and defence then in use. It is situated on an island in the river Dee, about two miles from Castle Douglas, in Kirkcudbrightshire. The castle is reached (Figs. 126, 126,) by wading a ford on the eastern branch of the river about 20 yards wide at the lower or southern extremity of the island, and at a distance of about 200
