HOSPITALLERS OF ST. JOHN 513 THIRD PERIOD the construction of which is explained by the measured drawings (Fig. 440). At the south end of the courtyard stood the old tower, which formed a prominent object in the view of Linlithgow from the railway (Fig. 441). It possessed some unique features in its projecting windows (Fig. 439) and internal arrangements. It was five stories in height, the ground floor, the first floor, and the third floor being vaulted (Fig. 442). The ground floor had a wide archway next the court, so as to form an open vaulted shed, probably for vehicles, with a door at the south end, the top of which is seen in the view (Fig. 441). The first floor was entered FIG. 441. -View from the South-East. by an outside staircase from the courtyard. From this floor a newel stair in the south-west angle led to the upper floors. There was a hatch in the vault between the first floor and the second floor, as well as the wheel stair. Hatches are common in the vaults over ground floors, and their purpose is easily understood when they are in that position. To have so placed a hatch here would have exposed the buildings to invasion ; for, as already explained, the ground floor is not enclosed. There was little difficulty in lifting heavy goods up the straight stair from the courtyard to the first floor, therefore the hatch was here introduced, 2 K
