CROOKSTON CASTLE 537 THIRD PERIOD to leave ample room for the portcullis (see Section), and the latter was probably worked from the window of the hall above. There has evidently been some alteration of the floor in this window. It must have originally been about 3 feet higher, so as to suit the side seats, which are now 4 feet 6 inches above the floor. There may have been steps up to it, such as there still are to the windows in the basement. A little west from the entrance door there are three long holes (Fig. 459), one over the other, from the outside running through the wall, as if for sliding beams. These were probably in connection with some other defence of the entrance doorway now obliterated. FIG. 459. Crookston Castle. View from the South-West. A straight stair in the thickness of the wall leads from the entrance door to the hall, and under this stair, in a well-finished chamber enter- ing from the basement, is the well. The old wooden windlass is still to be seen lying at the bottom of the well.
