FIRST PERIOD 68 KINCLAVEN CASTLE the centre for a wall at right angles, while beyond this there will be seen on the plan the projecting remains of a wall, probably of a tower for defending the front entrance ; but here the recent accumulation of ruin is so great that not much can be made out. On the east side, at about 10 feet above the ground, and where indicated on the plan, there are three gaps in the wall. These have been stripped of their dressings ; and large portions of the walls outside have also been skinned for the sake of the dressed stones. There are neither loops nor shot-holes in the walls ; these were probably confined to the flanking towers. Of the interior buildings not a vestige remains, unless it be that the slight depression of 5 or 6 inches in the ground all along the south wall within the space, shown by a line on the plan, indicates where they stood, which it probably does. Such buildings in a castle of this kind were of a very simple construction, having a mere lean-to roof against the curtain. The castle is protected on the east side (Fig. 47 A) by the Tay and the steep bank, as also on the north side, although to a less extent, the Tay being farther off and the bank being more prolonged and thus not so steep. On the west side the ground is generally level for about 50 or 60 feet from the wall, beyond which the land gradually rises, while on the south (Fig. 47s) it slopes downwards gently from the walls for some 50 or 6'0 feet, and rises beyond. There was probably in this latter hollow a ditch which continued round the west side and along the north, opening out into .the r f r r T -r f r = r Fiu. 47A. Kinclaven Castle. Plan of Site. steep bank sloping to the Tay. Here and there, especially on the north side, indications of the ditch are visible, and Blind Harry refers to a drawbridge, as we shall see. From the south-west corner a diagonal mound or wall (earth and stones are so mixed that one cannot be positive which it was) runs outwards for about 60 feet, and at the south-east corner a similar construction runs outwards for about the same distance, but at right angles with the south curtain. Fig. 47s gives an idea of the appearance of the castle and its surroundings. This castle was a royal residence in the time of Alexander in., and is mentioned in the year 1264 (see Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. i.), when payments are made for the carriage of wine to Kinclaven and for the repairing of a boat.
