General Notes

Note: CRICHTON CASTLE
(http://www.callycastles.plus.com/castles/lothian/crichton.htm):
"Crichton Castle Situated about 2 miles south of Pathhead, Midlothian.
(NT380612) Crichton Castle consists of four ranges around a central
courtyard, it is a good example of a tower house having been extended and
developed to become a courtyard castle.  Its relatively un-strategic
position meant that it rarely became embroiled in national affairs,
unlike its lairds.  The castle is entered through an arched doorway in
the east wall, it leads along a vaulated passage into the central
courtyard.  This entrace was formed in 1588 replacing the previous
entrance in the sourth wall.  It is defended by turret equipped with
downward pointing gun holes.  The oldest part of the castle is the 14th
century tower house which now occupies the east side of the courtyard. 
It is now entered by a later door from the courtyard but the original
entrance was on the north wall, where there were two doorways, one above
the other, both blocked by later work.  The lower of the two lead into
the ground floor basement, a high vaulted chamber oonce split by an
entresol floor.  A narrow straight stair in the north wall led to the
upper level, a small doorway at the head of the stair gave access to the
pit prison.  There was no internal stair linking the basement with the
hall above but there may have been a hatch in the hall floor for hauling
up supplies. The hall was entered through the upper doorway in the north
wall, reached by a movable timer stair.  This is also vaulted and had a
large moulded fireplace in the east wall...The first major improvement
came in the 1440's, the work of Sir William Crichton, Chancellor of
Scotland.  His south and west ranges completed the courtyard and were
designed to provide much more spacious accommodation than the tower
could, more befitting for a man of Sir William's wealth and
position...When Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, took possession of
Crichton in 1581 he immediately set about transforming Chancellor
Crichton's medieval castle into a comfortable renaissance residence...The
initials of Francis Stewart along with those of his wife, Margaret
Doughlas, and an anchor representing the Earl's position as Lord High
Admiral of Scotland, are carved into the stonework of the seven bay
arcade, the first of its kind in Scotland...Earl Bothwell's other
improvements included the current entrance and its defences.  The tower
house was abandoned and partly dismantled to make it safe.  The west
range was heightened and provided with a timber balcony.  The former
great hall in the south range was subdivided...A short distance to the
north of the castle lies Crichton Collegiate Church, built by Lord
Chancellor William Crichton.  In the 13th century the barony of Crichton
belonged to the family who took their name from the estate,  In the late
14th century John de Crichton received a charter of barony from King
Robert III, and it is thought that he may have been responsible for
building the original tower house.  John's son, William, was a trusted
courtier of James I and managed to acquire power and wealth through
several important positions.  At the time of James I's death in 1437 he
was Sheriff of Edinburgh, Keeper of Edinburgh Castle, and Master of the
King's Household, two years later he was made Chancellor of Scotland, a
position he was to use to great effect against his arch rivals, the Black
Douglases..."