The Environs of Craigmillar. igi 



are somewhat similar to those of Lochleven Castle, 

 associated with memories of Queen Mary. Liberton 

 Tower is divided into two by a semicircular vault in 

 the centre, above which is the hall. The ground-floor 

 is very low in the roof, and has probably been used for 

 sheltering cattle. It has now a separate outer door, 

 but formerly had no communication except through 

 the upper rooms by a hatch in the floor above. The 

 upper portion is also vaulted with a pointed barrel 

 vault, which carries the stone roof and battlements. 

 Those who have visited the Tower will have noticed 

 that there have been intermediate floors, the oak 

 beams resting on corbels. The principal entrance to 

 the Tower is on the level of the hall, on the east side 

 of the building, fifteen feet from the ground, and must 

 have been reached by a ladder. There is no properly 

 formed stair to the parapet, which would no doubt 

 be reached by a wooden stair inside, leading to the 

 top door in the east gable. The inmates seem to have 

 depended entirely on its strength for security, the 

 parapet being carried up flush with the walls, and 

 having no corbelling or machicolations through which 



