Old Thirlestane Oastle and Convent of Thirlestane. 

 By Mr Francis Lynn, F.S.A. (Scot.) 



(Plates XXIII. and XXIV.) 



Old Thirlestane Castle, which the Club visited on 27th 

 August 1902, is not an extensive building. The main part 

 has been a tower, 33 feet by 24 feet outside the walls. An 

 extension to the westward projects 11 feet 6 inches, and 

 measures across 14 feet 5 inches. This has been built to 

 contain the stair, and is roughly circular inside, and the 

 supports for the ends of the steps are built in, and still 

 project from, the wall. What strikes one is that the pro- 

 portions of the stair are great, and out of all proportion 

 with the size of the building as a whole. 



The lower part of the main building has been arched 

 over, forming a vault. The springers of the arch remain 

 on the south-west side, and the position of these indicates 

 that there is several feet of rubbish above the original floor 

 in the interior. 



The semi-circular recess in the wall, in the north-west 

 corner, has the appearance of an oven, and there are 

 indications of the smoke flue in the wall above. 



The door has been originally in the north-west wall of 

 the staircase, but the jambs and lintel and one-half of the 

 safe arch over the lintel have been removed at a remote 

 period, and the doorway built up. 



Besides the narrow window opening in the staircase (shown 

 on the plan) there is another over the door. All these 

 remaining windows are deeply recessed into the wall, and 

 would not be very serviceable as shot-holes for defence. 

 There are no shot-holes visible above the present surface, 

 such as are common in Scotch towers. 



