146 EEPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1904 



building, which is believed to have been enlarged by the 

 first Earl of Traquair, who from being a mendicant in the 

 High Street of Edinburgh rose to be High Treasurer of 

 Scotland under Charles I. To the third period may be 

 attributed the wings on both sides of the square, and the 

 aforesaid gateway and railing in front. The entrance 

 door-way, with its bold architrave and iron-studded door 

 pierced by two small windows, bears a knocker, coveted 

 by Sir Walter Scott, and dated 1705, and a latch, which 

 are good specimens of the quaint iron-work of the time. 

 On the right of the main door is built a strong-room, 

 fitted for the reception of prisoners, to whom food could 

 be served through an aperture in the roof, in which a 

 number of historical charters were at one time stored, but 

 being exposed to the action of damp were reduced to pulp 

 between sixty and seventy years ago. From this chamber 

 runs along the whole length of the oldest part of the 

 building an arched passage, leading to vaulted cellars, 

 probably employed for the storing of cattle and other 

 necessaries, and terminating at the secret staircase. On 

 the same floor is situated the present kitchen, in which 

 during operations in connection with the building in of 

 a modern range two skeletons were exposed. For other 

 architectural features and an excellent plan of the house 

 we refer to MacGibbon and Ross' " Castellated and domestic 

 architecture of Scotland," from which we have gleaned 

 valuable information.* 



In the report of a former visit in 1881, notice is taken of 



many of the objects of interest in the possess- 

 Historic ion of the ancient family of Traquair, to one 



Relics. of whose scions, "James Stuart, Earl of 



Buchan, maternal uncle to James III.," the 

 estate was bequeathed by a charter from the Crown, dated 

 3rd Feby. 1478 ; but in view of their unique interest, 

 it may be well to enumerate a few of them. A chamber 

 on the second floor of the oldest part of the building retains 

 on its South-east wall considerable remains of painted 

 decoration, the subjects of which are scenes of Eastern life, 



*Vol. II., p. 441, Fig. 876, 



