CARDONESS CASTLE, GATEHOUSE OF FLEET, DUMFRIESSHIRE, SCOTLAND.
CARDONESS CASTLE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF A 15TH CENTURY SCOTTISH TOWER-HOUSE CASTLE. IT WAS BUILT PRIMARILY AS A FAMILY RESIDENCE FOR A WELL-TO-DO GALLOWAY FAMILY WITH ASPIRATIONS. CARDONESS CASTLE WAS ALSO BUILT WITH DEFENCE CLEARLY IN MIND. THE TOWER’S WALLS ARE 2.5M THICK, AND THE WINDOW OPENINGS ARE MOSTLY SMALL. THE GROUND FLOOR WALLS ARE PIERCED BY GUNHOLES THAT LOOK LIKE INVERTED KEYHOLES. THIS FORM OF DEFENCE, FOR USE WITH NEW-FANGLED HAND-GUNS, WAS INTRODUCED TO THREAVE IN THE LATE 1440S.
THE DOUR SIMPLICITY OF THE TOWER’S EXTERIOR BELIES ITS WELL-PLANNED INTERIOR AND QUALITY FIXTURES. THE BOTTOM TWO FLOORS HOUSED STORAGE, AS WAS USUAL; THIS INCLUDED A GRIM TWO-STOREY PIT-PRISON. THE UPPER FLOORS WERE DEVOTED TO THE FAMILY’S USE. THE THIRD FLOOR COMPRISED A LARGE DINING HALL, WITH REMARKABLY FINE FEATURES SURVIVING, INCLUDING A SPLENDID FIREPLACE AND AUMBRY (WALL CUPBOARD), WHERE THE FAMILY’S BEST TABLEWARE WAS DISPLAYED. THE FOURTH FLOOR WAS ALSO ORIGINALLY ONE LARGE ROOM (THE GREAT CHAMBER), POSSIBLY HOUSING THE GREAT FOUR-POSTER BED. IT WAS LATER PARTITIONED INTO TWO.
THE ENTRANCE DOORWAY HAD TWO DOORS: AN OUTER WOODEN DOOR AND AN INNER IRON YETT (A CROSS-BARRED GATE). THE TOWER HOUSE AND EXTERNAL BUILDINGS, WHICH INCLUDED A GREAT HALL WHERE THE LORD PRESIDED OVER HIS BARON’S COURT, WERE ALL ENCLOSED WITHIN A FORMIDABLE STONE PERIMETER WALL THAT TODAY HAS NOW LARGELY DISAPPEARED.

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