The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century . or town halls and prisons of Elgin andForres were fortified, and their massive and picturesque towers are stillpreserved. Such is, unfortunately, no longer the case ; but the appearance of thatof Elgin has been saved (as above shown) by the pencil of Mr. Rhind,and that of Forres is preserved in a sketch by J. C. Nattes, pf which theannexed figure (Fig. 1222) is a reproduction.! This presents a more hand-some appearance than the massive tolbooth of Elgin, having evidentlybeen restored and heighte
The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century . or town halls and prisons of Elgin andForres were fortified, and their massive and picturesque towers are stillpreserved. Such is, unfortunately, no longer the case ; but the appearance of thatof Elgin has been saved (as above shown) by the pencil of Mr. Rhind,and that of Forres is preserved in a sketch by J. C. Nattes, pf which theannexed figure (Fig. 1222) is a reproduction.! This presents a more hand-some appearance than the massive tolbooth of Elgin, having evidentlybeen restored and heightened with a belfry at a somewhat late date. Thelower portion has quite the character of a keep tower, and the wholeedifice well justifies Mr. Parkers title of massive and picturesque. Itis very probable that the belfry which crowned the top was substitutedfor a stone roof, such as we find still in situ at Tain. * See Gardyne Castle, Vol. ii. p. 497 ; Monimail Castle, Vol. iii. p. 448,t From Mr. Douglass Collection of unpublished Sketches by J. C. Nattes. FOURTH PKKIOD — 102 DINGWALL TOWN HALL. Fio. 1222.—Tolbooth of Forres. (Copied from a Drawing by J. C. Nattcs DINGWALL TOWN HALL, Ross-shire. This massive example of a tolbooth of the seventeenth century(Fig. 1223) stands on the north side of the main street of this ancienttown, and is still used as the municipal court-house. It has been erectedat a time when solidity of structure was still considered necessary, butwhen the council chamber and the court-house had become of moreimportance than the tower of defence. The principal entrance is in thecentre, the door, which is on the first floor, being approached by a fliglitof steps. This gives access to a lobby, from which the burgh court-houseopens on the right and the council chamber on the left. Opposite thedoor is a small wheel-stair leading to the rooms in the tower, which aresaid to have been used as debtors prisons. The ground floor is vaulted, and contains cellars with
Size: 1467px × 1702px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectarchitectur, booksubjectarchitecture
