6 28 PKOCEED1NG SOCIETYE TH F O S , APRI , 188823 L .

V.

ADDITIONAL NOTICES OF YETTS, OR GRATED IRON DOORS, OF SCOTTISH D TOWERSAN S Y DAVIB . D CHRISTISON, M.D., F.S.A. SOOT. In a paper published in the Proceedings of the Society for 1883, I described, perhap minutelyo sto , twenty-four iron-grated door "r s o yett s " peculiar to ancient Scottish , and I should not have reverted to subjecte th ,t thawerno t t ei twenty-tw o additional examples have since become known to me, some of them differing considerably from those previously described e numbeTh . f knowo r n yetts, thereforew no s i , raised to forty-six, without reckoning three iron of exceptional con- struction ; and although it is quite possible that others may still remain n obscurityi e timth , e seems appropriate enoug r summinhfo r ou p gu whole knowledge on the subject. In the present paper I shall give, first, a general description of the yetts; secondly n alphabeticaa , l f listhemo t , with dimensiond an s certain other details j thirdly, brief notice f suco s s eithea h r havt no e been already describe r requiro d e additional remarks d fourthlyan ; , general observation thein so r histor distributiond yan .

. I GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Construction.—It iremarkablsa e fact that, with verexceptionsw yfe , e survivinth g defensive iron door f Scotlano s e constructear d e th n o d same principle, consisting essentiall alternatn a n yi e interpenetratiof o n the bars, in such a manner that the perpendiculars pierce dilated "eyes" in the horizontals in two diagonally opposite quarters, while it is the reverse in the two other quarters. The result is a firmly compacted e withdrawb , fron ca m r whicnba singlyo hn t firsA t. sighe th t mod whicn ei h suc t togethe pu ha gat s i e r seems somewhat puzzling; t whe bu e barth n s with their eyes have been forged s i merel t i , y requisite (see diagram. Proceedings, 1883, p. 119) to run the lower horizontals throug e perpendicular e eyeth hth f e so th e sided on an , f o s upper horizontals through the eyes of the perpendiculars of the other ON THE GKATED IRON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 287

side, thus forming as it were two half gates, which are then easily run into each other. e designTh e workear s t wit ou o dattention h o regularityt n d an , apparently very muc y rul b hf thumb o ee bare rarelTh ar s . y equi- distan t n som;i e cases then acrosyru s somewhat obliquely n otheri , s the themselvee yar t straight sno mose Th t . remarkable instance th f eo first irregularit e yet t th Castla t n i es yi Menzies, wher e distanceth e s betwee r Eobere barsSi n th furnishes y a ,b t e Menziesm o dt , are—along 4Jthp eto , 81 , 5,8 £ 8f , inches7 , dowd sidee an ; nth , 4 , , \99.>8| ,9 ,, 9J, 5-J, 5j inches. Of the second and third irregularities, examples will be found in the drawing of Drumlanrig yett (Proceedings, 1883, p. 112). Form Dimensions.—d an The majorit rectangulae yar considerabla r; e number, however round-headede ar , .e double-leavedar Onl o ytw , both round-headed. Only three hav havr wicketseo d edimensionha e Th . f so the smallest yett (Dingwall) are 4 feet 3 \ inches by 3 feet 4 inches ; of the largest single-leaved one (Drumlanrig), 9 feet 1 inch by 6 feet \\ inch; largese oth f t double-leave (Doune)e don , aboue feet 8 Th fee 0 y 1 t. b t number of the bars is not always in proportion to the size of the yetts. Thu Dunrobie sth n yet e tDunbeat3 inches measure5 th d y b an , 7 h8 s one 66 by 43 inches, yet they have the same number of horizontal bars, ansmallee dth more ron eyets perpendiculaha t r tha largee rba nth r one. Hence it follows that the spaces between the bars vary considerably in different yetts. At Dunbeath they are only 5 inches square, at Com- longan abou inche8 t s square. thicknese Th e bar s suffereth sha f so d much reduction froe rusmth t of centuries in most, if not in all, cases. The most massive bars, measured by me, are in the probably very old yett at Comlongan. Some of them are If inch square, expanding to 2| by If at the eyes. The thinnest are perhaps at Closeburn, 1-J by f. The frame bars are generally somewhat thicker tha containee nth d bars. Hinges.—Ordinarily hinges thertwo .eare Abou yetts thira tthe d,of however, have three ; heaviese somth f eo t yetts having only two, while some of the lightest have three. The hinge-knuckle is either a complete e greatecirclth r o e r par f oneo d revolvet an , a cylindrica n so l crook,

ON THE GRATED IRON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 289

deeply sunk in the wall. In fig. 1 I have represented several varieties of hinges, drawn roughly to scale ; (a) is a side view and section of an ordinary hinge, partly recesse e wallth t Fyvin a ,di e Castle a sid ) e(b ; e doorwavieth f wo t Braikieya , showing successively fro e rightmth , e exterioth r moulding e rebat th d ,recesse an e de woode hingth r fo en rebate th doord recesse d an e an , de iro hingth n r fronyetta fo e ) (c t; vie sectio d e hinge-knucklwan th f no Dumbartof eo n yett, exceptionally t righa t tse angle -tho st e face ; e incomplet(d)th e circular knucklt a e Pitreavie unique th ) (e e; hinge t Barnsa s Tower, recesse e ironth n -i d work of the yett itself; (/) the peculiar bent end of the upright frame bar in the massive yett at Dundas, so fashioned as to pivot on the floor, directly unde singlrthe e hinge neatopthe r ; (g)a straigh t floor-pivot at Drum, formed by a prolongation of the frame bar, which higher up is itself encircled by two hinges, but this is a modern arrangement. At Smailholm (fig. 11) ther s alsi e floor-pivota o d botan ;h n i ther d an e iron-lathen a d doo t Dunbeata r h (fig. 13), hinge f altogetheo s r excep- tional form occur. Eeturning to fig. 1, the peculiar hinges (1) of the iron woodee th f o yett nt d Kinnaird a doo an ,) (2 r showe enlargen a ar , n no d formee th scal horizontae n t I th (Ji):rea crooe l limth s squaredkf i b o , and is protected from friction by a thick collar; the upright limb is shorter than the knuckle, and has a flange round the greater part of woodee hinge th tope Th th f e.o e horizonta n th doo s ha r e l th lim f o b crook squared furnishes i d an , d wit hthia n collar. Bolts Fastenings.—d an The great majorit f yetto ye fastenear s y db boltprincipla n so e commonl r fielyfo duse w gatesbole dno Th t .slide s throug couplha ringf eo s barone th . s int fixes i walle ohold a th d an ,n e i hasa y pb closing ove staplea r , place perpendicue th f do usualle on -n yo r bars varietla A . f thesyo e bolts, drawe samth eo nt scale showe ar , n ni t d DundaCratheA an fig ) . 2 (6 .s simple (d)ar e forms whicn i , e hth bolt is cylindrical throughout. In (e) (Dingwall) the bolt is thickened (Fyvi) (e Edinburgd d an e roughlan ) e middle(a th hn n yi I Castle. ) the middle portion is thickened and squared. This enlargement checks bole th t from movin faro ga purposto , e whic s effectei h d otherwisn i e some cylindrical bolts, as at Crathes (b), by a projecting pin on one side, t a e othere sidd colla th d on ean n an o ,n r o n pi t Dingwal a a y b ) (e l VOL. XXII. . ... T

E GEATETH N O D I.RON DOCK SCOTTISf SO H CASTLES1 29 .

Fordel a colla y n eacb lo r h e haspside e usuallTh ar s. y simpld an e straight, as at Fyvie (a) and Dingwall (e) • or more elegantly formed wit h a curvet Edinburga s a , h Castle (c). Som e providear e d wita h lifting ring (a, b, c, e). Exceptional forms of hasps occur at Inver- quharity, Craig (figs Crathe, 7)d 6 ., an wher, s b) (fig , 2 e. the zigzage yar , and Dundas (d), where they are shaped like the letter b. In this drawin e much-worth g n has s beepha n restore o somethint d g liks it e original form. The bolts at Fyvie are remarkably massive, two being e thir th inche 5 d 2 an s 9 long2 . Eac differenthef a h o s mha t maker's formarke largese superiod th m Th an f showe o . ar te r t (a)on nsiza f e,o from drawings furnishe Reve r Milneth M .y db . An exceptional bolt occurs at Fingask (fig. 2, /). It is massive and rectangular, 25 inches long, 1J by 1£ inch in cross section, and to the end of it is hooked a flat iron bar 41 inches long, with a double bend. e originaTh l doorwa s destroyedi y s bole probablth wa t t bu , y fixen i d som shows e reducer ea th sucba y n ne bendi e h wa th d th n , plasi / t na purpose beinth r ge fastenef enablinfo eb o a staplo t o t t dgi e behind walle e th wholth , e arrangement thus formin d boln an i a trigig r ba d one. Remaining rings show that this yett had also two ordinary bolts, now lost. Whether the square bolt was contemporary with these, or succeeded them , ascertainede cannob w no t . Of forty yetts, which either retain bolts of the ordinary type, or show, presence th y b ringsf eo , that they onc themd eha , eleve oned nha , twenty- eigh twod Fyvid ha tan , e alon threed eha . thren I e yetts thertraco n boltf s eo i s having been used t BarnA . s (g) a massive chain, closed on a staple behind the doorway, was apparently the only fastening. At Doune an iron bar, stretched behind the yett, appears o havt e been deemed sufficient t Balvenya d an e ;two-leave th , d yets i t close peculiaa y db r bifurcated iron bar, hingeyete th t n itseldo f fig. (3). presumee b o t s i dt I thae boltth t s were fastened with padlockst a , leas morn i t e recent times connection I . n wit e Scottishth h iron gates, three padlocks remain. They are of iron, and are all of the same general form. At p. 116, Proceedings, 1883, I have given a drawing and descrip- tion of the somewhat ornate padlock of the Crown Room yett, I reproduc. t heri e e comparisor (figh), fo 2 . n witothee th h r

E GEATEOTH N D IRON BOOK F SCOTTISO S H CASTLES3 29 . f theseo e t Craigievatwoa , On . r , froi (fig , ma 2 drawin. Captaiy gb n Forbes, R.N.), differs fro e Edinburgmth n havini e on hg y littlan f i e ornament hayinn i d an g,slidina g instea hingea f do d ban coveo dt e th r keyhole e thirdTh t Duntreat.a , h (fig , 7c),s 2 quiti . e plain. Position e Tett, d Combinationth f an o with other Defences.—The yett usually stands in the entrance, near the outside, but behind a wooden door 7 inches, r froo m6 , whico t s separatei 3 t r hi o spaca 2 y df b eo the hinges of both doors being protected by rybats, and the defence strengthene r moro e e on bar y db s stretched across, usually behine th d yett only ; but at Tordell and Barns behind the wooden door only. In onlinstance—ae yon t Isle Dumfriesshire—arn i , e bar-holes found behind bot woodee hth irod nan n doors (Proceedings, 1883e th . 107)p ,s A . defensive arrangements here are more complete than elsewhere, I have reproduced (in fig. 4, Jc) a plan and elevations, showing the bar-holes behind the wooden door, and the slots for two bars behind the yett. Besides the examples at Isle, slots in the walls for a bar occur also at Gordon (Proceedings, 1883, p. 114). In this instance, the bar revolved upo npivoa yete centre t fixeth th t f n eo itselfo d n almosI . l caseal t s the bars have been too far separated from the yetts to give them direct support. Sometine inche7 r o s s6 the behine yar yette t th deve bu ; n in these cases, if the yett were forced, the bar would prevent the yett opening sufficientl o pass t n exceptiona I n o allo.t y ma wa l instances there are no holes for bars, and in others the wooden and iron doors are several feet botn aparti t h bu ,case e doorwaysth s have probably under- gone modern alterations. diametee e Th bar-holeth f o r s usualli s o havgreao t ys s ea t given rise to the general belief that the bars were of wood; but however this e onlth ma y, ybe existin g bars—at Doune, Menzies d Tilquhilliean , — ar f ironeo , althoug tunnelse hth , int formeoo whictw t lease a r hth t run, vere ar y much wider than seem t Castla s r necessaryba e e MenzieTh . s is describe . 138p t a d, Proceedings, 1883. Thos t Dounea Tild an e- quhillie are described in the notices of the yetts to which they belong. At Comlongan (Proceedings, p. 110), and there only, a couple of iron links or bracelets hang from a horizontal bar of the yett; and as they are opposit passe s bar-holese ewa th r d doubo througba n e ,e therb th t n h eca

ON THE GEATED IRON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 295

them, thus binding yetbad ran t together e object Th f no thi.o ts i s very apparent o prevent , s unlese yetwa th t t tsi from being liftef of d its hinges—an object which, however, was generally served by the top of the yett being masonre closth o et y abov. eit well-defendee th n I d yet t Inverquharita t y , ther(figs 7) staplee , ear 6 . s on opposite sides of the doorway, half-way between the holes for two additionan a r fo barsf i s la ,bar r possiblo , chainya .

. II ALPHABETICAL LIS SCOTTISF TO H YBTTS, With Dimensions otherand Details, Authoritiesand them.for

Dimen- Number i 3 I sions. of Bars. a •a B ta r HoleBa r sfo *o o Authorities. -w w s

Dimen- Number sions. of Bars. Holes for Bar s behind Yett. Authorities. "3i tj) 1 B, o K D Numbe r o f Bolts . Breadth . Numbe r o f Hinges . Young. M r M ( , Paisley, 2 Dumbarton, 67 38 4 8 2 12 yett removed < and Mrs Tumbull, ( Clune House. Dunbeath, . 66 43 6 9 2 23 yett removed Rev Joassr D . . ( John Christison, W.S., Dandas, .... 14 2 87 55 6 10 for one Christisonr D d an ( . Dunlop, .... 71 46 5 9 3 22 yett removed Dunrobin, 87 53 5 9 2 22 doorway altered Rev Joassr D . . Duntreath, . 76 54 of solid number "j iron of hinges V ( Mr A. R. Duncan yetts remove Christisonr D d d an ( . Do. ... 68 42 do. and bolts?) Edinburgh (Castle), 75 40 4 8 2 1 none r ChristisonD . Do. (Haddo's Hole), 63 36 3 7 2 yett removed r ChristisonD - . ( Rev r JoasD .d an s Eilean Dtmain, . 5 9 2 22 71 45 yett remove d. MaeleanR r M ( . j Rev. J.R.Macpherson Ftngask, .... 4 33 71 39 8 2 doorway altere r ChristisonD dd an ( . Fordell, .... 5 1 behinJ d wooden ( Mr J. Turnbull, W.S., 72 50 9 2 1 door \ and Mr Beveridge. Torres, .... 3 1 j Messrs Ros Mac& s - 63 31 8 2 yett removed ( beth, Inverness. Fyvie, .... 108 65 7 12 3 3 doorway altered Bev. Dr Milne. Glamis, .... 80 06 6 9 2 2 doorway altered Rev.J.Stevenson.LL.D. Gordon, .... 74 50 5 8 2 23 slots for one John Christison, W.S. Invermark, . 72 40 4 8 2 1 for one M. GordoG r n Milne. Inverquhailty, . . 84 52 5 9 3 2 for two Mr G. Gordon Milne. Isle, ..... 3 1 ( Mr Gillon Fergusson 66 39 6 2 slots for tw oChristisonr D d an I . ( Rev. J.R.Macpherson Kinnaird(Perthshire), 7 U 2 23 85 S7 none 1 and Dr Christison. ("Mr David Jeffrey Lennoxlove, . 78 55 6 9 2 2 none Revd an .

1 Original dimensions and number of bars estimated, one or more bars being lost. bole tOn 2 lost. bolto 3Tw s lost. floore pivoa th d n .o t An •* ON THE GRATED IKON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 297

III. NOTICES OF YBTTS -NOT PBBVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. followine th n I g notice yette th e arranges sar geographican i d l order, generaa n froi y soute mth wa easld han t northward westwardsd san . Closeburn, Dumfriesshire.— informem a Browr I M y f Closeburndb o n Castle, that the yett is in the old entrance to the , now enclosed by modern additions, but originally giving directly on the outside, at a height of 9 feet from the ground. The yett, which has lost the lower frame-bar, is placed close behind an ancient wooden door, with old iron fittings, which when shut is flush with the outside wall. Castlecary, Stirlingshire.—In this well-preserve stild an dl inhabited little kee e yet p th places e i entranct th t a dmora f o ee recent addition, having the date 1679 over the door; but it is quite possible that it pre- viously guarded the original entrance to the keep, now built up. The yetloss s loweha it tt r frame-ba single th d e an rbolt . Therrooo n ms i e doorwaye th n i , whic s honli y abou a foot t e ordinarthickth r fo , y bar- holes moderA . n wooden door, fitted wit e ancienhth t hingefina ed san old knocker of iron, is placed as close in front of the yett as the hinges will allow. Lennoxlove, East Lothian.— formey Inm r paper this merelyets wa t y mentioned. I have now to add, on the authority of the Kev. Mr Nimmo Smith of Haddington, and Mr Jeffrey, the present occupant of the castle, d entranceol e th , than i e behinyet rybatso th s ti te oute tw th df o ,r thereford ha d an e apparently been in e woode frontth f o n door (which no longer exists)—a very unusual arrangement, if indeed it ever was an original one. Dumbarton, Dumbartonshire.—The Paisley Museum contain sa yett , of which the following history has been furnished partly by the keeper, Mr Morris Young, and partly by Mrs Turnbull, Clune House, Port- Glasgow. The yett was bought, about 1870, from " Johnnie a' things " of Dumbarton, by Mr Lang of Port-Glasgow, from whom it passed to the latr JoheM n M'Murtri same th f eeo place s Turnbull, unclMr e f eo Th . Port-Glasgow band s know, whewa beins t nni wa thag t i tbrough o t t the town, turned out and played marching before it. Finally, it was pre- sentePaislee th o dt y Museu r M'MurtrieM y mpostere b Th . n whert ei 8 29 PKOCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , APRI , 188823 L .

stood is still pointed out to visitors at the castle. While regretting that the interesting relic should have been removed from its natural site, we must feel some gratification that in these utilitarian times it was received wit muco hs h honou Port-G-lasgown i r s probabl thad ha t an ,i t y founa d more secure resting-plac a publi n i e c museu ms allowe thawa t n i i d its original home, albeit one of Her Majesty's castles. A photograph, kindly sent by Mr Young, shows that the yett is much corroded, having loslowee th t r frame-bar a boltse hinge e remainind th , Th an , . g hinge (fig. 1, c) is quite exceptionally set at right angles to the face of the yett. Pitreavie, Fifeshire.—A good drawin d descriptioan g f thino s yett will be found in vol. ii. p. 539, of Messrs MacGibbon and Boss's work on Scottish Castles. The proprietor, Mr Beveridge, F.S.A. Scot., in- n additio'ni form , me s , thae hingeth t recessee ar s d about 1J incn i h the wall; that the hinge crooks are 3 inches in diameter; and that the yett is set behind a modern wooden door, which he believes replaced an ancient studded one of oak. Doune, Perthshire.—The arrangement e defenc entrance th r th f sfo o e e to this important welo castls e l preserveear d tha I tshal l describe them somn i e detai e plan hely th figlb n , founde f spo 4 o . d partl thosn yo n ei Messrs MacGibbo Boss'd nan s worke entranc e Th castley b th . s o i t e an arched passag r "pend,o e " abou 0 fee5 t t long 8 fee, t wide 1d 2an , feet high, passing under the hall, and opening on the courtyard. The passage slopes inwards and upwards at a rise of 1 foot in 8, and is un- paved. The entrance to this pend is shown in plan and section (fig. 4, a, 6, c). For the first 4 feet on entering, there are no signs of defences or obstacle e side-wallsth n enemn a so d yan , standin e archwath n i g y woul quite db e sheltered from e walmissileflankd th an lf o - p s to fro e mth ing tower. At 4 feet from the entrance on the right side (fig. 4, c) is a rectangular opening 7 inches by 5, now built up, the use of which is doubt- ful; close behind it is a smaller round hole opposite to an oval opening, noleft-hane th w n buili , d up t wall (6). Probabl chaiya stretche s nwa d acros inchew s fe here sA back. e —whicth , longeo hn r exists —stood, when lowere de window-sil th froe sli n e mth i hallt th .f o l This inche8 sli s i t s fee6 e entrancwid th d t es 2 an across a s i ed an ; E GRATETH N DO IRON DOOR SCOTTISF SO H CASTLES9 29 .

feet wider e portcullith , s when lowered must have lefopen a t n spacf eo foo a eacn o t h side, which seems remarkable, particularl e rybath s ta y in rear, which projects 6 inches, is rendered less effective in barring the entranc beiny eb g bevelled outwards. Three inches behind the rybat hangs the double-leaved iron yett,1 of which I give a sketch (fig. 5), showing also the architecture of this part leae s entireli fon f pende e loweo oth f yTh r wickea .goneba r s i s a t, which partially filled a vacant space, 4 feet 6 inches by 3 feet, in the other. A large hole in the horizontal bar above shows where the wicket turned on a prolongation of its own side-bar, and three small holes in the yett-side-bar below indicat positioe e th wicket e hinga th f nr o efo . There trac o bola n f r fastenins eo o ti eithen go r leaf. Close behin rybae dth t e lefoth ne t squar th sid s i ee mouth inche0 a 1 ,f 1o y 2, b s V) (fig , 4 . tunnel 11 feet long, show plan ni n (a), openin e othe intd th t en ora g the doorway of the round tower. From end to end of this tunnel, and occupying the greater part of its width, lies an oaken beam, the end of which and of the iron bar at the mouth of the tunnel, are shown at (e). But the beam is here much worn, and Mr D unbar, the warder, has ascertained from inspectio e deepeth f no r parts tha iroe r worketh tn ba d lateraa n i l groove shows a , section ni lengtbeae e th th n m s f (/)ho A . s 1i 1e iro r 1feethath d 0 nba f an tfeeo t inches2 t , beside spara t broken off, while the width of the entrance is only 8 feet, it follows that the beam and bar must have been built in at the original construction of the castle, which gives them the respectable age of 460 years. The iron r (

formey m n I 1r pape I mentioner d that, fro drawina m n Billing'gi s Baronial Antiquities, I believe d thi comparativelf o se yetb o t y modern design personaa t bu , l inspectio nconstructee b prove o t e sam t th i s en o dprincipl e otheth s rea Scottish yetts.

GEATEE TH Do t IRON DOOES OF SCOTTISH CASTLES1 30 .

foo f whico t h ther shalloa s ei w e receswallth n ,i s probabl o receiveyt , when open, a small yett, now removed to Darnick Tower. pleasans i t I noto t t e that Doune Castlrecenn i s etha years been saved from further deca judiciouy b y s measures sanctione e Earth f o ly b d Moray—an actio n strikini n g contrase shamefuth o t t l neglectt no , merely of ruins, but of castles not yet gone to ruin, by their owners in Scotland generally. Kinnaird, Perthshire.—This restored and well-maintained, although uninhabited castle, has a large round-headed yett, of which the unique hinges are shown in fig. 1, h. There is a modern wooden door; but an ancient one, now at Fingask, is said to have belonged originally to the entrance of Kinnaird. One of the old window grilles from Fingask is mad servo a ea smalledoot s o t ea r r upper chamber, containing some curiosities. Fingask, Perthshire.—In this modernised castl originae th e l entrance has been destroyed e yets fortunatelth ha t t bu , y been preservedd an , hangs, amid many other curiosities, on the wall of the porch. The yett is remarkable for its unique bolt (fig. 2, /), described p. 291. Braikie, Forfarshire.—The yet thin i t s interestin t neglectegbu d ruin mucs i h decayed lowee th , r inner corner being quite gone sidA e. view doorwas oit f hinge-side th n yo gives e i repesentatio a figd n n i , I,an 1 . n opposite th n o r e sidba e bolt holee th d eo th r fsan (fig sfo , «').4 , showing tha fastenine th t stilr ba gl e exists—staplth r efo a t rarse es i case t I . t quit uses no wa eds i t objecclear e i largobliquely o s Th w f eo .tho d an , a space for it, partly in line with or even in front of the yett when shut, s alsi o obscure inchex Si yete a woode .fron n th i s i tf o t n door, with old-looking hinges. The entrance, as usual in L-shaped castles, is in the angle, and is specially defended near the ground by two deeply splayed, oblong shot holes givine on ,e othe gdirecth a d a flankinr an t g fire. The greater part of the window grilles still remain. Inverquharity, Forfarshire.—The yett here has several exceptional details. Figs. 6 and 7, from drawings taken by Mr George G. Milne, sho wthrees ha tha t ,i tinstea e usua hingesth o f tw ldo ; tha bolte th t - hasp e zigzagar s ; that close behin e yetth d t o ther tw e hole r ar e fo s bars, the one about 18 inches above the other; that half-way between

ON THE GRATED IKON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 303

them ther stapla s ei e on eithe somr fo re wallf ei sid th additionas f a ,eo l bar or chain; lastly, that the upper bolt passed through an iron plate which cover w walle lo e holth th so ,n ei e althougto bol th s i t w no h from the yett having fallen a little on its hinges. Invermarlc, Forfarshire.—This yets beeha t n slightly e archeth t a d top to fit the doorway, but the upper frame-bar is gone. A view of part r GeorgM y . Milnb eG t oi f gives ei fign ni . .7 Tilquliillie, Kineardineshire.—In this yett the uprights project below lase pointede th t ar Reve bar d r HutchisoTh .D an , . Banchoryf no d ,an Mr Downie, the tenant at Tilquhillie, are of opinion that this arrange- ment is original; but as the present lowest bar shares in the system of alternate penetration, which never happen a perfec n i s t s yetti t i , probable tha pointine th tuprighte th f go s took place e afte losth e f th sro lower frame-bar. One of the only three surviving iron bars in Scotland is preserve ds abou i here t I 2 inchet . s squar e n sectioni th e d an , tunnel in the wall is just wide enough to contain it. When stretched across, it is close behind the yett. Nothing remains to show how it fasteneds wa . Craiff, Aberdeenshire.—In my former paper a drawing of a yett here, wit a descriptioh r Jervise castleM th y f b o n,e (Proceedingse th f o Society f Antiquarieso f Scotland,o 1870 . ,324)p s i noticed, n O . making inquiries about this yett fro Reve m th r Hutchison .D , Banchory, I was surprised to find that his description did not in the least agree with Mr Jervise's drawing, which on further investigation I find to be in reality an accurate representation of the yett at Invermark. The actual Craig yett is round-headed, and is much corroded below, where the uprights project with pointed ends below the lowest bar. It is im- possible to tell now whether this construction is original, or is an adap- tation, after remova corrodea f o l d lower frame-bar,—most probable yth latter, for the reason given under " Tilquhillie." The hasp of the upper bolt has the zigzag form which occurs in a few other instances. Craigievar, Aberdeenshire.—Mrs Forbes Irvine has obtained for me from the factor on the estate a plan and description of this yett, from which it appears that it is round-headed, and is in tolerable preservation. With the single exception of the yett at Edinburgh Castle, this seems

ON THE GRATED IBON DOOE F SCOTTISO S H CASTLES5 30 . e truth ef o yette onle th syon e t ob tha t retain a padlocks vieA .w of it, fro msketca Captaiy hb n Forbes, K.N. gives i , fign ni . 2. i , Balveny, BanffsMre.— informatioe Forth n abou yete t th Balvenyta t , . BJ indebtem . r a Findla M I e o drawint df Aberlourth yo r fo gd an , o Mist (fig ) s3 . Findlay .t Dounea Wite e exceptioon hth , e th f o n e onlth thi ys i syet t s witleaveso i round-heade tw ht I . o suit d t the arched doorway measured an , fee8 s inche9 t y 7b s fee inch1 t . The usual alternate penetratio e barth sf no occur s throughou onln i t y on ee othe leafth numben ra i e ;cross-bar th f o r s simply pass behind the uprights, and are riveted to them at the intersections. In both leaves all the bars are similarly riveted to the framework, instead of passing through it. We may conjecture, therefore, that this yett has undergon ecomparativela y rude reconstruction after being half destroyed. hingeo e usuatw r eac th e sfo f lho Th typeleae ar f. Ther bolto n s e,i and there is no hole in the wall for the customary bar; but their place s suppliei e singulath y db r contrivance a bifurcate f o r turninba d n go hinges fixed on an upright bar of the yett itself, how fastened at the opposite side does not now appear. The yett is withdrawn fully 3 feet withi e entranceth n , behin o othe a drebatetw r e d furthear an t ; ou r rebates, behind each of which a hinge remains, evidently for two other doors firse secone inche2 th ,2 th te yett d fronth n dsi an f , 6o tJ inches e first fronn th i f .o t Oawdor, Nairnshire.—Of three yetts at Cawdor, a double-leaved one at the main entrance from the is modern, but the other two are ancient. One of these is in a , opening on the moat, in what oldese th mose f th to castle e t parte th s believeBu i f on o s. e b o dt interesting of the two is situated in the original doorway of the keep. This is the yett which is said to have been brought from Lochindorb Castledemolitios it n o , 1455n i n , whic entrustes hwa Jamey o t db . sII e Thanth f Cawdoreo , who, accordin e legendth o gt , carrieyete th tf dof on his own back. To the kindness of Dr Joass, I am indebted for photographs from which the woodcuts (figs. 8, 9) of this interesting yett are taken. The lower bars are much decayed, and perhaps one may have been altogether lost, as the present lowest bar is 13 inches above the ground. The inside view (fig. 8) is from the doorway of a vaulted VOL. XXII. TJ 306 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APEIL 23, 1888.

chamber opposite d showan , n particulai s e threth r e hinges e forth , m e curioue bolthaspsd th oth f an d s san , hinged bands connectine th g yett wit e wicket e th houtsid Th . e view (fig) show9 . s througe th h bars the entrance to the vaulted chamber; on the left the staircase of

Fig. Cawdor8 . , Inside. e right th n hinge a frontn n i , r on keepo e e ryba fo eth d d th , an an ;t outer door, the rybat on the' left having been removed or concealed by modern alterations. It is said that the yett has been transferred from the outer to the inner rybat, but it certainly was most unusual to place the iron yett before the wooden door. Originally the doorway gave ON THE GRATED IKON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 30.7

directly on the outside, at a considerable height above the ground. This yett is one of the very few furnished with a wicket, the opening for which measures only 38 inches by 16f inches. The wicket has three x cros•uprighsi sd an barst , frame inclusive; alternatin e usuath n lgi

Fig. 9. Cawdor, Outside. manner, except tha uprighte tth s alternat e framee wickee eveth Th n i . t turn shorn so t pivots, prolongation innen ow r s side-barit f o s , through holes in the horizontal bars of the yett, above and below; but two strong bands, looped round the revolving bar and the two adjoining perpendicu- additionas a yette t th lar ac f , so l hinges. 308 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 23, 1888.

Th e unusuaeth yets ha tl numbe thref bolto o r tw es e hingesth d an , e ordinarth f o ye ar e loctypeTh k .wickee platth f eo t see fign i .4 and the key are said to 4>e ancient. There are holes for a cross-bar in the wall behind the yett, nearly on a level with the middle hinge. Mingary, Argyllshire.—Mr J. J. Dalgleish, the proprietor of this remote castle, informs me that the yett is in an entrance of the court- yard wate e wallth t ra , portvera n yi , exposed place, abov withid an e n 20 feet 'of the sea, which probably accounts for its corroded and mutilated condition, one upright and two cross bars having entirely disappeared l tracs al welf a holt ,o s d ehingesa l an s , excep a mert e fragment of one of the latter. Mr Armstrong, factor on the estate, has forwarde accuratn da s doorwayit ee yetlattere d plath an tTh f ns o .a , shown in fig. 4, h, gets narrower outwards, has shallow holes in the walls close behin e originadth l somr situatiofo e yettef i th kin s f a ,n o d of bar; and 7 inches in rear of these, the usual deep tunnel and hole for a bar, the object of the position of which, at least a foot behind the yett, is not easy to explain. The yett, to suit its reduced dimensions, has been transferred to the narrower space intended for the wooden door, and it has been turned upside down. The main or landward entrance castle toth e courtyar yetto n s . dha Dingwall, Boss-shire.—The e bac lyinth yetw ke n no i gt th yar f o d Old JaiTownhousd an l Dingwalf eo s muci l e smalles listy th h m , n i t measuring onl feey4 t 3J inche fee3 inchess 4 perhapy ti sb t I . s also e mosth t recently constructed one, excluding those made morr fo e ornament than use quite in modern times. Dr Joass, who procured photographs of the yett for me, writes as follows :—" In 1733, the Town Counci f Inverneso l s record that s reportea , y theib d r deputatione th , borough of Dingwall has no jail. The writer in the New Statistical Account, mentions that when peace returned after 1745, a jail was erected and the streets paved. I cannot identify the door to which the yett belonged, but believe that it was built up when the outside stair was altere n 1880i d d tha ,t an i gavt e acces o whas t calles e wa t dth dungeon, useprison.a s da " This doe t quitsno e settl e questioth e f no date theras formerl, was e castlya Dingwallat e , from whic yetthe h t may have been brought, but its diminutive size certainly favours the E GEATEONTH D IRON DOOR F SCOTTISO S H CASTLES9 30 .

suppositio s nintende wa a thaprison t r i t fo d , rathee r th thar fo n entrance to a castle.

Fig. 10. Diuirobin.

Eilean Dunain, Rosa-shire.—The yet f thio t s ancien d onc- an tim e portant castl remarkabls ei s recenit r efo t history r KennetSi , h Matheson 310 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APEIL 23, 1888.

of Ardross having discovered it in 1883, together with some curious old pieces of artillery, in the castle well, where, in all probability, it had lain concealed since 1719, when a ship of war was sent to demolish the castle, afte battle th r f Glenshieleo gooA .d pladescriptiod nan e th f no yett, furnished by Mr Eoderick Maclean, factor of Ardross, to Dr Joass, show ordinare sth tha f yete o th ts y i t construction. Dunrobin, Sutherlandshire,—This large yett (fig, fro 10 .ma photo - graph r takenJoassvera D s y yb ha ) diminutive wicket, measuring only about 30 by 18 inches, pivoted like the Cawdor one; the lower pivot, however, passing through a collar, which protects the bar below from friction. Unlik e Cawdoth e r wicket , alternato thern s i e e penetration in the frame, there are no band-hinges, and instead of locking to the yett, there ilargsa e bolt, square middlee th n di , which running through frame-bare th n two o e wickete ring,on th passed n si an , d int walle oth , d thuan s closed both wicke d yett seconA an t . d bolt r highefo , up r the yett alone, is lost, but its rings and staple still remain. The - robin yets apparentlha t y suffered violence, being fracture repaired dan d by brace severan si l places s thesA . e injurie l neae boltsal th e r t ar si , probabls i e tha havy yete th t ma et been forced, perhaps whe e castlnth e was taken spoiled rebele an th y 1746n si db . The yett is now suspended on the wall of the courtyard, having been removed from its original site, behind the wooden door of the entrance, in consequence of modern alterations. Dunbeath, Caithness-shire.—Dr Joas ascertaines sha d tha yete f th t o t this modernised castle still exists, lying neglecte gardea n di n shedt I . is a good deal corroded below, and has been repaired with clasps and rivets. Yetts of Exceptional Form. Althoug existine hth g defensive iron entrancee doorth n si Scottisf so h castle almose sar l constructeal t principle th n do e adopte thosn di e which we have hitherto been describing, exceptional forms are occasionally me rarelyto s with t ,bu , tha I thav t heareno morf do e than three. Smailholm, Roxburghshire.—The Rev. Dr Joass has obtained for me, through a friend, a description and drawing (fig. 11) by the Hon. H. T. ON THE GRATED IRON DOORS OF SCOTTISH CASTLES. 311

Hepburne Scott, of an iron gate, measuring 5 feet 8 inches by 3 feet 2 inches t Smailholma , e defensivth , e purpos f whico e n hardlca h e b y

Fig. 11. Smailholm. doubted, from the massiveness of the bars, those of the frame being 2| inches containee squareth d ,an d bars measuring J1y Jinchb t differI . s from the typical form in the absence of alternate penetration, all the 312 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 23, 1888.

perpendiculars being pierced by the horizontals, and in the pointed ends of the uprights falling short of the rounded head of the frame by some inches. The interspace between the two upper horizontals is also much wider tha e interspacenth ss compartmentit lowe f o e r downon d s an si , fitted with two bars crossed. The single hinge near the top has the peculiar shape showsketche th n ni . Apparentl e knucklyth e attached to the gate is placed between two others, one above and the other below, projecte n rundpi s froa wall e througd mth an , threee hn th I . placsecona f eo d hinge e yetth , t rotate pivoa n o st upo n iroa n n plat. e 2 feet long, built into the wall, and resting on a large stone on the floor. The single inchebol9 s i t inches3 lond girthn g an si n makinI . t ou g the drawing for publication, I have brought the rather thin bars of originae th l sketcwidte th f 1o ht o J inches, descriptione giveth n ni . Duntreath, Stirlingshire.—Two iron gates, which depart entirely froe ordinarmth y type e preservedar , , naile a sid e o et d th wal f o l modernised entrance to the courtyard, at Duntreath. The smaller d mor o (figan tw e .perfece 12)th f , measurino t 5 feeg 8 inchet y b s 4 feet 5J inches f s i madfifteeo , p u en iron band r lathso s , about ]4jy inch thick, running the whole length of the yett, and varying in 7 incheswidt r o h6 . froo t The m 3 e rivete yar o sevet d n flat hori- T zontal bars, 2 inches wide and T ff inch thick, on the inner side of the yett, by rows of bolts, If inch long, with rounded heads about an inch outee wideth t ra , sided apparentlan , y hammereinnee th t ra t enddou , themx fi o t . s oa Ther remaine ear e knuckle th f so f threso e hinges probabld an , y there wa fourtha s . The e formeyar bendiny b d g int oa circula r fore mth prolonge de transvers endth f so e bolte barstheid Th san .r staplee sar entirely e gonelathsx holeth Si n .si , about half-way up,—two others near the top, and two near the bottom,—probably indicate the position of three bolts f whico , e middlhth muse eon t have been very largeA . chain hangs from a staple, probably for closing the door from the outside rectangulaA . r spy-hole 2 inches, y 2b J , closed outsidy b e iron a n plate swingin naila s probabl n wa o ,g y closed froe insidth m e also, as there are several rivet holes on a level with it. There is another small triangular hole about 15 inches from the bottom of the OQ anaaQCi^oDtiGticjOciD nag Q u n nT ;mmiymin|mi»mTOTrc iimiY"»"il"'n«MTiimTitffl'ffliH>iiwii'i|i|iyiff^t*irri

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yett. The workmanship is rude, the supporting bars being at unequal distances, and not parallel to each other. e largeTh r Duntreath door, measurin 6 feeg 4 inche tfee4 6 y t b s inches, is constructed on the same principle as the other, but is not in such good condition e uppeth , r e ninthreth ef eo transvers e bars being gone severad e lathan ,th f s o lbroke n tope shorwicketth A .t a t , con- structed like dooreth , occupie fees4 inche6 tfee 2 inche4 s y t sit b f so superficies e insidTh . e view (fig. 13), fro ma pla n furnisher M y b d A. E. Duncan, Blairquhosh, shows the remaining staples, besides holes for others, for a bolt to close the wicket and yett to the wall, and near foote th ,staplee holeth r f anothesfo so r bolt; alsremainine oth g hinge wickete oth f , constructed quite differently fro e e hingetrumth th ef o s yetts, and somewhat on the principle of the one at Smailholm. A side view of a staple and the adjoining part is given above the yett. The great irregularity in the construction of the door is shown in the drawing. On the wall beside the doors there hangs an iron padlock (fig. 2, k); also n interestina , g reli f ancienco t baronial jurisdiction e stockth , s (fig. 12), with accommodation for four pairs of legs. The iron part consists olowea f r straigh fee6 t incher 2 flat ba t s long t brokebu , n e shorth t a t uppen bena e end d t 6-incon ra t an , h intervals into little e archeth r sfo nailes e lowei feetbeama r Th o dba r t . f whico , h little remainse Th . upper one was apparently kept in its place by another heavy beam with arched cavitie receivo st archee e iron th th considerableA f . so e part of this beam remains. LostA Yett.—The highly interestin d perfectlan g y preserved- al , though uninhabited, fifteenth century castl f Affleck,o e ForfarsMre, retaine s anciendit t iron yett manno t y years ago recordes ,a Messry db s MacGibbon and Eoss. But it has mysteriously disappeared.- In answer . WalkerC . E inquiro r t , F.S.AM y yb . Scot, Dr Sim presene th , t pro- prietor, regrets that, notwithstanding having offered a reward to any one who could whertelm hi l t wasei s efforthi , discoveo t s yete th rt proved fruitless. Modern Yetts.—The interestin d eleganan g t e anciendesigth f o nt yetts has led to their imitation in recent times, which, if it is liable to cause mistakes as to their origin, is satisfactory as a proof of reviving _ __ __,_,_^ f —n

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taste, and as tending to the perpetuation of the type, many of the existing ancient specimens being quite neglected and rusting rapidly away. moderA n yet t Gawdora t s alreadha y been s manunoticedwa t -I . factured at Birmingham, by order of the present Earl of Cawdor. Another has quite recently been placed in Garth Castle by Sir Donald Currie. A third has for some time been at Nunraw, East Lothian, as I am informed by Mr Carfrae, F.S.A. Scot. A fourth has lately been put up in the repaired tower at Castle Hill, Manor Vale. A fifth occupie anciene placn a sth f eo e outsid tth e fooone f th o t e ,a stain i r the courtyard of . Lastly, the Eev. Dr Eankine of Muthill, who kindly made inquiries on spote th ,followine sendth e sm gt Drummond a accoun e on f o t Castle:— " I found out at once, on authority of an eyewitness (Mr Carneron, warder), that it was made and erected just after he came here thirty-eight years ago,—the maker being a local smith, who went, by direction of the late Lord Willoughby d'Eresby Douno ,t there e on copo et .e yth Nexw sa I t castle th e mason weno wh ,t wit e smithth securo ht e accurac measuref yo - ment, &c." Perhaps this little takehistore proob a s y na fy ma thae th t ancient yetts were, or at least might easily have been, of local manu- facture. . HISTOBIV DISTRIBUTIOND TAN . The period when the iron yetts first came into use cannot be precisely determined. A decree fulminated against them by the Scottish Privy Council, quoted in my former paper, proves that they were in universal use in castles and fortified mansions in 1616. I do not know any earlier indubitable historical mention of them, but it is very probable that they are referred to in a clause of the licence, dated 1444, for the building of Cawdor Castle, which confer e righth s t portisque clausuris ferreis fundandi et in altum erigendi. It is true the latter words seem to point e portcullitth o s rathe re yett th tha o ;e t nothe butth n r o ,hand f i , the portcullis were intended, the single word cataracta, if in customary use, would surely have been employed e n yeti favouth d tf o an r; we have the evidence of the castle itself,'as there is no provision for a yet e probable th thus i portcullitf Th o s e . carrieeit us n si d e bacth o kt E GRATETH N DO IRON DOOR SCOTTISF SO H CASTLES7 31 .

middlfifteente th f eo h centurystila t l earlieBu . claimee rb daty edma on reasonable grounds t seemI . s almost certain that some kin f irodo n defence would alway necessare sb preveno yt entrancee tth castlef so s from being easily forced by fire. In the earliest Scottish castles this require- menfulfilles e portcullisth wa t y I b find n Messrs i da , s MacGibbon and Boss's standard work fifteee , th tha f no t castles built before 1300, eigh e mentionear t s retainina d g portcullis-grooves e entranceth , f o s e otherth s bein ruinouo to g o shot s w whether thed the yha r not mo . But the use of the portcullis seems to have been almost entirely confined to comparatively earle largeth yo t rtime clasd f castlesan so s . Thus, among the twelve fourteenth-century castles, which were all of small wore size th fine kn w , di jus t cited that, wit e doubtfuhth l exceptiof no Craigmillarmentiones i e on t s havina dno , g portcullis-groovesf i d an ; they reappea fifteente th n i r h century onls i t yi , fo briea r f perioe th t da largese th n i t beginnind clas an f castles so , it f go , grooves remaininn i g fourtee f seventeeo t nou f theseno l buil,al t fifteente earlth n yi h century; while in fifty-two smaller castles, built between 1400 and 1542, they occur in Borthwick alone, and there only in the gateway of the court. Indeed doubtfus i t i , f Scottisi l h castles were constructe o havt de th e portcullis after about 1420; the only apparent later instances among nearl hundreo ytw d fortified structures, recorde Messry db s MacGibbon and Eoss, being in the gateway at Edinburgh Castle, attributed to Regent Morton, 1574, and in the pend of Castle Sinclair, 1606,—instances so isolate o suggest s a d t that eve thesn ni e instance masonre th e s th f yo grooves t leasta , , f mucmuso e hb t more ancient date. From all this it appears that the portcullis was confined to the larger castles, that it was temporarily abandoned in the fourteenth century, and tha t ceaseti d entirely almosr o , t entirely usee h d o fifteentt ,e earlth n yi h century. Granting, therefore, that some kind of iron defence was always necessary, and as there is no sign remaining of any other kind, we are almost driveconclusioe th o nt n tha "e yettth t " must have fulfilled that important duty, even as early as the fourteenth century. Further evidence in favour of considerable antiquity may be derived fro e castledatee th mth f swhico n si e existinhth g example e foundar s . Considering the much larger number of recent compared with more 318 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APEIL 23, 1888.

ancient castles, and that the older yetts are much more likely than the more recent one havo st e disappeared from destructio a r decayo ns i t i , fair presumptio favoun ni f antiquityo r considerably an f 1i e numbere sar found in the older castles. Now, adopting Messrs MacGibbon and Eoss's carefully ascertained dates I ,fin d tha f thirty-seveo t n castles which still retain their yett situ,n si five dat wholn i e r pareo t anterioe th o t r fifteenth century ,wholn i nine fifteenthe th r parear eo f o t , eighteef no the sixteenth, and five of the seventeenth centuries. Thus a considerable proportion of these yetts are found among the comparatively small number of castles datin pargn i least ta t fro fourteente mth fifteentd han h centuries. It is quite possible that the yett was in use along with the portcullis. t DounA have ew exampln ea existinn a f eo g yett t abouse , a - foot be t hind the portcullis grooves ; of course, it is impossible to say whether "the two were contemporary t seemi t ,bu s probable tha survivine th t g iron bar, of proved antiquity, must have been intended to support an iron yett of some kin r anotherdo . It would be interesting to know whether the Scottish portcullis was constructe same th en do principl e yettth s .e a Unfortunatelys a r fa s a , singllearna n t ca no e,I Scottish portcullis remainse th t ,a unlese b t i s botto f Locmo h Boon, where, accordin Patterson'o gt s Ayrshire Families, one could be seen in calm weather some years ago. This is no longer possible, however, as the loch has since been raised 8 or 10 feet. I am informed by the Eev. Mr Hendrie of Dalmellington, that two old boatmen have seen the object when the water was very low, and that they call it " an iron gate." He also informs me that there are portcullis grooves castlee e questiointh Th . n what this "onln iroe ca yb n e gatb y e "ma solved by restoring it to the light—a feat not likely to be undertaken, whe castle nth e itsel beins i f g destructionalloweo t o g o dt . s easiei t I o assigt r periona d whe e manufacturth n f yetto e s must have ceased. Wit e e increasorderd th hth an d f an ,w respec o ela r fo t f famildyino t gou y feuds, toward e seventeente closth sth f eo h century,• e cumbrouth s yetts would graduall mattea disusede yb s a f facd o r tan , the most recent castle in which they are found is Drumlanrig, which 1 The antiquity, that is to say, not of the individual yetts now existing, but of the yett system of defence. THN O E GEATED IRON DOOR SCOTTISF SO H CASTLES9 31 .

dates from about 1680. Even in this instance, the large yett has undergone mutilatio y have entranceo fith t ma nte d belongean , d originall possibl y lis y yette olden m ma a tth n f o ysi rt o y edificeo Tw . have been constructed for actual use even in the eighteenth century. Crowe th t a n Possibl e Booon e Edinburgmn i yth h Castl specialls ewa y made to protect the regalia when jealously shut up in 1707, after the e mucb lond y h ha gma older t Unioni bee t i r custoe nth fo t , bu o ;mt kee regalie castlee leare pth th w ns n ai a , fro e followinmth g statement, of date 1638 Baillie'sn ,i Letters, quote "Papern di - s relativRe e th o et gali Scotland:"—"Dalkeitf ao treasurer'e th n hi s sigh takes twa n ..... The crown, sceptre swordd ,an , whic I knoh( t howbeed wno ha )n trans- ported there, were, with all reverence, brought back by our nobles to their proper place in the castle of Edinburgh." The Dingwall yett may possibly be little more than a century and a half old, as it seems to have been used for the jail there, where apparently, as already related (p. 308), no jail existed till 1735, and its small size is opposed to the theory that it may have been originally the yett of Dingwall Castle, or some other fortified edifice in the neighbourhood. Distribution.—The typical yett is distributed widely over both the Lowland d Highlandan s f Scotlando s s somewhai t I . t remarkable, however, although probably purely accidental, that with exception of neglectee th d specime wooe th t Dunlopda n ni possibld an , y anothet a r e bottoth f Locmo h Doon e fivth , e western lowland counties, Lanark, Eenfrew, Ayr, Wigtown Kirkcudbrightd an , neighbourine wels th a , s a l g count f Buteyo , appeae destitutb o formet y r f m yettso en I r .pape r I have shown that the Scottish type of yett is not met with in , even on the Borders, and that, so far as I could learn, it is unknown in Continentthe Francon eand , althoug principlthe h alternatof e e pene- foue tratioe barth rth n si f quarter no s appliei s windoo t d w grillen si Nort Tyrole h th Ital d . yan n I Scotland e grilleth , s which fortified everd yol windoe th f wo castles whicd an , h must have given them vera y gloom prison-likd yan e character, were universally constructed on the same principle as the judgy ma eyettse fro w e numerou f mi ,th s surviving examples. I cannot conclude without thanking gentlemee th n already names da 0 32 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , APRI , 188823 L .

authorities, and particularly the Eev. Dr Joass, who generously placed at my disposa valuabla l e contributio e fivth e n no mos t northern yettn i s the kingdom. But for the kind co-operation of these gentlemen, this work would have falle e measurr shorth fa n f o t f fulneseo accuracd an s y which I hope it has attained.