Plan, Section and Interior and Exterior Elevations of North window of Hall-house at Skipness Castle Fig. 168

Description Plan, Section and Interior and Exterior Elevations of North window of Hall-house at Skipness Castle Fig. 168

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number SC 360089

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of AGD 81/18

Scope and Content Section of window in north wall of chamber-block (or hall-house) at Skipness Castle, Knapdale, Argyll In 1261, Skipness Castle belonged to the MacSweens of Knapdale, vassals of the Lords of the Isles. In 1262, they were forced to grant Knapdale to the king's ally, Walter Stewart, Earl of Menteith. They subsequently became Irish landowners and mercenaries. This north window lit the first floor of the MacSween chamber-block (or hall-house). The top or head of the window-arch slopes downwards so that the embrasure narrows towards the outside. Before 1250, castles usually had a wooden hall for feasts and public occasions, and a separate two-storeyed stone chamber-block for the lord's family. After 1250, it became fashionable to build the two side-by-side in a single block. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/360089

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap