Drum Castle, Scotland, Part 2 – The Tower

This is a continuation of last week's post about Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The Tower at Drum Castle is one of the three oldest tower houses remaining in Scotland. The tower was completed in two building phases. The lower part of the tower was constructed early in the 1200s. And the upper portions in the late 1200s to early 1300s.

Lots of these spiral stone staircases in this tower and also lots of them in Scotland.

 What was originally the Common Hall, or the second level up from the ground, was turned into the library in the 1840s by the 18^th laird with the entrance from the Jacobean portion of the house. When you enter the tower via a modern set of steps on the south side you will see a blocked doorway that used to lead to the Common Hall. The tower used to be entered from the ground via a ladder that could be pulled inside in the event of an attack. This made the castle much easier to defend. Click here to see the east side of the tower. The big window is a later addition and is in the current library.

 The bottom floor is the Store Room. The walls here are twelve feet thick and the windows are arrow slits. The well is down here too and it now drains to the exterior of the castle. This room was used mainly for storing food.

Arrow slit window in the store room.

The Upper Hall is above what used to be the Common Hall. This room is 35 feet by 21 feet and the ceiling has a beautiful pointed barrel arch. The walls are six feet thick. This portion of the tower was built during the second building phase. It also has a big open fireplace.

Fireplace and window alcove in the Upper Hall.

Originally this room was divided into two levels. The lower one, where the warm fireplace and window alcove was, for the laird’s private hall. I enjoyed sitting in this window alcove, looking at the wonderful view out over the grounds.

Window alcove with two benches. This is the window you see in the top photo.

A model of the Tower to see how it's set up. Click this photo to enlarge.

The darkened doorway is the garderobe.

A garderobe is built into one corner as an early form of a restroom. The drain drops 25 feet through the solid walls of the tower. 

Garderobe drain

Click the above photo to enlarge and read.

Here you can see more detail of the pointed barrel arch of the Upper Hall

  The upper floor that used to be in this room was reached by a wooden staircase. This was divided into two rooms by partitions for the family’s sleeping quarters. Access to the caphouse on the roof was also reached through here.

  The view from the battlements is spectacular. You can see the Forest of Drum and the surrounding countryside and farms in the distance.

Garderobe, privy on the roof for the guards of the past.

 In medieval times, the battlements was the 6^th storey of the tower, where the roof is now. The castle guard would’ve stayed and perhaps lived in the caphouse. The stepped parapet walk is for drainage. The high battlement walls are designed with niches so the archers would have a good foothold when shooting attackers on the ground, close to the wall. This is considered a rare architectural features of Drum, along with the garderobe on the roof for the guards.

View of the Victorian addition from the tower's roof.

Some of the narrow stairs and ladders to get up to the roof are tough to navigate, but it is worth the climb.

Detail of conical roof with slate.

View over the Scottish countryside.

 This was one of my favorite days in Scotland. It was amazing being able to explore one of the three oldest tower houses left standing in Scotland.

Hope you enjoyed this little visit! Next time we will explore more of Drum Castle
Thanks!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

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