EDINBURGH CASTLE PORTCULLIS GATE, ARGYLE TOWER AND LANG STAIRS

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1 Property in Care (PIC)no: PIC222 Designations: Listed Building (LB48227) Taken into State care: 1906 (Ownership) Last reviewed: 2012 HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE EDINBURGH CASTLE PORTCULLIS GATE, ARGYLE TOWER AND LANG STAIRS We continually revise our Statements of Significance, so they may vary in length, format and level of detail. While every effort is made to keep them up to date, they should not be considered a definitive or final assessment of our properties. Historic Environment Scotland Scottish Charity No. SC Principal Office: Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH

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3 EDINBURGH CASTLE PORTCULLIS GATE, ARGYLE TOWER AND LANG STAIRS BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Portcullis Gate dates from the rebuilding of the castle by Regent Morton in the aftermath of the Lang Siege of Its superstructure was rebuilt twice, in 1584 and c. 1750, but this upper part was completely replaced in when the Argyle Tower was constructed. The original structure is associated with the architect William Schaw, James VI and Queen Anna s respected Master of Works and Master of Ceremonies. It was designed not only to defend but also to impress, and its architectural detailing, still very much in evidence, is in marked contrast to the solid massing of the battered (sloping) walls of the Half-Moon Battery, which was built contemporaneously. The architectural detail is inspired by classical motifs and confined to its outer (east) face. The Argyle Tower is the creation of Hippolyte J Blanc, the Edinburgh-based architect also responsible for restoring the castle s Great Hall. Blanc consciously ignored the existence of the 16th-century Portcullis Gate and created what he felt approximated to the late 14th-century Constable s Tower that preceded it on the site, using a comprehensive range of features drawn from late medieval Scottish architectural vocabulary. The Lang Stairs, although comparatively recent in its present form, perpetuate the oldest access to the summit in medieval times, which passed through the Constable s Tower. CHARACTER OF THE MONUMENT Historical Overview 1544: An English spy s drawing, made during a siege of the castle by the earl of Hertford on behalf of Henry VIII, depicts the Lang Stairs rising up through the Constable s Tower to the summit (May): A devastating artillery bombardment brings the 18-month Lang Siege to an abrupt end. The Regent, the earl of Morton, orders the rebuilding of the main east defence to a new form. Morton s Gateway (later known as the Portcullis Gate) is built on or near the site of the former Constable s Tower. 1577: Sir William Makdowell, Master of Work, is paid for bigging of the inner yett, presumed to be a reference to the Portcullis Gate. 1584: William Schaw, newly appointed Master of Works by James VI, rebuilds the upper part of the Portcullis Gate to incorporate two additional storeys, housing a portcullis chamber and a lodging above, for Chancellor Arran s use, with a gunbattery at the top.

4 1685: Tradition holds that Archibald Campbell, 9th earl of Argyll, is imprisoned in the lodging above the Portcullis Gate the night before his execution at the Cross, in Edinburgh. Mid 18th century: The upper part is rebuilt and given a pitched slated roof. Contemporary maps now refer to it as the state prison, and the fact that the former state prison in the vaults under the Great Hall was turned into a prison of war in 1757 may be the reason for its relocation. 1783: The Lang Stairs are reformed to their present 70-step configuration, the work possibly being carried out by prisoners of war in the castle. 1792: Two men sentenced to death for treason, Robert Watt and David Downie, are imprisoned in the state prison. 1883: Lord Napier is shown round the castle by Major Gore Booth, Royal Engineers. As a result, the retired diplomat writes to the Scotsman urging the restoration of the Great Hall and the Portcullis Gate. William Nelson, the Edinburgh publisher, is persuaded to finance both schemes. 1885: Nelson appoints Hippolyte Jean Blanc, an Edinburgh-based architect, to draw up plans for the restoration of the Great Hall, Portcullis Gate and St Margaret s Chapel (the last project does not proceed). 1886/7: The upper part of the Portcullis Gate is entirely rebuilt, and named the Argyle Tower (after the 9th earl of Argyll). Nelson rather hopes that the Argyle Tower will become the new home of the Honours of Scotland; he dies disappointed. A large plaster model of the castle is created therein by Julius Geercke at the War Office s request. It is subsequently donated to the Royal Scottish Museum. 1913: Archaeological finds from the excavations in David s Tower are placed on display in the top floor. 1949: Julius Geercke s castle model is handed over by the Royal Scottish Museum to the Ministry of Works for display in the Argyle Tower. During the 1950s the model is taken to various trade shows in London, Canada and the USA. 1980s: A pretend portcullis is set into one of the portcullis slots. 1990s: A permanent exhibition Castles in the Air is put in the top floor, alongside the castle model, to illustrate the various Victorian initiatives (realised and aborted) designed to make the castle look more medieval. Archaeological Overview There has been no archaeological investigation in the Portcullis Gate/Argyle Tower. However, excavations immediately to the west of the Portcullis Gate in 2006 highlighted the potential for archaeological deposits still to survive beneath the structure. The possibility exists that elements of the later 14th-century Constable s Tower on or about the site may survive. Our understanding of the building history of the Portcullis Gate prior to the building of the Argyle Tower in may benefit from standing building survey.

5 Architectural/Artistic Overview Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower Foundation phase: The rebuilding of the castle by David II in the later 14th century included the construction of a new keep-gatehouse, called the Constable s Tower, through which the summit was reached. Constable s Tower was badly damaged in 1573 and thereafter demolished (though it is possible that the curved wall now forming the adjacent Dog Cemetery may be a remnant of one of the Constable s Tower s drum towers). However, the present Lang Stairs (formed to their present appearance in the 1780s) appear to replicate the original ascent, clearly shown on the 1544 English spy drawing. Development phase 1: After the siege, the Portcullis Gate (also known as Morton s Gateway) is built on or about the site of the Constable s Tower. The Gate was primarily defensive, built as part of a re-fortification of the castle that also included the Half-Moon Battery. Its trance was fitted with two doors and two portcullises. However, the Portcullis Gate was also designed to impress, and its architectural detailing, still very much in evidence, is in marked contrast to the solid mass of the battered (sloping) walls of the Half-Moon Battery. In this, the Portcullis Gate was similar to principal entrances into major artillery fortifications elsewhere (eg the castle s outermost gateway, through the 1548 Spur, also had an elaborate doorway that was subsequently dismantled and rebuilt in Parliament House). The architectural detail, inspired by classical motifs, is confined to its outer (east) face, where the segmental arch is flanked by slim pilasters above which lions crouch whilst gazing at an aedicule a little blind opening with a pediment and Ionic order that presumably originally contained a shield emblazoned with the royal arms (the present shield was placed there in 1887). The aedicule s pediment is decorated with the crowned heart and star of Regent Morton. The Renaissance detailing is variously described as done with flair, enhanced perhaps by a lack of full scholarly understanding (MacIvor) and ignorantly, though with considerable conviction (Gifford et al). The comparatively plain back (west) elevation has a single iron-barred window lighting the former gear room for the portcullises behind. Development phase 2: The Victorian-era Argyle Tower was designed by the architect Hippolyte Blanc, who had joined the Office of Works in 1865 and by 1877 had risen to become Chief Assistant. In 1878 he left to form his own practice. Blanc designed the Argyle Tower to resemble as nearly as possible [the Constable s Tower], in accordance with the appearance as built by David II. In other words, he consciously chose to ignore the presence of the 16th-century Portcullis Gate. His one concession to modernity is the use of lead rainwater downpipes, suitably dated Blanc used a comprehensive range of features drawn from late medieval Scottish architecture: a corbelled-out parapet with rounded angle turrets, a stone-slabbed roof with crow-stepped gables, and a restored crenel complete with wooden shutter.

6 Internally, the top floor is entirely of Blanc s creation, with a similar repertoire of late medieval features (eg tunnel vault, stone-seated windows). Period of State care: The stone-vaulted gear room above the entrance pend has been fitted with a pretend portcullis end, made of timber with metal spikes. The Castle model The large plaster of Paris model of Edinburgh Castle is worthy of mention. It was created by Julius Geercke in 1886, at the invitation of the War Office. The supposition is that it was made to help sell the proposed Gatehouse scheme to a sceptical Edinburgh public. According to the Scotsman, Geercke made it in the Argyle Tower during its conversion. Geercke subsequently emigrated to South Africa, and nothing is known of other commissions he may have undertaken. In the 1950s the model was taken on trade missions to parts of the British Commonwealth, including Sacramento, Los Angeles and Canada. It would have been even more so used had it been able to fit through the doors of the aircraft then available! Social Overview The Portcullis Gate continues to serve as one of the principal gateways into the castle. Other than that, and the use of the Argyle Tower internally as a minor visitor attraction and exhibition space, neither has any observable social use. The fact that the Argyle Tower is entered from halfway up the Lang Stairs makes it impossible to give access to wheelchair users. Spiritual Overview The Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower have no observable spiritual associations. Aesthetic Overview The Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower present an impressive, if somewhat daunting, sight to visitors progressing up the relatively narrow lower approach road. Only when they have passed through the gate does the castle become more expansive and friendly. The Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower are prominent features of the castlescape, particularly when viewed from the Esplanade and Princes Street. Internally, the 16th-century tunnel-vaulted portcullis room provides a suitably chilling atmosphere in which to contemplate the fate of the 9th earl of Argyll, who may or may not have been imprisoned there in What are the major gaps in understanding of the property? Does anything of the Constable s Tower still remain to be discovered beneath the structure?

7 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Key Points The Portcullis Gate is one of Scotland s best surviving late medieval castle gateways, associated with the name of William Schaw, a leading architect in James VI s reign. The Argyle Tower is a major surviving work of the Victorian architect Hippolyte Blanc, who also restored the castle s Great Hall. ADDENDA Associated Properties Other Scottish royal castle defences: Dumbarton Castle Other probable surviving works by William Schaw: Crichton Castle (north range?); Dunfermline Abbey (NW tower) and Palace; Fyvie Castle; Stirling Castle (Chapel Royal?) Other notable works by Hippolyte J Blanc: Carnegie Centre (Dunfermline); Cluny Parish Church (Edinburgh); Edinburgh Castle s Great Hall; Mayfield Church (Edinburgh); St Cuthbert s (Princes Street, Edinburgh) Keywords vault; pilaster; royal arms; Regent Morton; William Schaw; Hippolyte Blanc Selected Bibliography Blanc, H J, Parliament House and Argyle Tower, Edinburgh Castle, Transactions of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, vol 1 (Edinburgh, 1891) Gifford, J, C McWilliam and D Walker, The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh (Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1984) MacIvor, I, Artillery and major places of strength in the Lothians and East Border, , in D H Caldwell, Scottish Weapons and Fortifications (Donald, Edinburgh, 1981) MacIvor, I, Edinburgh Castle (Batsford, London, 1993) Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, The City of Edinburgh (HMSO, Edinburgh, 1951)