Series 1 > Book of record -- a diary written by Patrick, First Earl of Strathmore, and other documents relating to Glamis Castle, 1684-1689

XXIV
GLAMIS PAPERS
the walls of the staircase were plastered, but the present Earl
of Strathmore has had the plaster removed so as to show the
dressed stone-work, which is more in keeping with the style of
the building than the false stone markings with which the
plaster-work was painted. The great hall is a vaulted apart¬
ment about 60 feet long by 25 feet wide, and is composed
entirely of stone. The vaulting of the roof and cross-vaulting
of the windows is managed by using numerous small wedge-
shaped stones to form the archway. Much controversy has
arisen regarding the architect who designed this staircase and
great hall. The consistent tradition in the family is that when
Patrick, first Earl of Kinghome, was in attendance on James
vi. in London, he employed Inigo Jones to prepare the plans
for the proposed alterations. The first Earl Patrick certainly
carried out many of his projected improvements before his
death in 1615, but it was left to his grandson, who was also
called Patrick, and who was third Earl of Kinghorne and first
Earl of Strathmore, to complete the reconstruction of the
Castle, and to enlarge and improve it. Critics have usually
objected to the statement that Inigo Jones had any concern in
Glamis Castle, as his death took place in 1652, whilst the first
Earl of Strathmore was a mere child. So far as the Editor
knows, there is no document in the Charter-room at Glamis
which distinctly proves that Inigo Jones had any share in this
work; but it is certain that Patrick, first Earl of Kinghorne,
did make great alterations on the Castle, and that his grandson
Patrick, first Earl of Strathmore, was also a reconstructor, so
that the difficulty of the date does not militate against the
tradition. The real cause of confusion probably lies in the
fact that both noblemen bore the same name, and each was
the first holder of his distinctive title. It should be borne in
mind that the two outer wings of the Castle have been greatly
altered in comparatively recent times.
A very remote antiquity is ascribed to the oldest part of
Glamis Castle. It has been frequently asserted that King