Page 67 - Scotland's Unsung Castles

Outer Curtain - The wall that encloses the outer ward.
Pit Prison An underground hole (Cell) with a floor hatch for
Outer Ward - The area around the outside of and adjacent to access
the inner curtain. Pitch – At an angle, like a slope in a roof.
P Pitching - To make a foundation of stones or cobbling a floor, or
courtyard.
Pale: The boundary fence or wall marking the territory of a town.
Pleasaunce (Scots) A garden surrounded by a wall
Palimpsest The re-use of a surface. Like a manuscript with the
Plinth - A flat projecting band at the bottom of a wall.
earlier writing partially visible, or it could be the re-use of unfin-
ished stone work.(Today recycling) Pilaster: A decorative square column, built into and partly pro-
Palisade Fortification consisting of a strong fence made of jecting from a wall
stakes driven into the ground Pipe rolls: A collection of financial records held by the English
Pantile. An S shaped roof tile, or used to explain the curved, Exchequer, or Treasury.
overlapping effect of the S tile on a roof. Pointing. Mortar joints, in walls and decorative tiling.

Pantry: A room for storing foodstuff, sometime used for prepar- Porch. Usually a curved flat structure attached in front of the
ing bread. (See Buttery) entrance to a building
Palmette - A floral ornament, common with the Greeks. Portcullis: A vertical latticed grilled gate made of wood or metal

Parados – A protective earth embankment at the rear of a that would block the castle entrance by sliding down grooves cut
trench. To protect against arrow or gunfire from the rear. into each side of the gateway.
Parapet: A defensive wall built on the outer side of the walk- Postern: A small gate or door, often hidden, at the rear of a cas-
way along the top of a wall. Also a low wall along the edge of a tle or prison. (see Sally Port)
roof or balcony. Postern Gate – A small secondary gate, could be at the rear or
Pediment – Often decorative triangular gables. They are usual side of the castle and used as a pedestrian walk-through.
found resting on the lintel spanning a doorway or opening. Presence chamber: A room where the monarch or no-
Pele Tower (or Peel Tower) - Small fortified keeps or tower bles would receive guests.
houses and used as watchtower along the Scottish borders. They Prow. (architecture). An acute-angled projection, like the prow
would light a signal fire as a warning of approaching danger. (front) of a boat.
Pellet – A small sphere. Privy chamber: private apartment of a royal residence.
Pend (or penday) (Scots) At street level, a passage through a “Privy” being a derivative of a garderobe.
building (see Close) Puddled – To make waterproof.
Pendent. A feature suspended from a vault or ceiling Putlog. A short pole used to supports floor planking used in
Penthouse A wooden shelter or movable shed with a sloping scaffold. One end of the pole rest on the scaffold the other in a hole
roof. Can also be a wooden outhouse with a sloping roof built (Putlog hole) in the wall.
against a wall. Putto (art) of a small, naked, winged child
Pepperpot turret. A bartizan with a conical shaped roof.
Perpendicular (architecture) A Gothic style in 14th and 15th Q
century England; characterized by vertical lines and a four-centred
(Tudor) arch and fan vaulting Quadrangle – Usually refers to an Inner courtyard but can be
Petit appareil (French) Squared off or cubical stonework. used to describe any rectangular area surrounded on all sides by
buildings.
Piano noble (Italian) Usually the second storey, contain the
major rooms, while the first story contains only the minor or ser- Quatrefoil – (architecture) A circular shape which forms the
vice rooms. overall outline of four partially-overlapping circles.
th
Portrary Petraria: Adopted around about the 13 century, Quirk - V-shaped nick, like the narrow groove beside a beading
to describe a new type stone-throwing machines (traction trebu- Quoins - (architecture) Dressed cornerstones at the corners of a
chet) that consisted of a long arm that catapulted objects. It be- building.
came a general term for all stone throwing machines.
Pier: (architecture) Vertical supporting structure of masonry, R
stone, rubble and concrete. Not to be confuse with columns that Rake Not horizontal or vertical, could be sloping or pitched
are made with large drum or barrel shaped stones, stacked one on
Rampart – A wall or bank of excavated earth surrounding a
top of the other.
castle. Used to defend against attacks and usually topped with a
Pilaster - A rectangular column, or shallow pier, used to palisade or stone wall.
buttress a wall.
Rath - (Ireland) A strong circular earthen enclosure and serving as
Pinnacle. (architecture) a slender ornamental spire at the top a fort and residence.
of a buttress or tower, etc.
Ravelin - A fortification outside a castle composed of two faces,
Piscina - a small basin for rinsing altar vessels. Often a stone
forming a salient angle that help divide attacking forces.
basin attached to a wall.
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