the upper floor window is crossed by the corbels which carried the movable wooden hoarding which was erected over the gateway when required for its defence. The side walls are entire, and show remains of the groined roof and strong gates for defence. The roof and gates were destroyed by the Town Council in 1800. At the western extremity of the north enclosing wall (see Figs. 466 and 476) there exists a large square tower, three stories in height, in the inside, but four stories on the outside, owing to the fall of the ground. The two lower floors are round vaulted, the upper vault having ribs, with a door of access from the precinct secured with a sliding bar. The upper floors (see Fig. 461), which were living apartments, were reached by a high door, and only communicated with the floors below by means of a trap, as in the case of many of the pele towers. The two upper floors, which contained fireplaces and windows with stone seats, are connected with a wheel stair in the north-west corner. The cape house on top is said to have been removed during this century. This tower formed the north-west corner of the abbey precinct.[27] [Illustration: FIG. 478.--Arbroath Abbey. Abbot’s House from North-East. (From a Sketch by Mr. T. S. Robertson.)] The building adjoining the tower to the east was called the Regality Court-house. It entered from the street, and was about 40 feet long by 18 feet wide, and had a groined ceiling. The next apartment running up to the gateway entered from the precinct. It was about 28 feet long, and had a barrel vault, with massive splayed ribs similar to those of the tower. The range of buildings between the gateway and the church are of two stories, the lower story having a groined ceiling. [Illustration: FIG. 479.--Arbroath Abbey. Abbot’s House from South-West. (From a Drawing by Mr. T. S. Robertson.)] One of the most interesting and best preserved buildings is the abbot’s house on the south side of the cloister (see Fig. 461). It is three stories high, the two upper floors being converted into a modern private dwelling-house (Figs. 478 and 479). Having been used at one time as a thread manufactory, the house has been altered externally and spoiled of its ancient internal fittings, with the exception of two fine carved panels, one representing the Virgin (Fig. 480), and the other a large Scotch thistle (Fig. 481). The ground floor contains the kitchen--a fine apartment with central pillars supporting a groined roof--with a large arched fireplace in the west end. The other offices connected with the kitchen are all vaulted. The house is extremely picturesque and valuable, being the best preserved abbot’s house in Scotland. [Illustration: FIG. 480.--Arbroath Abbey. Carved Panel in Abbot’s House. (From a Drawing by Mr. T. S. Robertson.)]