Byres Tower, Byres

16th century. Roofless two-storey two-bay structure in poor condition within large walled enclosure, with evidence of origins as small bastel house. Random rubble of sandstone and whinstone, heavy sandstone dressings with few remnants of tooling save simple rounded chamfers and cut angles. Roofless, originally gabled. West (front) elevation has doorway to north flanked by single slit window, doorway to north also in first floor flanked by single square window opening. East elevation has single slit window only to ground floor with ruinous doorway and infilled window to first. North gable has tiny central windows to first floor. South gable also with single windows to first floor. Ground level on south gable incorporates unusual series of eight stone "nestboxes" divided by stone slabs in two rows alternating with ratcourses, with tiny entrances to outside, mostly infilled to inside. Perhaps originally with wooden doors, these may have been beeboles or hencoups. Iron hinges for doors/gates survive on west elevation. Interior of ground floor barrel-vaulted with vestiges of lime plaster, niche in wall by doorway (for lamps?). First floor retains fireplace in south gable, vestiges of lime plaster. Two post-holes in external west wall at base of first floor door suggest original external wooden stair. Regular line of post-holes at same level on east elevation may suggest an earlier timber gallery construction. WALLS: large square enclosure, of random rubble, patched, variable coping. Generally approx three metres high, lowered in places.