INNES HOUSE 203 FOURTH PERIOD It stands about five miles north-east of Elgin, on the level and fertile plain adjoining the south side of the Moray Firth. The house was built by the representative of the family of Innes of that Ilk between 1640 and 1653. The Laird kept a very full account of the expenditure, which shows that the artificers were paid chiefly in victuals. One entry is of special interest, viz., "Item, given to Win. Aitoun, Maister Maissoun at Heriott his work, for drawing the form of the House 011 paper, 26, 13s. 4d." (Scots money, equal to 2, 4s. 6d.). This entry confirms the general belief that William Aitoun was the architect of Heriot's Hospital, and that he furnished designs for other houses. The style of the building quite bears out this idea (Fig. 662). The design of the windows, with their Renaissance pediments and ornaments, is quite similar to that of Heriot's and other edifices of the period. The building is further strikingly Scottish in the arrangements of the plan. Although the Renaissance ornament has in this instance been imported into the far North, the old L plan is still adhered to. This mansion corresponds very closely with Leslie Castle, Aberdeenshire, both in plans and in the design of the chimneys, although, being later in date, there is in the windows and ornaments a more advanced Renais- sance feeling. Owing to the alterations and additions which have taken place at Innes House it has been necessary to restore the plan in the engraving (Fig. 663), but the leading features are quite distinctly traceable in the building. The entrance is similarly placed to that of Leslie, and the square stair in the angle tower is FlG 663 ._ InnesHouse . Plau of Ground Floor . almost identical. The porch shown in the sketch is modern. The other arrangements of the ground floor, including the ordinary private stair to the wine-cellar, are also very similar. On the upper floors the general disposition of the apartments was the usual traditional one, viz., the hall, withdrawing-room, and private room 011 the first floor, and bedrooms on the upper floors. At Innes, as at Leslie, there are three full stories, and a top story partly in the roof, while the angle tower is continued a story higher.
