The fiscal's house was a large house in the village of Cranesmuir occupied by the procurator fiscal, Arthur Duncan. His wife, Geillis, considered it to be the finest house in the village.[1]
Description[]
The fiscal's house was a four-story, half-timbered house on the town square in Cranesmuir. The first two floors had expensive leaded-glass windows tinted with purple and green.[1] The house contained an entry hall and a "fashionably gloomy" parlor on the ground floor. A steep and narrow spiral staircase provided access to the upper floors.
In 1743, the fiscal and his wife, Geillis, appeared to have separate bedrooms. Geillis's bedroom had an adjoining privy closet, and across the landing from her bedroom was her stillroom, which was a "long, airy loft" with a great deal of light and casement windows. A "surprisingly modern" counter ran along one wall. The room was also equipped with gauze drying racks, fireplace hooks, and open shelving along the walls for Geillis's stores.[2]
At the top of the house was a private room, which Geillis kept locked. Like the stillroom below, the room contained herbs hung from hooks and shelves along the walls. However, unlike the stillroom, the space was dark and cramped, with black curtains on the windows. The room also contained a number of ancient-looking books, most of them unmarked and related to magic in some way.[3]
The house also contained an outdoor kitchen,[2] servants' quarters,[3] and a study for Arthur Duncan.[2]