the low end of the hall; in the policies

[constantinusphilo]

I am reading The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Lewis Stevenson and I find he uses some archaic words and meanings I cannot find even in the big Oxford Dictionary. For example, on several occasions, he writes that Mr. Henry was as usual in the lower end of the hall; or, that Mr. Henry went to play with his son in the policies (which from the context I have guessed must signify some grounds/place). What would those be?

 

[emsr2d2]

I found a Scottish usage of "policies" online. See definition #3 below

 

[BobK]

@constantinusphilo It's worth remembering that Stevenson's vocabulary is - sometimes,- not only archaic but also influenced by Scottish usage., as @emsr2d2 guessed.

 

[emsr2d2]

Much as I'd love to take the credit for suspecting it was Scottish, the thought didn't actually cross my mind (even though I noted the author and the title of the book). I simply Googled "policies archaic definition" and went through the hits till I found that clear one.