Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/309

 Another cross road, difficult to find, but sufficiently good, led us to Lumley-Castle, three miles and a half from Cocken; a noble mansion belonging to the Earl of Scarborough, seen before it is approached, proudly lifting its battlements above the woods around it. The road, dipping into this shade, follows the brow of a deep ravine, through whose bottom is heard the roaring of the river Wear; the waters of which are hidden from the sight by intervening trees. On the summit of this elevation stands the castle, commanding the vale of Wear, a picture surprisingly rich and extensive; a square edifice, with a projecting tower at each corner, crowned with lesser towers, that rise out of every angle of them, and an area in the centre. The battlements of the larger towers are machiolated, or so constructed as to admit the passage of stones, fire, melted lead, or scalding-water, between the face of the tower and the stone-work of the turrets; the formidable manner of driving enemies from the gates and walls, before the invention of gunpowder had enabled assailants to attack from a distance. The chief entrance is at the west front, up a wide double flight of steps. The east front, however, is most august. It has a projecting gateway in the centre, commanded by turrets, and a machicolated gallery. Several armorial bearings are