Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/30

14 artificial hill even though a couple of centuries old, but the result has justified the means employed, fur there is not a crack nor mark of settlement in the whole edifice. Grose represents some half-buried arches on the south side, not now visible, but which, if they ever existed, which is more than doubtful, might indicate that parts of the building rested on piers, carried down to the solid ground. However, enough of the wall is bared to show that this is not the case. What Grose took for an arch was probably a low course of inclined or half-herring-bone masonry. Others have described an opening on this side, supposed to lead into a sub-basement vault, which there is no reason for supposing to exist. The machicolations cited in evidence as defending this fabulous doorway, are the vents of a garde-robe in the upper story.

The four faces of the keep are generally alike. Each is flanked by two pilasters of 4 ft. 6 in. wide, by 9 ft. projection, so placed as not to cap the angle, but to convert it into a hollow or re-entering one. This hollow was left open, not filled up, as at Scarborough and elsewhere, by a bold bead or engaged column. In the centre of each face is a third and similar pilaster, but 5ft. wide. Probably these rested below upon a plinth common to the whole building; but if so, this is gone. Each pilaster is of equal breadth and projection throughout, having no sets-off. The central pilasters run up to the base of the parapet, now gone. Those at the angles were continued to form the usual square turrets, of which some slight though clear remains still rise above the curtain.

The material employed for the exterior is chiefly Bargate stone, from the bed representing the chalk marle, immediately beneath the chalk. This is worked up as rubble, interspersed irregularly with courses of the same stone, laid herringbone fashion, for which the larger and flatter stones have been selected. The work is very rough. The herringbone courses are laid at all heights and distances; some broken, some mere single inclined stones, and here and there, especially near the top, are occasional courses of flints, some of which look like insertions. The angles, salient and re-entering, of the pilasters, are of the same stone, cut as ashlar, and well jointed; but between these quoins the pilasters are usually of rubble, sometimes herringboned. Above the