Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/450

372 the site of a half-round tower, beyond which the wall extends in a straight line to Arundel tower, so called from Sir John Arundel, an early governor. This is a drum, 22 ft. in diameter, which caps the North- East angle of the town. This tower is 50 ft. to 60 ft. high, and seems to rise out of a rectangular mass of masonry, possibly added to strengthen it. Here the internal level is 30 ft. or more above the external, being a part, no doubt, of the old earthworks.

Continuing along the West wall is a bold half-round tower, 20 ft. diameter and 30 ft. high, of excellent rough ashlar, with bold machicolations at the level of the adjacent curtain. This is Catchcold Tower. Built against the bank it looks solid, or like a bastion, but it is said to be hollow, though how entered does not appear. This tower, with the adjacent wall for some feet, is apparently a Perpendicular addition to what seems to be a Decorated wall. Beyond the tower is a flight of modern steps, ascending 30 ft. to the summit of the wall, which is there common to both town and castle. The wall then runs forward obliquely, probably to allow of the inclusion of the earthworks of the castle. It seems in substance Norman. The salient is capped by a rectangular buttress, the hollow angles of which on each side are crossed by low pointed arches, pierced as garderobes, as at Porchester. This buttress tower is of Decorated date.

Then follows about 134 yards of straight wall, probably Norman, about 38 ft. high, and backed to the summit with earth. Upon it a small rectangular buttress marks the junction of the North wall of the castle with the town-wall. Further on are five rectangular buttresses of various dimensions. The three first are evidently additions upon the Norman wall; the rest seem original. Part of the wall here is divided into two stages by a bold horizontal bead. Below are two narrow windows of about 18 in. opening, resembling largo loopholes, and which seem to have had square heads. Above are traces of two windows, apparently round-headed. There must have been an interior chamber, now closed. The central buttress is broad and flat, and here are traces of the old water-gate of the castle, which must have been reached by steps, the ground behind being above 30 ft. high. Close North of this water-gate is a large vaulted chamber, built against the town wall, and now closed. This part of the wall ends in a rectangular projection, probably the root of a tower, marking the junction of the castle South wall with the Town wall. From hence the wall is low and thin for a short distance, marking the end of the castle ditch, and on the rising ground of its counterscarp is the root of another square tower, marking the recommencement of the regular town wall, which then turns inwards so as to protect Biddle's Gate. This gate opened into a steep and rather narrow ascent called Simnell Street.

At Biddle's Gate commences a very curious part of the wall, which, as far South as a little beyond Blue Anchor postern, is unlike anything in England. The original wall, here about 30 ft. high and 4 ft. thick, with the soil nearly level within and without, seems to have served not only for the town wall, but for the wall of several dwelling-houses within it, the doors and windows of which are visible in the wall, though now closed up. These openings show the wall to have been Norman, and of a moderately early period. This wall was not found sufficiently strong for the purpose of defence, and a second wall, also 4 ft. thick, was built