Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/278

 214 PEVERELL S CASTLE IN THE PEAK. lierring-bone work below the basement within has given grounds to some persons for supposing. The cyhndrical shafts at the angles is a feature of too ornamental a charac- ter to belong to the earliest period of Norman architecture as we see it developed in military buildings. The manner in which the garderobe is corbelled out, does not display an ancient method, nor do the six varying angles of the chamfers on the talus, look remarkably early. As we examine the inte- rior, plain though it be throughout, we shall see stones in- serted on the northern side, which (though not represented in the woodcut) bear zigzag marks upon them and were evi- dently used in a former building. These architectural evidences of supposed date, are in ac- cordance with similar features observable in the work of Simon de St. Liz in the castle of Northampton, known to be of this period, and are confirmed by the entries upon the Great Roll of the Pipe, from which, as we have previously stated, it appears that in the 19th of Henry II. (1173) the castle of the Peak was victualled, and an outlay made upon the works therein: in 1175, it seems probable the chamber leading from the east side was constructed, and in 1179 the whole of the keep completed. The operation upon the enceinte being carried on in the reign of King John. The interior, about 19 ft. by 21 ft. across, with walls 8 ft. thick, presents a very simple, but well-executed appearance. It is remarkable for its total want of convenience and un- necessary decoration. Be- low the basement are the re- mains of herrinof-bone work 1 ^__ ^ -1,1 1 "^^-^Mfr^ m what might have been a ^ cellar, (see plan of basement ' A). The ground-floor is lighted by a window to the north and west, having a staircase three feet wide in the thickness of the wall lead- ing to the first floor. At the north-west angle (A) is a small chamber inaccessible : B, an entrance to the part presumed to have been erected in 1175, now fallen; C, the garderobe, cor- belled out over the abyss on the eastern side. The second floor has simply three windows, and a staircase of approach. As there is no fire-place in any part of the keep, we can