Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/60

46 strength. A narrow arch leads vaulted passage, the direction of which is away from the keep. Its communication with the interior is now blocked up, but I give a plan of it, from King's Munimenta Antiqua, and one of the castle from the Gentleman's Magazine for 1802, part I.

There are no windows to be seen in these walls, save one, somewhere to the north, of the circular form. Here also there is a large breach in the wall, shewing the thickness to be about six feet. Along the steep slope of the north-west side, the wall batters slightly, and is flanked by straight square buttresses, slightly projecting and giving evidence of Norman construction.

The fine and lofty circular Norman keep is partly built into the north-east wall, towards the south-east extremity of the area. I estimated its height at sixty feet from the ground, exclusive of the turrets, which may be ten more, judging from the number of steps in the staircases. By some, the greatest height of the turrets is stated at ninety feet. The walls batter slightly, and are fifteen feet in thickness at the base, while at the summit, partly from the recession of the upper floors, and partly from the battering, their thickness is barely ten feet. Six semi-hexagonal buttresses strengthen these massive walls, and rise at the summit in the form of turrets. The base of the keep, as in many Norman buildings, slopes outwards so as to form a high plinth. The whole is faced with cut stone, and presents an admirable specimen of masonry. The space between the two north-east turrets forms a part of the boundary wall, and advantage is taken of this circumstance to place the two garderobes of the castle on this side, so that their discharges do not affect the interior of the area.

The entrance (A) is by a large door, twelve or more feet from the ground, according to the usual plan; its massive square lintel is surmounted by a semicircular strengthening arch. The door is on the south side, and is sheltered by the close proximity of the boundary wall; the steps leading up to it are of modern date, and the means of access were probably