Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/64

48 The second foor. This room, on account of the recession of the interior wall, is about twenty-six feet in diameter, and is lighted by a large double window over the entrance (C), which has been before described. It is furnished with window seats, and ascended by some steps. The lintel is a massive square block, which is cracked from the giving of the arch. The upright dividing post or mullion, likewise quite plain, is only nine inches thick; at the sides are traces of the existence of strong bolts. On the opposite side of the room is a fine large fire-place (D) of handsome late Norman character, the upper part sloping to the wall, and projecting into the room, where it is supported by three clustered columns on each side, with stiffly foliaged capitals; the straight portion supported by these columns is deserving of attention, from the rise of a kind of a flat arch, the stones of which lock into one another in a peculiar manner. I find from the Glossary of Architecture, (where a very good view of this chimney-piece is given, pl. 54,) that a fire-place at Edlingham castle, of later date, and also those of the bishop of Soissons' palace, Septmons, are furnished with flat arches of this kind. The great west door of Rochester cathedral, and several segmental arches in Normandy are so built.

The only other light which is of any service to this room is a narrow loop-hole opposite the entrance door (B), and this, by the bye, occupies a dainty place, for it is immediately between the discharges of the two garderobes. The little attention of our forefathers, however, to these matters of delicacy, forces itself upon our notice in almost every ruin of their strong but comfortless abodes. At Cricceath and Beaumaris castles, in Wales, the garderobes are close to the grand entrances, and are the first things to greet both the eyes and noses of their chieftain's visitors. Such things and worse, however, do I understand, still exist in the city of Caen, in Normandy, at the present day, and fifty years ago they were, I am told, matters of course. The entrance to the lowermost of these garderobes is from this floor by the doorway (F), and thence by a flight of six steps. The further end is lighted by a loop-hole, and occupies part of the second right turret. Between the fire-place and the door by which we ascend, is a stoup or holy water basin (E) projecting from the wall.

Connected with the large window in this room, King in his Munimenta Antiqua gives us several very learned and in-