Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/69

Rh ance is here given, but it is not very easy to ascertain the nature of the roof, or the manner in which it was arranged. Around the interior circuit of the wall are large corbels, intended for the support of timbers. The turret (V), near which the ascending staircase terminates in a door (U), contains in its inner face a large circular arch. It has a level floor, close to which, on each side of the turret, is a very small square hole sloping to the exterior. The next turret contains an oven (W) in perfect condition, thus occupying a similar position to that in Orford castle, Suffolk, a notice of which may be seen in Mr. Hartshorne's admirable account of that ancient fortress, Archæologia, vol. xxix. p. 60. That which we are at present describing is two yards or more in its interior diameter, very well built and paved; the mouth is a small segmental arch, one foot three quarters high, and about the same in breadth. The two next turrets (XX) appear to have been in great part solid, with steps curving up on the inside, so as to make them serviceable as watch-towers. Near the turret opposite the door of ascent, and close to the inner circumference of the wall, are the flue vents from the fire-places ; they are very small and narrow, and separated at the top by a thin stone. At present there is no projection above the wall, and no trace of a chimney, properly so called, ever having existed. The summit of one of the watch-turrets, rather a giddy elevation, commands a fine and extensive view over the town on one side, and the vale of the Dun on the other. The two next turrets (Y and Z) are remarkable for the form and character of the chambers which they contain, if chambers they can be called from their small size. They have a low semicircular arch towards the interior, and their floor sinks two feet below the level of the top of the wall. The dotted line in the plan marks the semicircular arch. The angles cut off by dotted lines in the plan (**) are covered by stones level with the wall, so as to leave hollows beneath. The last turret only (Z) has a projection from the top, which looks like the ruins of a window, and which is seen in the distant view of the castle.