Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/72

54 annexed ground-plans, but this is not the case at the level of the ground. The walls are flanked by flat Norman buttresses, which disengage themselves from the wall only at the level of the second floor. The square turrets, which rise from the angles at the summit, project as in most cases after the manner of flat buttresses below. The whole of the upper part of the tower, including the turrets and battlements, is, of course, to be referred to a later period, and for this reason I have given no plan of that part. The original entrance to the chief room of the keep was as usual on the first floor, by a semicircular-headed doorway of moderate size, falling back from the inner face of the tower, as above described. But it is rather remarkable at this castle, that not only is there a separate entrance to the dark apartments on the ground-floor, but this is by far the largest and most imposing of the two. It is a large semicircular archway between ten and eleven feet in breadth, ornamented both within and without with two massive nook shafts, having ornamented capitals.

The ground-floor is without any light, except what now enters from the doorway lately opened, and from the destruction of a part of the vaulting adjacent. The interior measures thirty- four feet by nineteen, and the floor of the chamber above is supported by a very massive central pillar, square below, but passing into an octagon above. From this spring groining ribs, as indicated in the plan, the other extremities of which rest on octagonal shafts with square bases. The mouldings of these and the central pillar are remarkably analogous to those of the Perpendicular style. Hollowed out beneath the central pillar is a well (A), and in the face of the same towards the left side, is a hole near the top. At the entrance, the hole for the large wooden beam, or bolt, may be observed, as also traces of the iron hooks for the door-hinges. In the left hand corner, as we enter, is a projecting circular turret (B), entirely distinct from the main walls, and containing a winding staircase forming the present means of approach to the chief room on the first floor. The pavement of the room which we have just described is I understand the natural rock, it presents the appearance of large rough flags intersected by irregular cracks. Ascending the circular turret, which is lighted by a loop-hole looking towards the door, we arrive by the aid of a step ladder (C), (the turret being broken away at the top,) at