Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/75

Rh The first floor. In the centre of this is a circular pillar (D) about three feet in diameter, broken away towards the top. The size of the apartment differs but little, if at all, from that which is below. Being the state room, it is lighted by three Norman windows (EEE) of moderate size, being four feet and a half in width on the inside. The splay is but slight, and at the sides, both on the interior and exterior, are shafts with fluted capitals. The inside arches are ornamented, and have a string-course embattled on the under side.

In the thickness of the wall, at the same angle as the circular turret, is a small closet (F) with an unusually large window, seven feet broad; the width of the room is only four feet and a half.

At the other angle is a door four feet and a half wide, leading to the original entrance (G), which is broad, but not exhibiting any great precaution for strength. It is high above the ground, the accumulated rubbish in front having been lately cleared away, and with it the inclined plane, which, from traces then found, seems to have formed the means of approach by the intervention of a drawbridge, as at Rochester keep, and Pevensey castle. The view of the keep shews the former elevation of the ground previous to the late removal of the rubbish. The passage is nine feet wide, and at the door is a step to the platform in front, occasioned by the recession at this angle before mentioned. From the side of this entrance passage a straight flight of stairs (I), lighted by two loop-holes (HH), conducts to the second floor, which it enters by the door (K). Towards the top of the stair is a large doorway towards the exterior, at a great height from the ground (J); it has been blocked up in comparatively ancient times, and a perpendicular loop-hole inserted.

The second floor, entered by the door (K), passed along the top of the circular pillar, which aided in its support. This must have been rather a gloomy room, being lighted by only three loop-holes (LLL), which, though very wide on the inside, are but narrow slits on the exterior. Their height from the floor is very considerable. At P is a door leading to a closet, to which there is now no means of access; being in the thickness of the wall it is of course very small. A door near the entrance of the room, and to which you cross by means of a plank at rather a giddy elevation, leads to a small chamber (M) in the thickness of the wall, seven feet and a half long, and