Page:Medieval Military Architecture in England (volume 1).djvu/255

 Berkeley Castle^ Glottcestershire, 235 it varies from 15 feet to 10 feet. Five steps ascend to its outer gate, a large full-centred archway contained within a plain chamfered mould- ing. As the doorway has been blocked and reduced in size by a perpendicular work, its jambs are concealed or may have been removed. Within is a vaulted passage, carried through the gate- tower, which is 15 feet square, and has an upper story. From the doorway twenty-four steps ascend to an open platform, having on the right a high and pierced parapet, and on the left the wall of the keep. At the stair-head a ledge on the right serves as a way to the upper floor over the gateway. This is a small chamber lighted by two windows and a lancet loop. The two larger windows and the door are of Tudor date, as may be the whole room ; but, if so, it is a rebuilding, for the original tower must have been on the same pat- tern. In the room is an ancient bed and some hangings of needle- work or tapestry, very early, but scarce of the age of Edward II., whose chamber this is reputed to have been. A little beyond the stair-head, against the walls, right and left, are seen the rebates of the middle gate, and in front, in the wall of the Oratory Tower, is the weather moulding of a roof Hence it would seem that the staircase, as at Castle Rising, was covered all the way up. The main entrance to the keep opens upon the platform at the stair-head. It is a handsome, full-arched doorway with closed tym- panum and flat head. It was flanked by highly ornate shafts, of which one remains. This portal opens into a vaulted passage through the keep wall, and enters the keep under an original archway, seg- mented with Norman mouldings. The jambs are worked in a very bold chevron pattern. From the exterior platform a narrow stair is continued to the battlements of the curtain over the bakehouse; but this may be an addition, for usually every part of a Norman keep was complete in itself, and had no direct communication with any other part of the castle. There is another and parallel stair in the wall, but opening outside and leading to the room above the bake- house. This is not original. The keep is constructed of exceedingly rude rubble masonry. Upon two parts of its face are nine narrow and shallow pilaster strips : three towards the barbican, and six between the inner gate and the forebuilding. The keep wall has a rude plinth, with no set- off or string. It is evident that this, as at York, and in other shell- keeps, was lined by lodgings, having an upper floor, placed all round against the wall with an open court in the centre. These were pro- bably of timber. In the part of the keep towards the barbican is a breach about 40 feet broad down to the level of the inner floor. It is said that this part of the w^all was partially broken down during General Massey's attack, and was afterwards enlarged to its present condition, as at Kenilworth, rather as a matter of favour, to render the castle untenable without injuring it as a dwelling. Had the keep been blown up as was usual by gunpowder, it would have presented a very different aspect.