Page:Medieval Military Architecture in England (volume 1).djvu/467

 Coni^horotto;h Castle. 431 means shows a work to be Roman. Those of St. Botolph's Priory Church were evidently never used before. The only conclusion is that they were manufactured in imitation of those introduced by the Romans. Neither is the mortar that usually described as of Roman composition. It is decidedly white or light in colour, with a great preponderance of sand, so much so as in some parts to have prevented its setting. Where the mortar is in masses it may contain fragments of tile or stone, but there is no trace of pounded brick in its composition. It is generally ill-mixed, and contains large fragments of sea-shells. The putlog holes in size and position are such as are usually observed in buildings of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, though probably not confined to them. The soffits of the vaulting of the staircase and mural chambers everywhere are im- pressed deeply with the figure of the boards used as centring, or what is called technically lagging. The carpenter's work in Norman keeps seems to have been very rudely performed, and the rough boards were spread over thickly with mortar to bring them to a surface. This is well seen at Colchester. Taking all these features into consideration there ought to be little doubt that Colchester keep is a Norman structure, built probably about the close of the eleventh century, by one of the sons of Hubert de Rie. The keep is the only part of Colchester Castle now standing. The wall enceinte has long been removed, probably about 1650, but its general line to the east, north, and west is indicated by three earthbanks. To the south the ground has been levelled. The entrance from the town was on this side. This was the main gate, but there was also a second. The area thus enclosed appears to have been rather above three acres. Various Roman remains have been discovered within and about this area. CONISBOROUGH CASTLE. CONISBOROUGH, or, as it was anciently and more correctly called) Coningsborough or Coningsburh Castle, is one of the most remarkable of the strongholds in the North ot England, stand- ing high above the bank of "the gentle Don," about half-a-mile below its reception of the Dearne, in the midst of a grand sylvan amphitheatre. Its name declares it to have been a seat, and its position to have been a fitting seat, of Saxon royalty ; and the mighty earthworks which constitute its most ancient defences, pro- claim the value of the possession and the power of the founder : moreover, the great enchanter of romance has thrown a charm over the scene and invested it with an interest not the less deep that it is