Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/34

 INTRODUCTION NORMAN KEEPS pilasters at the angles (Fig. 10), with a square sinking on the corners, and narrower pilasters in the centre of each face, all springing from a broad splayed plinth. The forebuilding is much destroyed, but its outline can still be traced, containing the stair to the main entrance on the first floor. This doorway has recessed shafts with good Norman caps and bases, and chevron mouldings round the arch. From this point a newel stair leads up to the second floor, which contains the great hall, and down to the FIG. 10. Castle Hedingham from the West. basement, which, together with the first floor, contained the stores. The windows are all small externally, with chevron mouldings round the arches, but have wide square recesses internally, with full centred vaults. In the hall they are provided with stone seats in the recesses, and the wall arches are adorned with bold chevron ornaments. The hall is 38 feet long by 33 feet wide. We have here a fine example of the removal of the central wall so as to form one great hall on the principal floor. At Rochester this is effected by means of several arches, but at