Page:VCH Bedfordshire 1.djvu/347

 ANCIENT EARTHWORKS seem to mark a well-guarded entrance. At the bottom of the valley to the south the stream was originally taken through a pond of great length, now known as the ' Black Pond,' and then outside another, the ' Westminster Pond,' very much wider, scooped out of the hillside'to a depth of 12 feet on its steeply cut northern edge. The stream was evidently directed into the upper pond by a strong bank, and then flowed past the lower, between two similar dams. Thus the second pond was supplied from the first, which was slightly higher in level. Domesday names no mill, and these arrangements for the storage of water suggest a sluggish flow which was not always equal to the requirements. (5) Yelden or Yielden Castle. — This is one of the most inter- esting earthworks of its type in the county, both because of the strength of the remains, and because of the presence of masonry revealed during excavations made about twenty years ago. There is also some degree of certainty as to its date and origin. It differs from other examples in not standing on high ground but towards the base of a long gradual slope, which continues to rise beyond the site of the castle. From Domesday down to the thirteenth century, it was the stronghold of the Trailly family. Its main defences consist of a great conical keep mound, ending in a rounded oblong at the summit, and of two extensive baileys, inner and outer. Beyond these to the east and south are several large enclosures with strong entrenched lines round them. The area of the top of the mound at the highest is roughly 130 feet by 90 feet, and 40 feet above the bottom of its north moat. It is in two levels, and is not surrounded by the moat, its western scarp descending into the inner bailey. Small remains of stone foundations were discovered on the mound in 1882. The moat, which is in places 30, 40, 50, and on the west 100 feet in width, encloses both mound and bailey, and is strongly ramparted entirely round its inner edge. At the north-west angle the base of a stone wall was found during the excavations, and the bases of two small round projecting towers at the south-west angle ; also a length of stone foundation lining the south rampart of this wing. The west moat is of great length and of unusual breadth, and is con- tained along its west edge by a long bank, outside of which a small stream, the Til, runs. In two places this bank is pierced to admit the stream. Opposite the two tower bases referred to, a small mound rises out of this west moat, and the excavations revealed the remains of a round tower in stone, 30 feet in diameter and with 4 feet walls. A chamfered plinth stone which came from it was pronounced to be undoubtedly Norman work. There may have been a drawbridge over to the inner bailey at this point. The north end of this moat is closed by a projection from the outer bailey, where was probably another entrance. Where this pro- jection joins the bailey there is the base of another low mound. Exca- vation might have shown that there was another stone tower here to cover the entrance, although in 1882 no stone remains were found in this bailey. From this point a strong rampart encloses the west and north sides of the 1 289 37