Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
Very remarkable in this castle are the subterranean galleries, driven
in the chalk rock beneath the lines of the original wall, and behind
the scarp of the ditch. These are now in part blocked up, but there
still remain two or three hundred yards of them of which the direction
is known. They are entered by a passage in the inner ward, in its
north-west quarter, and by a descent of fifty-four steps near the keep,
and possibly from other points now lost. The galleries are about 7 feet
high and 6 feet wide, rudely cut, and somewhat singularly laid out.
They lie within, without, and beneath the wall, and give off frequent
spurs or short passages intended to occupy any space in which a mine
was likely to be opened. At this time they have been broken into at
three or four points in the scarp of the ditch, about half-way down.
They were intended as a system of permanent counter mines to meet any
attempt at mining on the part of the besiegers. In one place a large
central pier is surrounded by a gallery, whence the branches go off,—an
arrangement intended probably to check the progress of those who might
break in. So far as is known, these galleries, of which a survey was
made in 1708, are confined to the southern half, or four-fifths of the
old castle. There are none under the outer ward.
Outside, and to the north-east of the outer gate, are some semicircular
platforms, which seem to have played a part in the defence of the
castle; but whether before or after the use of artillery is uncertain.
The Bel.—A curtain wall, which originally was about 5 feet thick,
and from 15 feet to 20 feet high, commences abruptly upon the crest
of the counterscarp in two places; one on the east opposite to the
mural tower, which marks about the centre of that front of the castle,
and thence descends towards the river; and the other north, close
outside of the drawbridge of the main entrance. This latter wall is
continued down the hill, and makes a bold sweep towards the town, and,
finally reaching the river bank, joins the river wall. The enclosure
thus formed contains about twice the area included by the ditch of
the castle, and has long been known as Le Bel or La Baile, a form
evidently of the Norman-Latin _Ballium_, called by us the “Bailey.”
This enclosure is traversed by the road from Dieppe to Martigny,
which passes through the two gates bearing those names. A third, or
water-gate to the east, opened upon the river. Upon the north front
appear to have been two small half-round mural towers, of which one
remains. The river has somewhat encroached upon the lower part of the
Bel, and has undermined part of the wall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account