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
The _Keep_ is a rounded shell of masonry, about 67 feet by 59 feet
in the internal cross diameter, and with walls, 8 feet to 10 feet
thick, and 20 feet high to the rampart-walk. It is built of rubble
masonry, the material chiefly Sussex stone and chalk, but faced outside
with small ashlar blocks of Caen stone, close jointed, and with flat
pilasters which die into the wall below the base of the parapet. The
entrance was by a rather large full-centred doorway to the south-east,
probably reached, as at Tickhill and Lincoln, by a flight of steps
up the mound, with a timber bridge at their base, as at York. This
doorway is not shown to visitors, but Tierney’s drawing represents it
as having a bold chevron moulding alternating with rolls or rounds,
common to the head and the jambs, and unbroken by imposts. Within, it
opened into a recess, also full centred, and having its angle replaced
by a bold roll. This, as at Lincoln, was the original entrance, and
it seems, though walled up, not to have been otherwise altered. Near
this doorway a well-stair has been formed in the wall, ascending from
the ground to the ramparts. It is evidently a Decorated insertion, of
the same date with a steep flight of steps and a vaulted subterraneous
chamber near the centre of the area, probably a cellar belonging to
the lodgings which, as at Windsor, were at one time built against the
wall all round, leaving a small open court, as at Tamworth and Ledes,
in the centre. That there were here such lodgings is evident from the
roof corbels in the wall, and that they, as at York, had an upper
floor, is shown by a late fireplace, which marks the upper level, and
the back of which is formed of tiles set on edge. The parapet was
about 8 feet high, and crenellated, and in each merlon was a loop, set
in an arched recess. In one merlon is a small full-centred recess,
evidently a garderobe. The present parapet seems a Decorated addition.
The keep stands, as does the mound, on the line of the main curtain,
which crosses the ditch from the gatehouse, and ascends the mound,
and has a similar continuation northwards. Where the south curtain
abuts upon the keep, there stands a broad irregular tower, of about 20
feet in projection by 50 feet in breadth. This contains the well and
its chamber, the entrance from the curtain rampart, and an oratory.
The entrance is by a vaulted passage, with a portcullis groove at the
ground level of the keep. The curtain has a parapet on either face,
forming a covered way, and is commanded by a sort of balcony connected
with the keep. The well is of unusually large diameter, but not in
use. The chamber was at the surface level of the keep, into which it
opened by a full-centred doorway. There was also an upper chamber,
now ruined. This position of the well, on the outside of the keep, is
found elsewhere. At Wallingford it is on the slope, and at Cardiff
nearly at the foot of it. The oratory, or chapel of St. Martin, is a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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