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
Two openings have been broken into this chamber from the outside, on
the east and west sides. Why nine feet of masonry should have been
twice pierced, at immense labour, it is difficult to say; nor is there
any trace of door or loop which might have made the task easier, or
have suggested these openings. The broken walls do, however, show at
the very base of the structure, on each side, a horizontal or nearly
horizontal square drain, of very rough construction, in the substance
of the wall. These holes have been the subject of much speculation.
They were evidently drains from the upper floors of the tower,
collected to fall into one outlet. Such drains may be seen in the
heart of an overthrown solid tower at Corfe. It is not improbable that
one of the breaches may have contained a recess or garderobe, which
communicated with the drain, and suggested the penetration of the wall
in that direction.
The first floor, of 17 feet 9 inches clear diameter, was entered by an
exterior door in the wall, at the level of the cordon, or 12 feet above
the ground, on the east side. There must have been exterior steps;
but they did not bond into the wall, and may have been of wood. The
door has 3 feet 3 inches opening, with a drop arch and plain chamfered
moulding. It was defended by an interior door; but there was no
portcullis or other defence. The door-recess is 4 feet broad, and has a
drop arch.
This floor had two windows towards the north and south-west, the
openings of which are about 18 inches broad, with plain equilateral
heads. The former opens from a recess 7 feet 4 inches broad, having
stone side-seats; between which, in the floor, is the trap descending
into the dungeon. The other window has a recess 6 feet 10 inches broad,
with a stone seat on its left side. In its right, or west jamb, is
a door 2 feet 5 inches wide, square headed, beneath a drop relieving
arch; from which rises a mural stair 2 feet 5 inches broad, lighted by
two exterior loops, and with a flat covering, leading to the second
floor. The window recesses are segmental, and are formed of excellent
limestone tufa ashlar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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