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 castle was thus placed cross-wise in the camp, and parallel to
the river, the action of which has carried away the outer half of its
ditch, and converted the slope into a precipitous bank, at the top
of which is the curtain-wall. The eastern outwork is composed of the
end of the knoll, or ridge, on which the castle stands, and which is
scarped into a triangular platform, the base of which, 57 yards long,
covers the end of the fortress, and projects 38 yards. The ditch
cutting off this work from the body of the place is 23 yards broad, and
very deep. The earthworks westward are two banks and ditches, across
the tail of the knoll, one 57 yards long, and 47 yards in advance of
the main ditch, and the other 84 yards further in advance, and 94 yards
long. Both are intended to cut off approaches along the river bank. The
cross-ditch covering the south front of the castle is about 30 yards
broad, and up it, from the east, came the main approach. These ditches,
on the south-east and west fronts, are wholly artificial. There is also
a trace of a bank and ditch along the east front of the camp, about 30
yards in advance of the main ditch, and about 60 yards long. A road,
which may be Roman, comes up from the south, and crosses the Augill by
a bridge, 250 yards above or to the east of the castle, to join the
main road over another bridge in Market Brough. Upon this stream is the
castle mill. The defences, in masonry, seem to have been confined to
the castle proper. There is no trace of such upon the outworks, which
probably were stockaded. The ditches were at far too high a level to
have been fed from the river; but the soil is retentive, and they seem
to have been filled with rain water.
The castle is composed of one ward, a trapezium in outline, the east,
north, and west sides being at right angles, and respectively 77, 90,
and 57 yards, and the south or oblique side, 94 yards. It is, in fact,
a right-angled triangle, with the acute angle truncated. The keep is
placed at the truncated end, and forms the south-west angle of the
ward, its south and west sides being exterior, and in the line of the
curtain. The domestic buildings were along the south side, and about
the south-east angle, and built against the curtain. Near the centre
of that side was the gatehouse, and attached east of it the hall,
beyond which a large three-quarter drum tower capped the south-east
angle. This and the gatehouse are the only mural towers. The kitchen
and chapel, and some later buildings, probably rested against the east
wall, and there are slight foundations between the gatehouse and the
keep. The north curtain, towards the river, seems to have been free
from buildings. Upon it are two buttresses, and in one a garderobe,
entered probably by a side door and passage in the wall. This curtain
is 3 feet to 5 feet thick, and from 12 feet to 15 feet high inside.
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