Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 2 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 2 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
The hall, 60 feet by 25 feet, filled up, with the retiring-room, the
whole east side of the inner ward. Its south end is formed by the
south-east tower, the circular face of which has been patched and
plastered to present a flat surface towards the hall, and this addition
still shows the height and pitch of the hall roof. The west wall of the
chapel forms part of the east wall of the hall; and in another part of
this, which was also the outer wall towards the river, are traces of
a window recess, like those of the chapel. Near this, also connected
with the chapel, is a projecting space from the curtain, which may have
been a sort of oriel or small chamber attached to the hall. In the west
wall, at the south end, is an ashlar door or window jamb. The west wall
is destroyed.
[Illustration: KIDWELLY CASTLE.
INTERIOR Of CHAPEL.
_Mʳˢ. Traherne delᵗ._ _J. H. Le Keux sc._]
The retiring-room is of the breadth of the hall, and 30 feet long. It
communicates with the north-east tower. Its west wall is tolerably
perfect. It has been stuccoed, and includes a doorway. The cross wall,
and perhaps the place of its door opening into the hall, may be traced.
A trefoiled and recessed loop, of the date of those in the chapel,
remains on the east side in the curtain; and close south of it is the
fireplace, with a carved base to the chimney shaft. The whole of the
east curtain seems to have been employed to carry the roofs of the hall
and retiring-room, and was probably defended by a battlement accessible
from the roof gutter. The commanding position of the north-east and
chapel towers and the steep rise from the river would render this the
least accessible side of the castle.
The kitchen is placed opposite to the hall, in the south-west corner
of the court. It is 30 feet by 17 feet, and appears from its remaining
gable to have had a highly-pitched roof. At each end, north and south,
is a large fireplace, with magnificent tunnels. On the west side, which
is formed by the curtain, a window of narrow opening but broad recess
opens into the outer ward. Towards the south end is a third fireplace,
of smaller dimensions, apparently intended for stewing and similar
operations, like a modern hot closet.
In the east wall is a narrow doorway, placed within and on one side of
a wider arch, which at breast high is opened to its full breadth. This
seems to have been devised to allow servants to carry out large dishes
without opening a doorway of unnecessary breadth. On each side of this
door are low, broad openings, evidently intended for buttery hatches.
The north-west angle of this ward is occupied by an enclosure 45 feet
square, of which the two curtains form two sides. It is walled in, and
may have contained offices or barracks.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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