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 fancy cloths once known as “Dunsters” have long ceased to be
fabricated, and of the fulling mills the ruins have well-nigh perished.
The haven at which these manufactures found shipping is also silted
up, and the privileges conceded to the townspeople, being now shared
by the community at large, are no longer commemorated, and are known
only because the charters granting them have been preserved. Of the
neighbouring hills, “Gallocks” is thought to be so called because there
the high judicial powers of the lords were exercised in the view of
all men, and “Grabhurst,” the castle ridge, is said to be named from
an entrenched wood, though this use of the word “graff” is unknown
or unusual in English nomenclature, and “Hirst” or “Hurst” belongs
rather to Sussex and Kent than to Somerset. The fact is that the hill
in old deeds is spelt “Grobefast,” and is at this time colloquially
“Grabbist.” Near it is a lofty detached hill known as “Conygaer,”
crowned by a tower of the last century. At present it is thickly
planted, but no camp has been discovered there, such as the name might
indicate. The castle mill remains. It is placed on the verge of the
park, upon the stream, and concealed and protected by the castle.
The castle is composed of two parts, due to the natural disposition
of the ground; these are the tor or keep, and the lower ward. The tor
is in form oval, and its summit, naturally flat, has been further
levelled by art, as the slopes also have been trimmed, and rendered
almost impracticable for direct ascent. The summit measures about 35
yards east and west, by 70 yards north and south. The keep, which stood
here, has disappeared, and its existence, long a matter of tradition,
may now be deduced from a sewer and some foundations in the south-west
corner laid open a few years ago. The present surface was laid down as
a bowling-green in the last century, and a summer-house constructed at
the north-east corner, in which is a window in the Perpendicular style
taken from some earlier structure.
The artificial scarping of the hill sides is confined to the upper 80
or 100 feet. At this level are two platforms or shelves, one, a small
one, towards the south, the other much larger, also chiefly natural,
towards the north, and which forms the lower ward. The lower ward is
of a semilunar or semioval figure, the hollow side being formed and
occupied by a portion of the skirts of the tor. It measures about 33
yards north and south by 126 yards east and west, and covers about half
an acre of ground. The outer or convex edge, steep by nature, has been
cut into a low cliff, supported by a retaining wall, which, with its
flanking towers and superstructure of parapet, protected this ward.
At the foot of this wall, part of which supports the present house,
the slope recommences, and, though now terraced by roads and paths,
formerly descended unbroken to the base of the hill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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