Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/397

ODIHAM CASTLE, HANTS. By O. T. CLARK. About a mile north-west of the town of Odiliam, in the tything of North Warnborough, stands what remains of this ancient Castle. It is placed on the left bank of the "White- water, a rather copious stream, which rises about two miles south, and flows northwards to fall into the Loddon at Swallowfield. About the Castle the ground is low and flat, and in consequence very wet. The Basingstoke canal has been carried across the marsh, and being now abandoned and choked with weeds, adds to the dreariness of the scene. The place no doubt was always one of strength, and the open woodland about it was favourable to the preservation of game, and to the wilder kind of sporting in which the Plantao;enet monarchs took oreat delight. AMiatever may have been the extent of the Castle in its great days, its remains in masonry are confined to a single tower, now in a very dilapidated condition. This tower is an octagon, described within a circle of about 29 ft, radius, the faces, not quite equal, averaging 22 ft. 6 in. The walls, casing included, were 10 ft. thick ; the interior faces, there- fore average 14 ft. 9 in., and the interior diameter from face to face is 38 ft. At each angle is set a buttress of 4 ft. 'projection and 2 ft. breadth, rising to the summit, or nearly so, of the building, now about 60 ft. higli, and which, the parapet and part of the wall being gone, may have been 8 ft. higher. As the tops of some of the upper windows remain, it may be inferred that the height, when com- plete, did not exceed 68 ft. The material of the tower is a conglomerate of small flint nodules grouted in a large quantit}-^ of very good mortar. The whole exterior seems to have been faced with small ashlar blocks, possibly of Caen stone. The casing is