of wood, and capable of removal. It may be observed however, that at the foot of the present steps, and more towards the corner formed by the junction of the boundary wall, there are traces of circular foundations.
The exterior of the castle is as plain as it can well be, for exclusive of loop-holes, and two small quatrefoils in the chapel, there are only two windows in the building; one of these (C) is over the door, and belongs to the chief room. It is divided into two lights by a large stone pillar, and has massive lintels surmounted by a semicircular arch for strength. In the floor above this is a similar but smaller window (K) between the first and second left turrets[1].
As a hint for those who may attempt to plan the floors of castles, it may be well to observe that the accompanying ground-plans could not have been rendered worthy of any reliance, had I not been careful to note down the positions of all the loop-holes from the exterior. As my note-book has here fulfilled its part on the plans, I pass on to a description of the interior of this strong fortress.
The interior is divided into three stories, exclusive of the store room or dungeon, which is above the level of the ground, although entered from above, according to the usual practice, and exclusive also of the little closets in the upper parts of the turrets.
The first floor is a plain circular room, twenty-three feet in diameter[2], not even lighted by a loop-hole, and is approached immediately from the entrance by a straight passage (A), five paces long, and four or five feet broad, but without any thing like a vestibule, as drawn and described by King. In the centre is a large circular aperture, seven or eight feet in diameter, communicating with the dungeon below, at the bottom of which is said to be a well, now filled up ; others affirm that there is a subterraneous passage or sally-port from thence, an assertion unworthy of notice. Twenty-five steps[3], (giving a height of about thirteen feet and a half for the first room,) winding up the thickness of the wall, and lighted by a loop-hole at about the middle, conduct from the entrance passage to
- ↑ In the following description, by first and second right or left turrets, I mean the turrets so situated to the right or left of the entrance.
- ↑ I did not measure it on account of the intervening mouth of the dungeon, others give 21 and 22 feet for the diameter.
- ↑ The width of the staircase I find stated at 5 feet.
