plan. The area is 1 acre, 1 rood, 35 perches. In addition to one Roman tower remaining in the eastern wall, there are five of the subsequent era. The connecting walls, will, I believe, be found to be Norman, and the towers themselves not earlier than the close of the thirteenth century. The great gateway (3) is flanked by two ruinated towers, has an aspect nearly due west, and looks towards the principal entrance of the Roman work from which it is distant nearly 550 feet. Mr. Wright, in the article previously alluded to (Gent. Mag., Aug., 1852), remarks that "in this gateway, and more especially in the external forms of the towers round the castle, the medieval architect imitated the Roman models before him." The arrangements for the portcullis and drawbridge remain very distinct, and the addition of what I will call the Edwardian work to the Norman gate, as originally constructed, is sufficiently distinguishable. The towers, which are in some instances of two, in others of three stories, and the walls 9 feet thick, are constructed of what is locally called Eastbourne stone[1] with immense loop-holes. The lower stories have been vaulted, and the arches of the north-western tower (2) are still almost complete in the circumference of the wall. This is considered with some probability to have been the residence of the governor.
The Roman tower marked M has fallen from its original position and lies or stands (for I do not know which is the better expression), at a considerably inclined angle — the "leaning tower" of Pevensey! Curiously enough, the top of this tower has been made to form, in a way very difficult to describe, the "landing-place" or platform of a sally-port obliquely cut through the Norman work.
It is difficult to contradistinguish by proper terms the Roman fortifications at Pevensey from those of medieval date, although the disparity between the two is obvious to the most incurious observer. It has been customary to call the vast Roman enclosure — in other words the city walls of Anderida — the Base-court; and the Norman and post-Norman work, the Keep. Now in truth the latter is an independent castle complete in all its parts — the enceinte, moat, and other usual
- ↑ The green sand of geology. The place at Eastbourne from whence the material for Pevensey Castle was quarried is still traditionally pointed out.
