Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/261

SOUTH GATE. 235 period an assaulting army had driven a mine under the wall from the southern side. We regret that the tradition has not been confirmed by any discovery. €t)e g>outf) ©ate stood, and stands, at the head of the ravine above Dock- acre. This ravine is the modern Angel Hill, the ancient Sibard's Street, in which was another famous well. (See p. 216.) The gate faces old Whyte Lane, now Race Hill, a locality which gave great facilities for assault by the approaches from Tavistock, Plymouth, Exeter. It was therefore essential that the defence should be strong. The South Gate fulfilled this requirement. Outside it was the moat and drawbridge. The arch of the gateway measured Note. — While this work was passing through the press the British Archaeo- logical Association issued Part II. of vol. xl. of their journal. In the record of the proceedings of the Association on their visit to Canterbury in August, 1883, is this statement : " The party then left for Shepherd's Well Station, a modern corruption of Sibertswold ; " and the following ballad is printed by way of note — "Ye sapient rustics, young and old, Who hereabout do dwell, Why have you changed famed Sibert's Wold To humble Shepherd's Weill " Young Sibert was a chieftain bold, As ancient legends tell ; He bravely fought upon the Wold, And there victorious fell. "And there, where many a Roman chief His single hand had slain, By his brave warriors, drowned in grief, Young Sibert's corse was lain. "And long his glorious deeds were told. And widely spread his fame ; And hence, in after times, the Wold Obtained brave Sibert's name. " Then tell me, rustics, one and all, For you alone can tell, Why yuu a shepherd Sibert call, And make his Wold a well?" The Shepherd's Well, near Canterbury, is said to be 296 feet deep.