196 D. MONTGOMERIE — NOTES ON 



Large numbers of these exist all over England and Wales, 

 and in Normandy and in those parts of Scotland and Ireland 

 into which the Normans penetrated. 



It is somewhat disappointing, no doubt, to be told that banks 

 and ditches represent the " Castle," where one had imagined 

 a frowning tower of stone, but the earthworks now seen are the 

 original, if less imposing, Fortress. 



In the reign of Henry II, the famous Thomas a Becket was 

 granted the custody of Berkhamsted Castle, and it appears 

 from the records that he replaced the old wooden defences, 

 stockades, palisades, and wooden towers, with which the banks 

 were crowned, by the walls of flint-rubble which still partly 

 surround the enclosure. 



Excavations have been undertaken during the past three 

 years, under the original auspices of Mr. William Page, E.S.A., 

 and Rev. Canon Norman, F.R.S., and carried on by myself, 

 to uncover, so far as possible, the masonry defences and works 

 now in ruins and partly buried beneath the soil.* 



Taking the chief discoveries in order, we have : 



1. The south gate, towards the town. This was found to be 

 flanked by two solid towers of flint-rubble, with a passage-way 

 of about 11 feet ; only a yard or so of each tower was left 

 above the original foundation, but their shape was traceable. 



The ditches were evidently crossed by wooden bridges, with 

 moveable portions, known as drawbridges. The two fragments 

 of wall visible on the outer bank may have formed part of 

 a half-way tower, from which probably the drawbridges were 

 worked, one on each side. 



When standing in the south gate it will be observed how 

 Castle Street points to it from the town. 



2. In the two large gaps in the east wall may be traced the 

 footings of two haK-round towers for flanking that wall. These 

 were closed at the back mtli a thin wall, and in the northern 

 one were found traces of steps leading to a small cellar or 

 basement. 



3. At the north end of this east wall, and along the south 

 side of the detached cross-wall, were foimd a number of 

 chambers of varying sizes and construction, and it is probable 

 that the Great Hall, the centre of life in the Castle, lies some- 

 where in this quarter. 



4. Crossing over to the westorn side, we come to the most 

 massive remains of any, and there was here uncovered a large 

 rectangular building, projecting, as may now be seen, into the 

 inner ward, but also outwards beyond the " curtain- wall," as 

 the main wall of the Castle is termed. In front of this 

 building, and down towards the moat, were found three large 



* A history of the Castle, with a large plan, giving further results of the 

 excavations, will appear in the second volume of the ' Victoria History of the 

 County of Ilertford, ' shortly to be issued. 



