BERKHAMSTED CASTLE. 197 



cellars, of later date than the Castle itself, and containing large 

 quantities of bones, shells, and other kitchen-i-ubbish, and also 

 several encaustic tiles having various patterns, heraldic and 

 otherwise. 



The purpose of this large building is not at all clear, for 

 there does not seem to be any entrance to it, except a small 

 flight of steps on the north side. It may have been the Great 

 Chapel, but the remains are too ruinous for us to ascertain 

 its uses. 



5. Proceeding now towards the great mound, it may be 

 mentioned that just at the north-east corner of the north curtain- 

 wall, where it begins to curve round towards the detached wall, 

 was found the Derne Grate or Postern ("derne" meaning secret), 

 and this led by means of bridges across the moat to the country 

 beyond, affording a very convenient means of slipping out of the 

 Castle, unobserved from the town. 



6. The moat originally completely surrounded the mound, and 

 was only filled in about thirty years ago to make the latter more 

 accessible. The great mass of wall seen running up the mound 

 formerly joined the detached piece on the side of the inner 

 ward, but was gradually broken through and destroyed. It 

 crossed the moat by an arch and was eleven feet wide, carrying 

 a flight of steps leading to the Keep, and protected on the 

 outer side by a parapet wall. There was a similar but thinner 

 wall on the east, now gone, and the two thus connected the 

 Keep with the rest of the masonry defences, but without 

 preventing the separate defence of the former. 



7. Ascending the great mound we find a circular platform on 

 the top, and around it are the remains of a thick rubble wall. 

 This was the " shell keep," which formed a large circular tower, 

 not roofed over, but containing various chambers, oflBces, etc., 

 and one of the rooms is referred to as the King's Chamber, 

 showing that in those days safety was preferred to comfort, for 

 the Keep was small compared with the roomy ward below. 



A well, lined with excellent masonry, was discovered near the 

 edge of the Keep towards the south-west side, so that the 

 defence was independent of the rest of the Castle. 



In the year 1216 the Castle sustained a siege by Louis of 

 France and his adherent barons, fresh from the capture of 

 Hertford Castle, and after a spirited defence it was obliged to 

 surrender owing to the terrific bombardment from a number of 

 large siege-engines, which hurled, according to the account by 

 Roger of Wendover, " damnosos lapides " with such deadly aim 

 that the garrison yielded. 



8. With reference to these engines it may be mentioned that 

 on the extreme outer bank, next to the road on the north, are 

 seen certain large banks or mounds of earth, which were called 

 " bastions " by Mr. Clark, but which appear to have no relation 

 to the original earthwork defences, and Mr. St. John Hope has 

 pointed out that these most certainly represent the platforms 



