THE CASTLE OF THE PEAK, AND THE PIPE ROLLS. 121 



It was at tliis time, also, that William granted to Peverel the 

 numerous lordships in Derbyshire and other counties, which 

 constituted what was known as the Honor of Peverel. Included 

 in this, was the land where William Peverel erected his Castle of 

 the Peak. 



On the south side of the vale of Hope, close to where Mam 

 Tor raises its ever-crumbhng head, is a height of less elevation 

 than most of those around it, but one nevertheless of singular 

 natural strength. Its west side is a frightful precipice, at whose 

 foot is the yawning mouth of the great cavern called the Devil's 

 Hole. The south side, if it be not so precipitous, is equally 

 inaccessible ; whilst the end and side towards the valley are 

 sufficiently steep to render the ascent toilsome and the attack 

 difficult. 



It was on the top of this strong position that William Peverel 

 built his castle. The term castle, it must be remembered, does 

 not mean the later tower erected on the highest point, but is the 

 usual term for any fortified position, and, therefore, refers to the 

 whole area within the walls. The Conqueror and his barons 

 appear to have employed two classes of castles — one always 

 constructed in masonry, the other very often with only wooden 

 defences. Where a castle was built on an old site, they seem to 

 have contented themselves wuth repairing the existing works, 

 which were usually of earth, with timber palisading on the top, 

 and with an external ditch. If, as was often the case, these 

 earthworks included a mound, it was fortified with a shell or 

 circular keep of masonry. The latter work, however, was fre- 

 quently postponed, and wooden defences temporarily set up. 

 When, on the other hand, as was the case here, the castle was 

 built on a new site, masonry was employed for the outer works, 

 and a rectangular keep built where necessary. It was the policy 

 of the Conqueror, on obtaining possession of a district, to fortify 

 such strong places as might be essential to hold it. This was 

 done either by the king himself, as at Nottingham and elsewhere, 

 or the barons to whom the lands were allotted were allowed to do 

 so for the security of their new possessions. 



