By Tom Burgess, Esq., F.S.A. 317 



ground at the depth of three or four feet was just of the nature of 

 the soil that would be found at the bottom of a lake or pond, and 

 contained, what to his mind was conclusive, namely, fresh water 

 shells, such as were now found in great abundance in Drew's Pond. 

 His impression was that this sheet of water miight have been as 

 large as Drew's Pond. There might have been a windmill on the 

 castle mound at the time the place was occupied as a castle, and 

 many of them were familiar with the fact that there were two wind- 

 mills there used for grinding snufF during the past century. 



Mr. Brock said there was an old plan of the castle which showed 

 the contour of the borough, and another plan, of later date, showing 

 the boundaries of the two parishes as at present ; and if they followed 

 the lines of the valley and of the ancient watercourse, such as Mr. 

 Burgess had been describing, they would find about midway a little 

 quadrangular enclosure, surrounded by a watercourse, which would 

 give Mr. Burgess an extremely good place for his mill ; ^ and if they 

 supposed that below that again there was an embankment, as Mr. 

 Cunnington had said, they would get motive power sufficient for 

 the mill, and enhance the beauty of the castle generally. He was 

 glad that Mr. Burgess and himself were both agreed as to the 

 building which many people had supposed to be the keep. They 

 agreed pretty nearly as to the site. As to the shape of it they 

 diflPered. He could not think it was square, but round or octagonal 

 or some other form, but not square. It was misleading to lay down 

 a hard and fast line that all Norman keeps were quadrangular, for 

 such was hy no means the case. 



' The little quadrangular enclosure, surrounded by a watercourse, lies in the 

 midst of a line of water-meadows on the Old Park estate : it was generally known 

 as the "Keeper's Lodge" from lack of any better information as to its origin, 

 though why a keeper's cottage should be thus surrounded by a deep and broad 

 moat, like a moated grange, was not so apparent. Henceforth it would be known 

 as the " Castle Mill," its true origin being in all probability that suggested by 

 Mr. Brock and Mr. Burgess. [Ed.] 



2 B 3 



