152 
the West, a lake or swamp on the North and South, approach 
being obtained only across the moat through drawbridges and 
portcullises most cunningly contrived. The whole may be divided 
into five parts ; The Grand Front, the Horn Work, the Redoubt, 
the Middle Ward and the Inner Ward. Proceeding round to the- 
Grand Front on the East and standing opposite the Great 
Gatehouse, Mr. Drane pointed out the strength and completeness. 
ofthe line of defence on this side, probably the most perfect in 
the kingdom. First of all the broad and deep moat (now 
occupied by houses, pig-sties and gardens) formerly crossed by a 
double drawbridge worked on a revetted island in the centre. 
The long curtain wall, from 20 to 69 feet high, North and South 
of this gateway had some peculiarities in its structure, As the 
ground on the inner side rose to a considerable height, some 25ft., 
buttresses and towers had to be built against it, the lower portion: 
of the wall battens considerably, and the upper space between 
the buttresses is concave, so that the enemy could not shelter 
themselves so well at the base, and missiles thrown from the top 
would glance off upon them more effectually. A low archway to. 
the North of the gateway, about the level of the water, was. 
probably a water gate. One feature was the absence of any 
breteches. There were no puttocks on the exterior of the wall for 
a wooden platform to rest on (as was usual, and might be seen 
on the South wall of the Inner Castle), so that the defenders. 
probably had access to the wall along the top in some way from 
the Gatehouse tower. The buttresses are solid, quadrangular 
below and hexagonal above, and the towers of the gateway have 
pyramidal masses of masonry, the apex dying off into the main 
walls built up for strength and support at their corners. A Téte- 
du-pont terminates the South curtain, and defends it at this point 
from being outflanked. Going round to the North side Mr. 
Drane pointed out the sally port, whence cavalry could deploy on 
the terre-plein, and how difficult it was to approach the Castle 
from this side when the low ground was covered with water, and 
—— 
