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crag, overlooking the valley of the Taff. Armed with a permit. 
from the agent of the Bute Estate, they crossed the modern. 
drawbridge and found themselves in the courtyard of the recently 
restored Castle. Originally one of the Norman Castles built for- 
the defence of the country from Chepstow to Pembroke, and called. 
the Red Castle from the tint of its iron stained Coal Measure- 
sandstone of which it was built, it stands on a platform of rock. 
about 20Cyds. long by 70yds. broad. The West side precipitous. 
the North face defended by a deep moat, and the East cut off by a 
fosse cut deeply in the limestone rock, it must have been a fortress. 
of great strength. It is triangular in shape, with adrum tower at 
each of the angles now fitted up as domestic offices. At the base 
of the North tower a steep flight of steps leads down to a dungeon, 
lit only by a narrow opening admitting a mere ray of light down 
a sloping channel in the thickness of the walls—a dismal place ! 
This is perhaps the oldest part of the existing structure, and is 
probably Early English of the date of Henry III. The members 
were shown the upper rooms, and pretty peeps were obtained, 
through the deeply splayed windows, of the sandstone hill of 
Garth, rising 981ft. above sea level, on the opposite side of the 
Taff; of the river itself winding at the foot of the Castle crag, 
and of the well kept vineyards below on the slope of the limestone 
hill facing South, the produce of which the members tested the 
evening before. A rapid descent through the wood was made to. 
a Mountain Limestone quarry at the foot of the hill now being 
worked. The whole face of the quarry was streaked and coloured. 
red from the percolation of the water through the red soil on the. 
surface, and a bed of riverdrift gravel resting somewhat up against 
its face was covered with a coating of breccia composed of angular- 
limestone cemented together by carbonate of lime-—a recent 
formation rather remarkable. Before taking the train for Cardiff 
at 4.42, Mr. Drane was cordially thanked in the name of those- 
members who were present, as well as those who were absent, for 
his kindness in devoting so much time to their guidance and their 
