266 



belonging to it, only, than for a habitable Castle of such mag- 

 nificence — i.e., £52 13s. 4d. (about £800 a year of present value). 



In this hasty sketch I have clone little more than transcribe 

 the facts recorded in the " Saxon Chronicle," Coxe's " Mon- 

 mouthshire," and one or two other works. 



As to the architectural features of the building, the less I say 

 the better, for it is a subject I have not studied. I may just 

 draw the attention of the Club, however, to the manner in which 

 the facings have given way in the upper part of many of the 

 windows, revealing the fact that the Gothic arches in these 

 windows are in some degree shams, — that is, the real weight 

 or strain of the stonework above is not borne by the arch itself, 

 but by the more ancient method of gaining over from each side, 

 and capping the approaching stones with a large flat one, which 

 distributes the strain over a larger surface. The principle is 

 exactly the same as that adopted in the great pyramid, where 

 in the King's chamber, above the flat polished granite ceiling, 

 the weight of the whole superincumbent mass of the pyramid is 

 staved off by this system of "gaining or corbelling over" with 

 flat stones. 



There are some handsome fire-places in some parts of the 

 Castle — in one of which may be noted the employment of herring- 

 bone work, which Coxe thinks indicative of a very early period. 

 It is evident, however, that this is done merely as an exceptional 

 ornament, which might have occurred to an architect of any period. 



The keep is in the northern angle ; the baronial hall probably 

 stood on the right of the principal entrance (going in). The 

 slides for the portcullis in the great gateway are remarkably 

 perfect. The gate in the keep tower has not only the grooves 

 but the holes for the portcullis or chain of the drawbridge quite 

 perfect. The tower on the left of the building {i.e., nearest the 

 village) shows very clearly the corbels for carrying the wooden 

 gallery used in mediaeval siege work, for protecting the defenders 

 of the Castle, while they poured molten lead or other murderous 

 missiles on besiegers in the moat. The manner of erecting and 

 employing this " Hourdage" is shown in a spirited sketch in 

 VioLLET LE Due's " Great Dictionary of Architecture." 



