TAUNTON CASTLE. 23 



its fortificatlons being no longer required for the purposes 

 of defence, have gradiially fallen Into a State of complete 

 i'uin. Time, and the still more destructive inroads of 

 modern utilitarianism, and still worse, the vandalism of 

 modern improvement, have well nigh obliterated the 

 remains of this venerable abode of episcopal and feudal 

 power. Even since I have turned my attention to its ruins 

 some of its most interesting features have past away for 

 ever ; and it is in the hope of recording what still remains, 

 and of preserving some idea of its original features, before 

 every trace of its plan has vanished, that I venture to lay 

 before this meeting the results of my investigations among 

 the neglected fragments of Taunton Castle. 



The style of fortification prevalent in Saxon times, was, 

 as might be expected in so early a stage of society, ex- 

 tremely simple, conslsting of little more than a deep trench, 

 the earth from whicli being thrown inwards foiToed a high 

 bank or agger, which was further defended by a palisade 

 of strong wooden beams, or in some few cases of great im- 

 portance, by a wall built on the top. The shape of this 

 enclosure was visually determined by the lie of the ground 

 on which the fortification was constructed ; and such 

 buildings of wood as were required for the convenience 

 of the garrison were erected within. Of these Castles 

 nothing probably remains, beyond the trench and moulder- 

 ing aggcr. But after the Invasion of the Normans, a people 

 much farther advanced in all the arts of war and peace, a 

 massive and substautial style of fortification was introduced, 

 many noble specimens of which have come down to our days 

 in a State of comparatively high preservation, forming 

 the most stately and impressive features of many of our finest 

 Castles. The most important feature of this style, was the 

 keep, in the plan of which a remarkable uniformity prevails 



