TAUNTON CASTLE. 25 



solid keep, find an open quadrangle, having its sides de- 

 fended by flanking towers, and its entrances by enibattled 

 gate bouses ; and aroimd tbe quadrangle two, oi' even tbree 

 concentric lines of defence were drawn, containing between 

 them tbe same number of couvts or bailies, in tbe inner 

 of wbich were situated tbe priucipal buildings, sucb as tbe 

 ball, cbapel, &c., wbile tbe offices, stabling, and frequently 

 tbe mill, occupied tbe middle and outer courts. Tbe 

 entrances were defended by gate towers, witb portcullises, 

 and drawbi-idges ; and barbicans, or tetes-du-pont, were 

 erected, usually of wood, outside tbe counter scarp of tbe 

 ditcb. Of tbis type of Castle, wbicb is said to bave been 

 introduced by an engineer of tbe name of Elrington, Caer- 

 narvon, built by Edward I., furnisbes a magnificent 

 example. Tbese are tbe two great types of tbe Englisb 

 Castle, and tbougb improvements were introduced by 

 Wykebam and otbers in later times, we find in almost 

 every case tbe main features of tbese types, eitber separate, 

 or wben additions bad been made to an original Norman 

 Castle, very commonly combined, Tbis appears to bave 

 been tbe case in Taunton Castle, — tbe general plan of 

 wbich I will now endeavour to point out, by tbe belp of 

 tbis very excellent ground plan wbicb I bave procured for 

 tbe purpose. 



Tbe stream wbose confluence witb tbe Thone marks, as 

 I before observed, tbe Situation of King Ina's Castle, 

 entei's tbe outer moat at tbe soutb westem corner, and is 

 there divided into two Channels, one of wbich proceeds 

 towards tbe river in nearly a straigbt course, tbrough tbe 

 garden attached to tbe bouse occupied by Mr. Cbannon, 

 and passing uuder tbe road tbrough Stevens's Nursery- 

 gardcn, falls into tbe Thone at the north western extremity 

 of the slight elevation ou wbich tbe Castle was built. Tbe 



1853*, PART II. D 



