28 PAPERS, ETC. 



Imraediately within the moat the south-eastern corner of 

 the enclosure is occupied by an elevated rectangular plat- 

 form, the sides of which, in the garden attached to Mr. 

 Dyer'a house, were, within a very few months, marked by 

 masses of masonry, which have now given place to rasp- 

 berry bushea ; while that towards the moat displayed a face 

 of undoubted Norman masonry, whIch has also disappeai'ed 

 before the unsparlng march of modern improvenients. 

 From this platform a high agger extends to the north- 

 eastern corner, where Stands a mount commanding the 

 outvvork before mentioned, and the approach to tlie ancient 

 mills ; while along the front, defended by the mill stream, 

 masses of very solid masonry may still be seen, but in so 

 mutilated a condition as to defy any attempt at accurate 

 description. 



At the distance of more than twelve hundred years it 

 would be manifestly absurd to expect any remains of a 

 building constructed at a time when getymbrian was the 

 word used to express building of any kind, fortlfications 

 included ; but it is probable that this interior moat marka 

 the exact site of the Castle built by Ina, and destroyed 

 soon after by his sister, as it follows the foi'm of the ground, 

 and encloses the highest part of the elevated spot at the 

 confluence of the brook with the Thone. That the plat- 

 form at the south-east angle was the site of the Norman 

 rectangular keep, does not admit of a doubt; while the mount 

 at the north-eastem extremity was probably one of those so 

 often met with in Norman fortifications, though the arch 

 in its northern aide, leading into the outwork before men- 

 tioned, isevidentlyoflaterdate. Whether the Norman Castle 

 extended fai-ther to the west than the masses of masonry, 

 before mentioned, may be doubtful, but I am inclined to 

 think that the base court occupied the whole area included 



