AliRRCONWY. 77 



country. The walls and towers are embattled 

 and vary from twelve to fifteen feet in thickness. 

 The principal entrance was from the town at the 

 west-end by a drawbridge over a very deep moat; 

 this leads by the ascent of a few steps to a spacious 

 terrace, protected by five small towers, and inter- 

 vening walls ; thence through a gateway, defend- 

 ed by a portcullis, to the larger court. This con- 

 tains on the south side the noble hall, which is one 

 hundred and thirty feet long, thirty-two wide, and 

 of a proportionate height, about thirty feet ; out of 

 this was partitioned off, at the east end, a chapel 

 with a large window. The roof was supported 

 by eight fine gothic arches, four of which still re- 

 main ; one fell about thirty years ago; it was 

 warmed by a great fire-place at one end, and two 

 others, one on each side ; there are six windows 

 to the country, and three larger ones to the court ; 

 underneath were the spacious vaults which con- 

 tained the ammunition for the use of the garrison; 

 and also the cellars for provision. At the east 

 end of this court is the reservoir, fifteen feet in 

 diameter, and twenty deep ; the water which sup- 

 plied it is traditionally reported to have been con- 

 veyed in pipes from a well above Ty gwyn. I 

 have heard it said that portions of pipes have been 



