PICKERING. S03 



towers, of two or three stories high ; which served 

 for lodging some of the principal officers, for grana- 

 ries, store-houses, and other necessary offices. On 

 the top of this wall, and on the flat roof of these 

 buildings, stood the defenders of the castle, when it 

 was beseiged ; whence they discharged arrows, 

 darts, and stones, on the beseigers. The great gate 

 of the castle stood in the course of this wall, and 

 was strongly fortified with towers on each side, and 

 rooms over the passage, which were closed with 

 thick folding doors of oak, often plated with iron, 

 and having an iron portcullis let from above. With- 

 in this outer wall was a large open space, or court, 

 called in the largest and most perfect castles, the 

 outer bayle or ballium, in which stood commonly a 

 church or chapel. On the inside of this outer bayle 

 was another ditch, wall, gate, and towers, inclosing 

 the inner bayle or court, within which was built the 

 chief tower or keep. This was a large square fab- 

 ric, 4 or 5 stories high, having small windows in 

 prodigiously thick walls, which render the apart- 

 ments within dark and gloomy. This great tower 

 was generally the palace of the prince, prelate, or 

 baron, to whom the castle belonged ; and the resi- 

 dence of the constable or governor. Under ground 

 was the dungeon, consisting of dismal dark vaults, 

 for the confinement of prisoners. In this building 

 was the great hall, in which the owner displayed 

 his hospitality, by entertaining his numerous friends 

 and followers. 



The keep of the castle of Pickering is singularly 

 situated, and peculiarly constructed : its formation 



