100 WAREHAM : ITS INVASIONS AND BATTLES. 



land before mentioned, the enemy could be watched in all 

 directions, and, whilst it proved a formidable check to the enemy 

 in case of invasion, it effectually guarded the town and military 

 barracks if (they probably were not) situated between Wargate 

 and the West Wall. There is no mention of a gate ; Westport 

 suggests water, and the means of exit and entrance was probably 

 by a drawbridge. The locality supports the theory. By this 

 means the garrison could, if sorely pressed, obtain shelter within 

 the wall , by the raising of the bridge the town would be closed 

 to the enemy, and the assailants, had they been fortunate enough 

 to have passed the outposts, would have found themselves wholly 

 at the mercy of the defenders at the top of the hill. Camden 

 describes the castle which William the Conqueror had built as 

 exceeding strong : this stood inside, and probably conspicuous 

 above, the south end of the West Wall. Hutchins gives the length 

 of this wall as 1,800 feet. 



North of the West Gate we find an opening, probably at some 

 time cut for convenience ; unless a small water gate for the 

 dwellers in that quarter of the town. Beyond this the wall rises 

 rapidly, and this higher portion of the wall declines, or did 

 decline, according to Mr. Warne, 50 feet on the south and 

 40 on the north. A platform existed west of the higher part, 

 and this would prove a remarkably good point of vantage 

 ground for a sentry to watch over an extensive area, both of 

 land and water, the movements of an enemy ; it would also 

 afford him some shelter. Cannon being unknown at this 

 period the walls could better withstand the attack. From end 

 to end a remarkable ditch existed at the base of this wall, 

 and very deep at the north end. By this ditch the wall was con- 

 siderably heightened, and with the sea at both ends there would 

 have been little difficulty in getting the water through. The ditch 

 would have formed a kind of moat for the Castle and also protection 

 for the West Wall till drained by the retreat of the sea. Further, 

 Hutchins suggests that at the end of this wall a sally port existed, 

 and an inspection of this angle of the wall will support his theory. 



