ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



the bottom, and the opposite side of which, or counterscarp, rose about 

 40 ft. at a similar angle, so that the ditch at the counterscarp level was 

 100 ft. broad, and the crest of the scarp rose 30 ft. to 40 ft. above the 

 ground opposite.' The conical mount is about 40 ft. high and 70 ft. in 

 diameter at its summit. 



Lewes. — This fortress, which stands in a favourable position for 

 commanding the river Ouse and its valley, is remarkable as possessing 

 two conical moated mounts, one at each end of the area enclosed by the 

 castle walls. The mound to the south-west is now surmounted by the 

 remains of the shell keep ; that to the north-east, known as Brack 

 Mount, has near the top a large fragment of flint walling, apparently 

 overturned, but there are no traces of masonry on the top of the mound. 

 Both still retain traces of the ditches or 

 moats by which they were once sur- 

 rounded. 



The two mounds were probably 

 suggested by the conformation of the 

 ground. Mr. G. T. Clark' considers 

 that each end of the knoll on which 

 the castle stands was already a mound, 

 and all the defenders, or rather makers, 

 of the castle had to do was 'to pare and 

 scarp its sides and slopes, to isolate it 

 from the intervening platform by a 

 ditch, and to pile up the earth so re- 

 moved upon the central space. By this 

 means two very respectable moated 

 mounds were formed, each conical in Lewes Castle. 



figure, with a flat top, and with its cir- 

 cular and circumscribing ditch. Of the mounds so raised, partly natural 

 and partly artificial, that to the south-west was about 130 feet above the 

 northern plain, and that to the north-east about 1 10 feet. The next step 

 was to defend the platform intervening between the two mounds. On 

 the north front this was effected by scarping the already steep slope, 

 which thus became almost inaccessible. The southern slope, less strong 

 by nature, was protected by a strong bank of earth thrown up along its 

 crest, below and outside of which was a formidable ditch, about 30 yards 

 broad, and below and beyond it the ground occupied or to be occupied 

 by the town.' 



The enclosed and defended area of the town may perhaps be con- 

 sidered to represent the outer bailey of the castle. 



BuRGHLOw Castle. — This is a mount and bailey castle situated 

 quite near the river Cuckmere. The mount occupies the northern part 

 of the castle area, the whole of which is surrounded by steep ground 

 sloping away from the castle. In general arrangement Burghlow Castle 

 is rather suggestive of Bramber, except that it is smaller and has no outer 



^ Suss. Arch, Coll. xxxiv. 58. 

 475 



