228 TINTAGEL CASTLE. 



reaching from the gate toAver in a southernly direction, along a 

 steep crag, to the cliff. In the south corner stood a small watch 

 tower, probably the height of the great wall Part of a room, 

 with a chimney in the wall, still remains ; steps are traceable which 

 led to the top of the tower, whence the view must have been very 

 extensive both by land and by sea. From this point a wall 

 extended to the chasm between the main and the island. Between 

 this wall and the cliff" was a terrace. It has nearly disappeared 

 by land slips, which have carried with them great part of the 

 wall. 



Leaving the outer court, we come to a chasm, of at least 200 

 feet wide, which was formerly so narrow as to be spanned by a 

 draAvbridge. All who described the Castle in by-gone days speak 

 of it as built partly on an island. The island is now become a 

 peninsula, by the gradual falling in of the sides, especially on the 

 land side, which is more exposed. This has formed an isthmus 

 70 or 80 feet in height. " A considerable quantity fell in March, 

 1846, carrying with it a large piece of the north wall, which still 

 over-hangs the path to the peninsula."* I have had no difficulty in 

 tracing, through the cUbris, the island edge of the chasm down to 

 the beach where the tide once flowed, thus confirming the state- 

 ments of former writers. 



The draAvb ridge appears to have fallen early in the 16th 

 Century; as Leland, in 1538, speaks of it as existing, and Carew 

 and Sir Kichard Grenville say it was then in men's memories. For 

 some years after its fall, the chasm was narrow enough for elm 

 trees laid across to form a bridge. 



Within the inner bailey stood the keep or principal part of the 

 Castle, in which was the " Great Hall " ; the timber of which was 

 taken down between 1330-1337, by order of John of Eltham, the 

 then Earl of Cornwall, because the hall Avas ruinous and the 

 walls thereof of no value. 



Adjoining the north wall (the ruins still remain) were " six 

 ruinat rooms, which were lodgings." They could have been re- 

 paired in 1583 at a small cost. Here Avas the residence of the 

 Constable and Chaplain ; and here too, after the Castle became a 

 prison, Avere kept John of Northampton and the Earl of WarAA-ick. 



» 32ud Eeport, p. 41. 



