TINTAGEL CASTLE. 229 



The Chapel (54 feet by 12) Leland says was dedicated to S. 

 Ulette or Ulianne. It has been unroofed and in rnins for several 

 centuries. In 1855 I explored the interior and removed the rub- 

 bish from the altar, which is built of slate and mortar, with a 

 granite slab. In the chancel Avere graves lined with slate, of no 

 great depth. One of them contained some dark mould, but no 

 bones. The position of the screen is marked by hollows in the 

 walls. Several pieces of freestone, of billet moulding, and one 

 similar to the impost of the Transition Norman Chancel Arch in 

 the Parish Church, with a carved triangular stone, with mouldings 

 of the same period, were likewise observed. The Chapel, beyond 

 a doubt, was built about the middle of the 13th century; and 

 there is nothing to shew that it is of later date than the rest of 

 the Castle.'^' 



Norden says (as already mentioned) that the "morter and 

 " ciment wherwith the stones of this Castle were laycle excelleth 

 " in fastnes and obduritye the stones themselues, and nether time 

 " nor force of handes can easelye seuer the one from the other." 

 This is a perfect description of Norman mortar. I need not remind 

 you that mortar now-a-days is made by slaking lime with water, 

 then mixing it with earth or fizie sand, and making it into a thick 

 paste with more water. It is then left for days or weeks till wanted ; 

 and when dry it is little harder than a mass of clay. The Norman 

 plan was to grind the lime as it came from the kiln, and after 

 mixing it with coarse sand or gravel, to exclude it from the action 

 of water until it was used. When wanted, it was mixed very 

 freely with water, and poured, in a sort of semi-fluid state, into its 

 bed, loose rubble being thrust in amongst it. In the course of a 

 few days the mortar would be hard enough to resist a battering 

 ram. Nothing can exceed the firmness of Norman masonry. It 

 is, if possible, harder than the unhewn rock. About twenty years 

 ago it was necessary to breach the walls of the White Tower in 

 London, in order to introduce a tram-way into it, for the convey- 

 ance of ordnance stores. It took a party of sappers and miners 

 six weeks to effect their purpose. 



I do not imagine that the Castle ever had a large garrison, as 



* 1 Eic. Ill (1483) John Leicrofte was presented by the King to the free 

 Chapel of Dyndagell alias Tyntagell. 



