360 CARDINHAM ANTIQUITIES. 



''The site of the castle has been converted into tillage groimd, 

 " and the sides of the mount are covered with furze and ancient 

 "trees." 



Mac Lauchlan wrote — ''The Castle of Old Oardinham resem- 

 "bles neither in position nor construction the ancient Camps of 

 "the country, and seems of a late period. It was probably 

 "formed by one of the Dinham family, and may have been a 

 " Norman Castle, though no marks of mortar remain to support the 

 " supposition. The form of the foundations, which have been 

 " much disturbed, is rather quadrangular than circular, the sides 

 " being about 150 by 100 feet. This part is raised above the outer 

 " Court, which is on the south, and measures about 330 by 260 

 " feet. The outer court had a rampart and ditch." 



The Eev. J^ Wallis observed — " Cardinan Castle was built 

 "probably after the Conquest by one of the family of Dinan." 

 He also tells us that Robert de Cardinan' s charter to Lostwithiel 

 is still preserved, which was made about 1196, according privi- 

 leges which his ancestors granted to that town "when they 

 founded" it. 



Mr. J. Polsue has noted — " Cardinham Castle the seat of the 

 " Dinhams was situated on a considerable eminence — the site is 

 " still called the Castle, and traces of the foundations are yet to he 

 " seen^ 



The truth of this last remark has just been proved. 



Any recognizable masonry was hidden beneath the turf until 

 quite recently, but Mr, S. Jenkin, acting for Lord E,obartes, in 

 causing some farm buildings to be erected near, on proceeding 

 to use the abundant supply of stones fit for walling, which were 

 procurable from the Castle Mounds, unexpectedly discovered that 

 the ramparts were formed not only of loose earth and stony rub- 

 bish, but that the foundation of a large thick wall was brought to 

 light. This mass of masonry within the mound contained distinct 

 proof that a stone building had once been reared iipon the spot 

 — verifying what had hitherto been but vague tradition. Lime 

 mortar was found to have heen used in some parts of this wall. The 

 stones were generally rough, irregularly built together, and much 

 debris was mixed with them ; but some finely dressed and chamfered 

 pieces of freestone, such as might have been brought from St. 

 Neot, were also discovered. These had been cast in with the rest, 

 but had previously been so cut as to form, if built together, part 



