154 REPORTS OF MEETINGS FOR 1910 



the splays of the South window.* Access from the basement 

 is obtained by means of a broad sinistral stone staircase, which 

 rises to the roof and terminates in an umbrella vault supported 

 on the newel, as may be seen also in the Wai'der's tower of 

 Alnwick, and the Cradyfai'gus tower of Warkworth, Castles, 

 though in the latter the vault completes a dextral stair- 

 case. Along the walls are seen projecting the stone corbels 

 which bore the floor of a room of similar size above, but of 

 less altitude, which is also lighted by two-light windows without 

 transoms at each end. From outside it is noticeable that none 

 of the windows are exactly over or opposite the other. The 

 North- Western corner of the Castle has on the basement the 

 attendant's room, and above it another, opening from the stair- 

 case and lighted by two loops. Above these are two other 

 rooms with fire-places, making four storeys. In the South- 

 western corner and its tower are six storeys, consisting of a 

 small vaulted room on the basement, another of similar character 

 and lighted by a small loop, another with a handsome two- 

 light window with trefoil cusping, its Northern wall being 

 pierced in the form of a squint, which would enable anyone 

 passing down the stair to view the East wall and the altar, 

 if, as is not improbable, this chamber was used as a chapel ; 

 and two others, one below the level of the roof and the other 

 in the rectangular tower above it. The building is without 

 external ornamentation, save that the walls have a moulded 

 offset at a little above the level of the first storey, and 

 that the windows of that storey are finished with a tympanum 

 constructed of large stones in the form of a pointed arch 

 bearing incised cinquefoils and enclosed by a hood-mould. In 

 a monograph by Sir Arthur Middleton, entitled An Account 

 of Belsay Castle, 1910, a copy of which he presented to the 

 Club as a souvenir, a more detailed description of its archi- 

 tectural features may be obtained, but no historical facts are 

 recorded. In it are figured the remains of an ancient clock, 

 at one time fixed on the South wall, but now stored for 

 preservation in the great hall, the dial of which is shown of 



* Examples of mural ornamentation aee figured : Ber. Nat. Club, Vol. 

 XVI., Plates IV. and 1V«. 



