206 Report of TiiE MeiitINgs J'or iqOo 



must have been strongly defended, it is certain that in after 

 years its defences were further strengthened, or entirely 

 remodelled. 



At the time of Clarkson's survey a great portion of the 

 inner ward was covered by buildings, the most important 

 of which were the Chapel, Chantry House, Brewhouse, and 

 Bakehouse. Facing the Ravine and Constable's Towers stood 

 the Chapel, which measured in length 57 feet, breadth 21 

 feet, and height 21 feet, and which in 1558 was reported 

 as being in a very good condition. Near to it was a conduit 

 set with stone, which brought to a lead covered cistern a 

 fine flow of fresh water from fields at the west of the tt)\vn, 

 known as " Howling Fields." Behind the chapel was the 

 Brewhouse, a building measuring 60 feet by 27 feet, and 

 close to the Postern was the Bakehouse, of about the same 

 size as the Brewhouse. To the south of the latter were a 

 Slaughter House and a Store House ; and to the west of 

 these stood the ancient Chantry House, of which, at the time 

 of Clarkson's Survey, only a simple wall remained standing. 



What was formerly the Keep, consisting of a series of 

 towers of almost uniform height, is now dominated by the 

 lofty Prudhoe Tower, the foundation of which was laid in 

 1854 by Eleanor, Duchess of Northumberland. In bold effect 

 this tower adds to the dignity of the entire building ; in 

 style it resembles the prevailing work of the thirteenth and 

 fourteenth centui ies, and its architect must have made himself 

 familiar with such buildings of that period as exist at 

 Warkworth and elsewhere, and it bears sculptured on its 

 front the lion couchant and guardant. Adjoining the Prudhoe 

 Tower is the Chapel, with its high pitched roof and lancet 

 windows, whose appearance tends to soften the rigid outline 

 of the adjoining Tower. 



The chief entrance of the Keep, through the Gateway of 

 the Courtyard, leads one under the shadow of the ancient 

 Norman Archway, whose lozenge and zig-zag mouldings are 

 characteristic of Norman architecture, and assign to the 

 archway a date between 1150 and 1180; whilst two flanking 

 octagon Towers belong to the middle of the fourteenth 

 century. In 1558 this Gateway was described as a "building 

 of two towers of four house height." High up upon these 



