ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 
seem to mark a well-guarded entrance. At the bottom of the valley to 
the south the stream was originally taken through a pond of great 
length, now known as the ‘ Black Pond,’ and then outside another, the 
‘ Westminster Pond,’ very much wider, scooped out of the hillside to a 
depth of 12 feet on its steeply cut northern edge. The stream was 
evidently directed into the upper pond by a strong bank, and then flowed 
past the lower, between two similar dams. ‘Thus the second pond was 
supplied from the first, which was slightly higher in level. Domesday 
names no mill, and these arrangements for the storage of water suggest a 
sluggish flow which was not always equal to the requirements. 
(5) YELDEN oR YIELDEN CasTLE.—This is one of the most inter- 
esting earthworks of its type in the county, both because of the strength 
of the remains, and because of the presence of masonry revealed during 
excavations made about twenty years ago. There is also some degree of 
certainty as to its date and origin. 
It differs from other examples in not standing on high ground but 
towards the base of a long gradual slope, which continues to rise beyond 
the site of the castle. From Domesday down to the thirteenth century, 
it was the stronghold of the Trailly family. Its main defences consist of 
a great conical keep mound, ending in a rounded oblong at the summit, 
and of two extensive baileys, inner and outer. Beyond these to the east 
and south are several large enclosures with strong entrenched lines round 
them. 
The area of the top of the mound at the highest is roughly 130 feet 
by go feet, and 40 feet above the bottom of its north moat. It is in two 
levels, and is not surrounded by the moat, its western scarp descending 
into the inner bailey. Small remains of stone foundations were discovered 
on the mound in 1882. The moat, which is in places 30, 40, 50, and 
on the west 100 feet in width, encloses both mound and bailey, and 
is strongly ramparted entirely round its inner edge. At the north-west 
angle the base of a stone wall was found during the excavations, and the 
bases of two small round projecting towers at the south-west angle ; 
_ also a length of stone foundation lining the south rampart of this wing. 
The west moat is of great length and of unusual breadth, and is con- 
tained along its west edge by a long bank, outside of which a small stream, 
the Til, runs. In two places this bank is pierced to admit the stream. 
Opposite the two tower bases referred to, a small mound rises out of this 
west moat, and the excavations revealed the remains of a round tower in 
stone, 30 feet in diameter and with 4 feet walls. A chamfered plinth 
stone which came from it was pronounced to be undoubtedly Norman 
work. There may have been a drawbridge over to the inner bailey at 
this point. The north end of this moat is closed by a projection from 
the outer bailey, where was probably another entrance. Where this pro- 
jection joins the bailey there is the base of another low mound. Exca- 
vation might have shown that there was another stone tower here to cover 
the entrance, although in 1882 no stone remains were found in this bailey. 
From this point a strong rampart encloses the west and north sides of the 
1 289 37 
