BIOGRAPHY. 43 



Unfortunately, Waterton's father destroyed tliis historical 

 building to make room for the present house, and almost 

 the only relic of this fortification is the old gateway, with 

 its central tower and flanking turrets, and said to be' more 

 than a thousand years of age. 



The gate itself is of very thick oak planking, pierced 

 with loopholes for musketry, and bearing tangible evidences 



GATEWAY AND IVY TOWER. 



of the siege in the shape of many bullet marks. In the left 

 portion of the gate there is a ball still remaining, which is 

 distinguished by an iron ring round it bearing an inscription 

 to the effect that it was fired by Oliver Cromwell himself. 

 That he took an active part in the siege is well known, but 

 it is difficult to identify any individual bullet which he 



