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floor; in whose centre is the opening to the dungeon。 Neither
of these lower rooms is lighted except from a hole in the floor of
the third story; the room in which; as well as in that above it;
is finished with compact smooth stonework; both having chimney…pieces;
with an arch resting on triple clustered pillars。 In
the third story; or guard…chamber; is a small recess with a loop…hole;
probably a bedchamber; and in that floor above a niche for
a saint or holy…water pot。 Mr King imagines this a Saxon
castle of the first ages of the Heptarchy。 Mr Watson thus
describes it。 From the first floor to the second story; (third
from the ground;) is a way by a stair in the wall five feet wide。
The next staircase is approached by a ladder; and ends at the
fourth story from the ground。 Two yards from the door; at
the head of this stair; is an opening nearly east; accessible by
treading on the ledge of the wall; which diminishes eight inches
each story ; and this last opening leads into a room or chapel
ten feet by twelve; and fifteen or sixteen high; arched with free…stone;
and supported by small circular columns of the same; the
capitals and arches Saxon。 It has an east window; and on each
side in the wall; about four feet from the ground; a stone basin
with a hole and iron pipe to convey the water into or through
the wall。 This chapel is one of the buttresses; but no sign of it
without; for even the window; though large within; is only a
long narrow loop…hole; scarcely to be seen without。 On the left
side of this chapel is a small oratory; eight by six in the thickness
of the wall; with a niche in the wall; and enlightened by a
like loop…hole。 The fourth stair from the ground; ten feet west
from the chapel door; leads to the top of the tower through the
thickness of the wall; which at top is but three yards。 Each
story is about fifteen feet high; so that the tower will be seventy…five
feet from the ground。 The inside forms a circle; whose
diameter may be about twelve feet。 The well at the bottom of
the dungeon is piled with stones。''…Gough's _Edition Of Camden's
Britannia_。 Second Edition; vol。 iii。 p。 267。