File:Archaeologia cantiana (1883) (14596295678).jpg

Identifier: archaeologiacant15kent_0 (find matches)
Title: Archaeologia cantiana
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Kent Archaeological Society. cn
Subjects:
Publisher: (London) Kent Archaeological Society
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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century, and others in the fourteenth. The Inner Barbican occupied the first, or southern, island.It was approached by means of three drawbridges, correspondingwith the roads from Maidstone, Leeds, and Lenham respectively.From this Inner Barbican the present road of entrance passes overa stone bridge of two arches. While these arches are themselvescomparatively modern, the central pier between them, and their twoabutments north and south are the ancient supports of the originaldrawbridges. The northern abutment of the bridge stands on the second, orcentral, island, which, is about 500 feet long, but less than 300 feetbroad. Here we see the Gatehouse,* with the Constables chamberover the gateway, and its guard-rooms on either side. One door-way of stone, in an upper room of this gatehouse, bears EarlyEnglish chamfer-stops of the time of Henry III., or even, it may * The gatehouse is now utilized for a lodge, stables, coach-houses, applelofts, and other rooms, Nos, 43 to 48 on the Plan,
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LEEDS CASTLE. 149 be, of King John. Its newel staircase of stone was lighted bycruciform slits, deeply splayed, now blocked by the lodge outsidethem. Mr. Charles Wykeham-Martin believed that King Edward I.added much to this gatehouse, and probably he was right; but it isquite clear that the machicolations over the gateway, and doubtlessother details also, were not constructed until the reign of Richard II.We know from the records that in 138;- two portcullises, and otherdefensive appliances here, were paid for. This central island is protected by a massive wall of stone, whichrises from the bed of the moat, and entirely encircles the island.Four semicircular bastions added to its defensive capabilities. Howthe principal area (the Inner Bailey) of this island was originallylaid out or occupied we do not know. After leaving the gatehousebuildings (now coach-houses and stabling), we find, on the righthand, or eastern side of the island, beneath the lawn now used as aground for drying clo

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