Sharp County record., 1880-10-07

fessional." little niche in the van still
holding the receptacle for holy water
This room passed, we went clear
around the tower till we came through
the 1narrowest of all passages to room
only ten feet by twelve. This
was certainly the room of Queen
Eleanor and the first Prince of Wales,
whether he was born there, or brought
when q very small boy. Back OF the
window is a narrow door which
opens upon walk upon the
walls, called Queen EleanOrs
walk. She could not 90 outside the
castle walls, and it would not be pleas
ant for her in the court with soldiers
passing to and fro, and her only exercise
out-of-doors had to be taken on this
narrow path. When the walls were in
repair she could walk from this tower
to the next, through that to another
wall, and so on around the castle, en-
tering back of the confessional. l fol-
lowed the walk a little way, and was
glad enough that was not compelled,
ike the poor Queen, to take all my
fresh air on path two feet wide on
castle walls. This tower, called Eagle
Tower, was the strongest of the thir-
teen, and for this reason the Queen was
placed in it: the next to the left, was the
RegalTower, and theenemy wouldnatur-
ally 90 there to look for the baby Prince.
The banqueting hall occupied the space
between the Eagle and Royal towers,
indicated now only by line Of stones
left for the purpose. The kitchens
were directly opposite, and the places
which years ago held the boilers
are still to be seen, as is also the end OF
the leaden water pipe away back in the
walls; trophy hunters have carried away
as much oft as their arms could reach.
The castle was entered by two gates; the
Kings gate, or general entrance, and
one smaller, butmore beautiful, through
which Queen Eleanor first entered Car
narvon. This gate is the most pictur-
esque part of the castle, being partial
ly in ruins and covered with ivy and
wall-fOwers.
Around the whole were high walls
with towers at intervals, part Of the
town of CanarvOn being now built
within them
If Camarvon is the grandest old
castle ruin, Conway is certainly the
most beautiful At the former there is
one large OblOng court; the latter has
two square ones, surrounded by lofty
rooms with arched roofs; the entire
castle is covered with mass Of ivy.
The grand hall is 1870 feet in length,
the roof formerly being supported by
eight arches. The roof and four Of the
arches have fallen, but ivy has covered
the remaining ones so luxuriantly that,
looking up from the floor, one can only
see leafy mass above, with here and
there speck of blue sky. 1t is built
on a rock, and can be entered by
steps cut into a rock, or by draw
bridge over the moat, and up a rambling
path. Back of the castle is a pleasant
yard, so that the lady of Conway was
more fortunate than poor Queen
Eleanor.
Conway was built by King Edward |.
also, and he was at one time besieged
in it, during a revolt Of the Welsh; he
was nearly reduced by famine to sUren-
der, but at the last moment a fleet
arrived with supplies and reinforce
ments.
Many of the castles were dismantled
by the Parliamentarians in the time Of
Oliver Cromwell, but for some reason
this was spared-itis claimed, on account
of its peculiar beauty.
Denbigh has a ruined castle, but it IS
hardly safe to explore it, as it was not
left for time to destroy, but was blown
up by gunpowder in the time of
Charles IL.
But l think boys care less for the
history of these old ruins than for the
pleasure Of climbing around them. 1t
is possible that the account of Carnar-
Won at least may lead some of you to
study enough of English history SO
that, when you cross the Atlantic and
have the opportunity to see what now
you read Of, you will not have to de-
pend upon poor guides, Or spend half
your time in hunting up why and by
whom these grand old castles were
built. - Nettie b. WjycOJ, IN 81.
Nicholas.