The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-22
rns u.n..atIen Of c..tls..


II is a difficult question, what should
be done with the ancient keeps and
"chiehess castles that are scattered
oyel.the length and breadth of England.
In most cases, unfortunately, they are
SO dilapidated that nothing can be done
with them beyond keeping the RUNS in
tolerable repair as historical landmarks
and picturesque elements in a landscape.
But in other cases, where the donjon
keep remains in tolerable preservation,
they are seldom left ''all tenantless;
save to the crannying wind, - and they
have been put to various uses. York
Castle has been converted into a gaol.
Carisbrook, like other ancient castles,
is still used for military purposes. The
old castle which in its younger DAYS
gave It's name to Newcastle-on-T Tyne.
after having served as a prison, was
converted into a museum of antiquities.
Nottingham Castle, famous for its
memories of the civil wars. has in like
manner been turned to good service of
late years. There are difficulties in the
way of utilization of castles. arising
chiefly from the fact that these who
would like to use them do not own
them. A dispute between the ratepay-
ers of Monmouth and the Duke of Beau
fort is likely to result in the closing Of the
ruins of Raglan Castle to the general
public, and this is but an extreme Illus
tration of the differences which some-
times arise between public and private
interests in English castles. This
difference will fortunately no longer
exist in the case of one of these
historical monuments, for an agreement
was signed to-day amid much local
rejoicing by which the old Keep of
Rochester Castle and the adjoining
pleasure-gardens were transferred abso-
lutely by the Earl of Jersey to the
Mayor and Corporation on behalf of the
citizens of the ancient city. Tie tower
is a magnificent Norman relic, in a
fairly good state of preservation, con-
sidering its seven centuries of troubled
history. Its base is about 70feet square,
and its walls rise to a height of 100 feet,
varying in thickness from 8 feet to IL
feet. At three of the angles there are
square ~terrets, and at the fourth a
round one, extending from the base toa
height of II feet above the rest of the
building; but, joined with its strength
and associated with its uprlghtness,
they are parts of the tower itself. The
roof, which no longer exists, consisted
of a platform on a level with the top of
the inner wall. The parapet surround
ing the tower is 5 feet inheight, and the
embrasures are 2 feet wide. Of this
building it a be said in Mr.. Rnskin's
language, "No towers are SO grand as
the squared browed ones. with massey
cornices and rent battlements."
The tower is the grand citadel of
what was once an extensive and strongly
fortified castle, but of which only
remnants of the outer walls and bastions
remain. The castle was built by William
/, on the ruins of an earlier fortifi.
cation. either Saxon IL Roman, but the
tower was not begun till the rein of
William IL, when Bishop Gundulpn, a
Norman prelate, who had been
| Grated To the See of Rochester in 1877,
laid its foundations and made some
| progress with its construction. The
work vas continued and completed by
William de Carboyl, Archbishop of
Canterbury, in the reign of Henry Ill.
During its eventful history it has under
gone many vicissitudes. In the reign
of King'Stephen its possession was con-
tested by rival parties, and in 1915 1t
was defended III the cause OF the Barons
against King John. Again, IN the
! following year it was invested by Louis,
the Dauphin of France, in league with
the Barons. The Earl OF Warren, in
1864, stubbofnly resisted the attack of
Simon de Monfort, Earl of Leicester;
and in these several sleges the work
suffered severely. Some time after
wards the round turres of the keep
was constructed, to take the place of
one OF the square towers which had
been destroyed in King Johns attack.
The walls of the castle were repaired
by Edward ~ in 1464, and from that
time till the reign of James | the whole
ediice was allowed TO fall into decay.
King james / in 1910 gave the castle to
Sir Anthony Weldon, of S~wanscombe,
from whose descendants it was purcased
by Mr.. Robert Child, the banker. and
his granddaughter and heiress having
married the fifth Eyrl of Jersey, 1t came
into the possession of that family.
What time and the fighting Barons
could not effct, a Vandal of the last
century nearly accomplished. With a
view to the utilization Of the materials,
an attempt was made t break down the
remaining portions of the outer walls,
but the honest work Of the builders
defeated this sordid attempt, for the
work of demolition was found to be too
expensive to be profitable. However, a
great rent was made in the walls, aud
the roof and floors of the keep were
removed, and every portion of timber
taken away. Since that time the old
fabric has been taken more carefully
tended, and under its new masters the
UNCOVERED pile is not likely to have less
attention, even if, as it is be hoped will
not be the case, they are unable to
utilize it for some public purpose.
There is an area of about four acres of
land within the old walls, and for a
number of years this has been taste
fully laid out as a pleasure garden. In
1870 the Mayor and Corporation
arranged a lease of the keep and ground
for IA term of eighty years, and since
that date they have been dedicated to
the use of the public. Recently negoti-
atisns were opened In order to acquire
the absolute ownership, and these have
| inst Terminated successfully. the pur-