CASTLE

(Lat. castellum, fortre ), word introduced into Eng'and by the Normans to describe a stone defensive building, which took the place of the Saxon burh, a timber palisade encircling the top of a mound, which was the only kind of a fortification then known in Britain. William I. introduced the square stone keep of which the ‘White Tower in the Tower of London is a notable example. Upwards of 100 ft. square, with walls of rubble and mortar, 15 ft. in thickne , such a structure was practically impregnable against the battering weapons of that day. A more common type of the Norman c., however, was the ‘shell-keep,’ an encircling stone wall, in place of the wooden palisade. Living apartments and offices were afterwards built against the inner sides of these walls, while from the large central space sprang the keep or, donjon, square or round; this being very peroneal built, and usually containing the well, served as the last defense of the garrison if the outer defenses were carried. Eng. author; was for some years on staff of Saturday Review, 1855-94; pub. Schools and Masters of Fence, 1884; and English Book Plates Ancient and Modern, 1891. With Agnes Castle, his wife, wrote other novels: Consequences, Young April, Incomparable Bellairs, The Secret Orchard, etc.; has also produced plays: (¢.g.) Saviolo, The Pride of Jennico, etc.