Londoners with respect to party walls; pits walled with stone are noticed as if they were in ordinary use. Stone shafts, apparently of this kind, have been occasionally found in late excavations in London; the last example discovered was on the site of the new Coal Exchange in Thamesstreet; its base rested on a portion of the pavement of a Roman house'. These observations on the character of houses in the metropolis, in the twelfth century, have a general relation to similar buildings in other parts of the kingdom. There were from the earliest period certain peculiarities of situation, as with reference to the security of the district, and the facility with which building materials of a particular description could be obtained, that exercised an undoubted influence upon the style of construction in different provinces; but it may be safely assumed that the general plan of domestic buildings in towns was very similar in all parts of the country. CHAPTER II. EXISTING REMAINS. OAKHAM CASTLE, RUTLANDSHIRE. Within the wall is a well, THE remains of Oakham castle consist of the hall and a ruined wall which surrounds the enclosure in which it stands. This is of an irregular, somewhat circular, shape. It is entered by a gateway of late date on the south side. The wall does not appear to have been intended for defence, as it is in general thin, and is composed of loose rubble, or rag, and filled in with mud. and the inequalities of the ground shew the foundations of several buildings, but there are none standing except the hall. Outside the wall is a high bank and wide moat, now nearly dry, and other banks which have enclosed a garden, fish-pond, &c. The walls of the enclosure are only separated from the churchyard by a narrow path. The history of the whole building, together with much curious information, is given by the Rev. C. H. Hartshorne in the Archæological Journal, vol. v. The hall, which (though with some alterations to adapt it to its present use as a county hall) is still in a remarkably perfect state, is built east and west, and in a direct line with the centre of the church. The masonry is rubble, with ashlar buttresses and quoins. The style of the building is that of the latter part of the twelfth century, being a transition from Norman to Early English, and the beauty of design and superiority of execution of its ornamental parts render this building one of the most valuable examples of that style which we possess. It measures inside |
