Windsor Castle, erected by Edward the Third, as his favourite place of residence, is an obvious instance of the grand ideas formed by himself and his architect, respecting the appropriate dwelling of a king of England in the 14th century. This building is now so entirely altered, by the additions made in various ages (frequently incongruous, though magnificent) that it is almost impracticable to form a correct idea of its aspect, when inhabited by the warlike and chivalrous refounder of the structure. It must be well known to the reader of the Beauties of England, that Windsor castle was rebuilt on the site of a fortress raised by William the Conqueror. In examining such parts of the edifice as are of the date of King Edward the Third, it is necessary to hold this circumstance in remembrance; for we here find of arras, upon which were represented the achievements of the valorous Earl of Warwick, Sir Guy, whose legend was familiar to our old poets. Nor did the halls remain without their share of ornament. Armorial bearings in stained glass were not unfrequent, at least in the great bay-window; and, at the solemn feasts, moveable tapestry was placed behind the high table "Sculpture, however rude, was admitted at an earlier period, either over the machicolation of the gates, in the grotesque figures used as water-spouts, in escocheons, or effigies of some heroic individual. Over the grand entrance into Caernarvon castle, is the statue of Edward the First, standing in the act of drawing his sword, and an attitude of defiance. Carvings, introduced as architectural embellishments, we:e, in many instances, finished with no less pertection than in church buildings." Much information concerning the paintings which enriched the walls of royal and noble castellated structures, in the Middle ages, is contained in Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, and in Warton's History of Poetry, Vol. II. From the "Dream" of Chaucer it would appear that such circumstances of embellishment were not confined to the castles of the sovereign and nobility, but were adopted, also, in the chambers of dwellings belonging to private gentlemen. The poet, when roused from his dream, found all the gay magery of fancy vanished, and saw nothing, "Save on the wals old portraiture Of horsemen, haukis, and houndis, find a round tower, or keep, which, unquestionably, was not a form of building in much use at that time. This circular tower (formerly termed the round table, as we are informed by Stow) appears to have been rebuilt in the original Norman form by king Edward, before he obtained the professional interference of the ingenious Wykeham; and was, perhaps, re-erected in that discarded shape, through a veneration for the ancient castle in which the king was born. Although the general disposition of the works is rendered obscure by numerous alterations, there are sufficient traces of the outline remaining, to convince the examiner that, in this regal edifice, were combined the apartments and offices of an extensive palace, with the harsh exterior of a strong embattled fortress. The number of castles built in periods subsequent to the com mencement of the 14th century were few, compared with those erected in earlier ages, when the feudal lords possessed greater strength, from the relative weakness of the crown. The instances of castellated architecture, illustrative of the mode prevailing in this century, are, therefore, chiefly to be derived from alterations effected in more ancient structures; and, in such improvements, the magnificence of the third Edward's era is, indeed, reflected in lineaments more durable and emphatic than "records on brass," since they form some of the most impressive ancient ornaments of this country, so fertile in subjects gratifying to those who have a taste for enquiring into the manners of ages long since past, and best recollected through the medium of such tangible and unequivocal monuments. The finest instance of a structure altered according to the manner thus greatly improved in the reign of Edward the Third, is to be found in ALNWICK CASTLE, the splendid and principal seat of his Grace the Duke of Northumberlaud; which, with the excep. tion of the regal castellated palace of Windsor, is, assuredly, the most magnificent castle in Great Britain that is inhabited at the present day. This august pile is believed to comprise some parts of a for2 E 3 tress tress erected in an Anglo-Saxon age, but was chiefly rebuilt in the 14th century. The barony of Alnwick was purchased by Henry, Lord Percy, in the year 1309; and by that nobleman, and his immediate successors, a structure was progressively raised, which was suited to the fashion of the times, and to the splendour in which they lived. Alnwick castle is seated on a fine elevation, which rises gradually from the south side of the river Alne. The keep, or citadel, is of vast magnitude, and attains much of the picturesque of architecture from "fair semi-circular towers," which protect and adorn it on every side. The castle-area is divided into three courts, entered through gateways formed in lofty towers, embattled, and defended with portcullises. Attached to the portal that constitutes the entrance of the inner ward, and appears to be of Anglo-Saxon architecture, are two octangular towers, charged with a series of escutcheons, which supplies the place of an inscription, and proves that these additional buildings were erected about the year 1350. The interior, even as it stood before recent splendid alterations, was evidently adapted to the exercise of a princely hospitality; and evinced, in its arrangement, a slow but determinate increase in polish of manners and social confidence.* Commanding • Many particulars relating to the state of this noble castle in the 16th century, are published in A description of Alnwick Castle, taken from an antient survey of divers of the possessions of the Right Honourable the Earl of Northumberland, made about the year 1567, by George Clarkeson, surveyor of all his lordship's lands, and other the said earl's officers." This curious document (which is preserved amongst the evidences of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland) is printed, by permission, in Grose's Antiquities of England and Wales, Vol. III. and in Hutchinson's View of Northumberland, &c. Vol. II. The whole is highly worthy of perusal, by those who are desirous of acquiring an intimate knowledge of the architectural arrangements of the 14th century. Commanding precautions of outward defence were, however deemed necessary to the grandeur, as well as to the security, o the edifice. The whole of the castle-area is encompassed by walls, which are flanked with sixteen lofty towers and turrets. But ornament is interspersed, even amongst features of milita harshness. Distributed along the battlements, are seen numer ous sculptured figures, which are chiefly those of warriors in atti tudes of defence. Although Alnwick castle was re-edified by the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, and is now arranged in a style of internal magnificence, suited to the dignified uses of the illustrious family in modern times, the whole pile, in its general exte rior character and disposal, presents a fine memorial of the mode of castellated architecture prevailing during the ages in which a great extent of buildings, and numerous apartments designed for stately pleasure, were blended with strong outlines of martial defence. The hand of restoration was here guided by an admirable correctness of taste, and veneration of antiquity. Amongst other castles, altered in attention to the improved ideas of domestic accommodation and internal splendour, which prevailed in the time of the Edwards, may be noticed those of Warwick,* Berkeley,† and Kenilworth. It will, however, be observed that many additions, of a still later date, have been made to each of those structures. The latter is now in a state of forsaken ruin, but still presents many strongly-marked indications of the style of the 14th century, which will be found at once useful and gratifying to the architectural antiquary. Some buildings, of less magnitude than those noticed above, may be desirably adduced as examples of the style prevailing at the same era; since they are free from the intermixture of pre2 E 4 vious vious modes, and exhibit more closely the character of baronial dwellings of a customary size.* Spofford Castle, in Yorkshire, a mansion deserted many ages back, and now in ruins, is confidently believed to have been erected about the reign of Edward the Third.† This structure is of an oblong form, having at one angle a small tower of the same shape, beneath which was a cell, or dungeon, probably designed for the reception of prisoners. The principal entrance was near this angular tower, and was narrow and small, but placed on the level of the ground. The lower rooms were lighted only by loop-holes, with the exception of one large window, which, however, was a sufficient point of weakness to render nugatory all attempts at permanent defence. In the present dilapidated state of this abandoned structure, it is difficult to ascertain the order of the different apartments. But The following remarks, on the subject of baronial castles of the Middle ages, are presented by Mr. Dallaway in his Observations on English Architecture.--" In the reign of Edward the Third, some attempts were made to render castles habitable, and even magnificent. Many of his barons, who had acquired wealth by the ransom of prisoners taken in the fields of Poitiers and Cressy, were proud to apply it to the decoration and enlargement of their castles; and the splendid example the king had shown at Windsor, excited in them a rivalry of imitation. "The era of this improvement extended itself from this reign to the close of the contention between the houses of York and Lancaster. Within this period we may date the erection, or renovation, of the grandest castellated structures of which this kingdom could once boast; and whose venerable ruins are the most characteristick features of the English landscape. About this time, turrets, and hanging galleries, over the salient angles aud the gateways, very various in their design, were added to the ruder architecture of impregnable strength, and (particularly in the Welsh counties) conical buttresses were applied to round towers, reaching to more than half their height, and spreading at the base like a modern bastion. By these additions the ruins are rendered extremely picturesque." Dallaway's Observations on English Architecture, p. 95-96. + Archæol. Vol. VI. p. 537.-This castle is noticed in the Beauties for Yorkshire, p. 633. |