Second Floor
The principal room at this level is called the Great Hall
and was entered directly from the head of the external main stair through
an imposingly decorated arched doorway. The present doorway,
which is normally kept closed, is a restoration by John Dobson
in 1848, but earlier engravings show that Dobson’s replacement was
a faithful copy of the heavily worn original. The vaulted ceiling is a
brick arch inserted in 1810-12 to roof the interior. Traces of the original
steeply pitched timber roof can be seen high up on the north and south
walls.
Opening off the hall on the south side was an apartment now called the
‘King’s Chamber’. This has a fireplace
and a garderobe. On the stonework opposite and to the right of the fireplace,
graffiti left by the Civil War garrison can be seen, including the date
164(?)
On the north side of the principal entrance is the well room. The well which is stone-lined and goes down below the foundations of the Keep, was cleaned out in the early 1900s and found to be 99 feet deep. On either side of the well are stone basins set into the wall. Well water poured into these basins was distributed by lead pipes to different parts of the Keep, even down to the ‘garrison room’. [More about the second floor...]