MR. WILLIAM HERBERT'S JOURNAL OF EXCAVATIONS AT HASTINGS CASTLE.
Extract from Charles Dawson's "Hastings Castle."
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1824. Set off at 10 o'clock in the morning from London, and arrived at Hastings about 7 o'clock in the evening. Informed Mr. M. (Moss)[a] was gone to Mr. S.'s (Shadwell)[b] to dine with Lord C(hicester) and a party. Set up for him until about 11 o'clock when he returned and informed me we were to see Lord C. the next morning at 10 o'clock.
Thursday, 9th. Went according to appointment and saw Lord C. thi(sic) morning. Conversed over the business to be done. After which accompanied his Lordship to the Castle, who occupied upwards of an hour in inspecting the progress which had been made, which he was so well satisfied with, that it was settled the work should proceed under the direction of Mr. M. (Moss) and self. Commenced accordingly on his lordship's departure by getting some men to dig on the outside of the east wall, by which means he suggested a considerable height of wall might be obtained all along for the purpose of enclosing the Castle yard, without building a new temporary wall as was proposed on what seemed the old foundation. Dug down a depth of 8 or 9 ft., to which we found the wall continued smooth and perfect, and continuing southwards, found at a small distance the commencement of a semi-circular projection, which proved to be the lower part of a large tower.
Friday, 10th. Continued the digging southward with additional men, and in the course of the day cleared a second corresponding tower with a gateway entrance into which we excavated sufficiently for to find the groove for the portcullis, and the two iron hooks on which the hinges of the gate turned. Two small coins found in digging near the spot. Gave the men, Mr. M. and self each 2s. 6d. on discovering the second semi-circular tower.
Saturday, 11th. Proceeded with clearing out the gateway, and the outside of the line of wall running south from the second tower of the gateway, in both which so great a progress, was made that the complete form of all that remained of this fine entrance was disclosed and its dimensions measured (refer for description of it), prepared an account of this discovery for the Morning Herald (before given), which I read over to Mr. Shadwell, who called at our lodgings on the Sunday, with which he was very well pleased and ordered the paper when printed to be bought and sent him.
Sunday, 12th. Dined in company of Mr. M. at Mr. Shorter's at Guestling. Read my account for paper to him, with which he expressed himself much pleased and likewise requested it when printed to be bought and sent to him. Nice dinner, apple pudding with cream, delicious !
Monday, 13th. The order which it was found necessary to make to prevent hindrance to the workmen, of refusing admission to company within the walls, except Sundays, was acted on today and numbers went away disappointed (upon the whole pretty civilly) . Proceeded with the outside of the wall and gateway entrance between the towers, the latter of which was entirely cleared out, and began to clear the gateway tower and wall on the inside of the Castle yard. Mr. Shorter, Mr. Milward and other gentlemen called this day -- and expressed themselves much pleased and surprised with the discovery made.
N.B. A handsome shaped metal pitcher found this day in the Castle well, and consigned to the keeping of Mr. Shadwell.
Thursday[c], 14th. Began to clear out the southernmost tower of the
gateway, which we found formed a pretty apartment measuring . . . feet by . . . feet floored with a hard substance resembling terras. The walls of this room were so far destroyed as to be in few places more than breast high, and extremely rugged and uneven at the top, but the remains of the plaster on its sides, notwithstanding the length of time they had been buried was plainly perceptible, the remains of one of the windows by which it was enlightened on the south side existed, and was of that species usual in similar buildings, viz., broad inside, and narrowing outwards, so as to give the appearance externally of little more than a lancet-shaped loophole. A passage from
this room between the Castle wall on its south side . . . feet long and . . . feet wide, led on mounting a stone step to a doorway or look-out through the wall, the prospect from which as well as from the apartment communicating with it is delightful.
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