Of all the castles in England none is better known than that of Windsor, typical in its magnificence of the feudal stronghold, and to day the residence of the royal family. On a height overlooking the Thames, it commands a great stretch of territory. It has 13 towers, and within its walls are two rectangular wards, the lower and upper. The keep is in the centre. It has many sumptuously decorated and fur nished halls and rooms, in keeping with its regal uses, and one octagon room, 38 feet in diameter. It is surrounded by a large park. Historically, however, no English castle is better known than the Tower of London. Erected on the site of a Roman fortress, the Tower as it exists to-day was originated by William the Conqueror (1078). At first a stronghold and palace, it is best known as a prison. It is at present a fortress, a museum, and depository of the Crown jewels. It over looks the Thames, a moat being between the river and the castle. The most conspicuous part is the White Tower, or donjon, in the centre, having four entrances, the Iron, Water, Traitor's and Lion's Gates, the last the prin cipal one. Other towers are the Bell Tower and Bloody Tower. The walls of the towers are from 13 to 15 feet in thickness, and are sur mounted by turrets at the angles. The chapel is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the kingdom. In the inner ward are 12 smaller towers, all of which have been used as prisons, mostly for state prisoners, among whom were Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord Dudley, Henry VI and the Earl of Warwick.
Wales, Ireland and Scotland, likewise, have their castles, resembling those of England, with the exception that they were clan strongholds rather than feudal residences. Near Cardiff, Wales, arc the remains of four famous castles — Caerphilly, Neath, Swansea and Oyster mouth. Of these, Caerphilly in size and gran deur — judging from its ruins — is the greatest of all. In Ireland, the most famous to-day
is Blarney Castle, near the city of Cork. It is now a picturesque ruin. It was erected in 1449 by Cormac M'Carthy. Its chief feature is its embattled square tower. It is visited by thousands of tourists on account of its world-renowned °Blarney Stone," a small stone on the highest point of its northern turret, which is supposed to give those that kiss it the power of fluent and witty speech. In Scotland, the best known is Edinburgh Cas tle, the immense fortress overlooking the city of Edinburgh. The fortress as it stands to-day is on the spot of an ancient castle erected before the first records of Scottish history. It has one entrance, across a draw bridge through a portcullis, above which is the old state prison. Within is a Norman chapel built by Queen Margaret (11th century), and restored in 1853. The castle was formerly a palace of the Scottish kings, but to-day is an object of antiquarian interest, aside from its military uses. Among the relics in its collec tions is °Mons Meg," one of the earliest ex amples of cannon, cannon such as were used to batter down the castles of the feudal barons. It is 13 feet long, 20 inches in diameter, and weighs five tons. It is formed of long strips of iron, held together by hoops. Of as much interest, but less known, is the Castle Dunie, the seat of Lord Lovat, perhaps the last example of a castle being used for feudal purposes. In 1740 medieval service was still required of the retainers of this eccentric Lord, who lived in one room, her Ladyship in another and the servants—of whom there were many —below in a covered court with straw for beds. (See also CASTLE). Consult Piper, Otto, (Munich 1895) ; Eberhardt, Bodo, 'Deutsche Burgen' (Berlin 1908); Clark, Military Architecture) (Lon don 1884); Lamed, 'Churches and Castles of Medieval France' (New York 1895).