The castle, or The White House, consists of a
square building, standing nearly north and south,
70ft long and 27ft wide in the exterior. Attached
to each angle in front is an almost circular tower,
11ft 3ins in diameter in the interior. There is a
third tower of similar dimensions attached to its
rear centre. These towers communicate with the
interior of the building; and in those in front
there is no door opening from the outside. The
walls are 3ft thick. The height of the building,
which is now occupied as a barn and stable,
consisting of two floors, is from 16ft to 18ft. It
is said to have been originally from 4 to five
storeys, and to have been reduced to its present
height 70 years ago.
The castle is
divided into three unequal apartments separated by
walls which seem to have been carried up the entire
height. The lower storey does not exceed 7ft in
height. In the central apartment the floor has been
removed, but in the others the floors of the
upper-storeys are supported by massive beams of
white oak, from 7in to 10in square. In the lower
storey are several embrassures (windows etc.) about
a foot square in the exterior and about 4ft from
the ground. In the apartment at the northern end is
a spacious fireplace, 9ft wide and 5ft deep.
The brace or
front of the chimney, is supported by a massive oak
beam, about 10ins square, resting on the walls at
each side of the hearth. The chimney is very wide,
but gradually narrows as it ascends. In the tower
at the S.E. end are the remains of a much smaller
fireplace and chimney. In the upper storey the
apartments seem to have been communicated by large
doorways. The masonry is substantial and built in
courses. Several butts occur in the exterior. They
are of the modern form and exceedingly hard and
well burned. Slabs of white oak also occur in the
interior and exterior of the walls. The cement is
of a coarse and badly burned lime and very coarse
sea-sand. All the doors and windows are
square-headed, nor is there an arch in the entire
building.
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