ANCIENT EARTHWORKS area, rather representing the foundations of masonry. As it now appears there is on the north a semicircular rampart 19ft. wide; rising 6ft. from the interior, it has an escarpment of 16 ft. descending into a stream. The rampart on the west is 34 ft. broad and the counterscarp is 11 ft. high ; on the south the rampart is weak, but on the top of the counterscarp, or outer edge of the moat, a bank 3 ft. high extends along the length of this side. At the south-east corner the rampart is very prominent, and here the moat widens to 14 ft. On the eastern side the absence of foundations indicates the former position of the gateway, and here the moat is partially filled ; beyond this side a bank 3 ft. high has inclosed a quadrangle. North Luffenham (ix, 1 6) . — On the northern bank of the River Chater, 5 miles south-east from Oakham, is a rectangular site surrounded by a moat 27 ft. broad, the outer edge of which is surrounded by a bank i ft. 6 in. high, making the total height of the counterscarp 4 ft. 2 in. A fish-stew occupies an unusual position in the southern part of the interior area. The arrangement for the supply of water for the moat was by a channel at the north-west where a bend of the river curves close to the moat, whilst to empty the same an outlet was made at the south-west into another rivulet which flows near the western side, where the contour of the land is lower. Oakham (ix, 2). — Oakham Castle is a valuable example of a fortified hall, the head of a manor, which was not a castle in its true sense until a later period ; and its earthworks represent a type between the mount castle and the moated residence so common to mediaeval times in a country with no great eminence. The works com- prise two courts, one of the inclo- sures being called a garden in docu- ments of the 14th century. The castle stands in the town of Oak- ham, and within its first court is the hall of the Ferrers, while the founda- tions of the later buildings are indi- cated by the in- equalities of the grass-covered court, which also contains a well from which the garrison obtain- ed their water. In an inquisition of 1340' there is said Oakham Castle ' Inq. p.m. 14 Edw. Ill, no. 67. 115
