DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0078
66
CHEPSTOW CASTLE.
Normans, who raifed what remains now, termed it Striguil, and
it appears in Doomfday-Book as Caftellum de Eftrighoiel, and
in ancient charters is named Striogul, Striguil, etc. It is
divided into four courts, two of which are now ufed as gardens.
As you enter the great eaftern portal you behold on your right
hand a number of dilapidated offices, befides the lodge of the
keeper, and on your left hand the fouth-eaftern ancient tower
or citadel, now called Marten’s Tower. On your left hand in the
third court Hand the walls of a fine old gothic building, ninety
feet in length, and thirty in breadth, which is called the chapel,
but was probably the baronial hall. The ftyle of the arches
and niches which remain are more modern than the reft of the
caftle, and poffefs much elegance. The fourth court was
approached formerly by a drawbridge, long ago deftroyed ; and
the entrance at the weftern extremity of the caftle was alfo
defended by a portcullis, and another drawbridge over the
ditch.
The William Fitzofborn who built Striguil or Chepftow
caftle, fought, it feems, at Haftings, and in reward for his fervices
was made jufticiary of England, and received this property, as
well as others. But it did not remain in his family beyond the
next generation. His eldeft fon, like nearly all the Normans
who came with the Conqueror who had eftates at home,
returned to them, and left landlefs adventurers to get eftates in
England. His fecond fon was a monk; and his third fon,
Roger, rebelled againft the king, and was put in prifon. Whilft
there the king fent him a fuit of royal robes,—that is, a fuit of
his caft-off clothes,—which fo offended him that he threw them
into the fire. This, again, fo incenfed the king that he vowed,
“ by the brightnefs of God,” that the proud Roger fliould never
come out of prifon; and there Roger died. The king then
gave his eftate to Gilbert, furnamed Strongbow, brother of
CHEPSTOW CASTLE.
Normans, who raifed what remains now, termed it Striguil, and
it appears in Doomfday-Book as Caftellum de Eftrighoiel, and
in ancient charters is named Striogul, Striguil, etc. It is
divided into four courts, two of which are now ufed as gardens.
As you enter the great eaftern portal you behold on your right
hand a number of dilapidated offices, befides the lodge of the
keeper, and on your left hand the fouth-eaftern ancient tower
or citadel, now called Marten’s Tower. On your left hand in the
third court Hand the walls of a fine old gothic building, ninety
feet in length, and thirty in breadth, which is called the chapel,
but was probably the baronial hall. The ftyle of the arches
and niches which remain are more modern than the reft of the
caftle, and poffefs much elegance. The fourth court was
approached formerly by a drawbridge, long ago deftroyed ; and
the entrance at the weftern extremity of the caftle was alfo
defended by a portcullis, and another drawbridge over the
ditch.
The William Fitzofborn who built Striguil or Chepftow
caftle, fought, it feems, at Haftings, and in reward for his fervices
was made jufticiary of England, and received this property, as
well as others. But it did not remain in his family beyond the
next generation. His eldeft fon, like nearly all the Normans
who came with the Conqueror who had eftates at home,
returned to them, and left landlefs adventurers to get eftates in
England. His fecond fon was a monk; and his third fon,
Roger, rebelled againft the king, and was put in prifon. Whilft
there the king fent him a fuit of royal robes,—that is, a fuit of
his caft-off clothes,—which fo offended him that he threw them
into the fire. This, again, fo incenfed the king that he vowed,
“ by the brightnefs of God,” that the proud Roger fliould never
come out of prifon; and there Roger died. The king then
gave his eftate to Gilbert, furnamed Strongbow, brother of