At Kenilworth, where later building would make the castle one of the
most complex expressions of a courtly age (see Chapter 4), a massive
tower was built about 1122 by Geoffrey de Clinton, who acquired the
land for a castle and park (Figure 10). These tower strongholds continued
to be built longer than one might expect, considering their disadvantages
as dwellings.
Kenilworth became a royal castle in 1173 when King Henry II acquired
it. Henry repaired the great tower and subsidiary buildings in 1184.
Work continued in 1190–93 during the reign of Richard the Lion
Hearted. Built of sandstone in well-cut ashlar blocks, Kenilworth Castle
followed the traditional cubical Norman design but had large rectangular
turrets, which seem to clasp the corners. Each of these turrets had its
special function. The southwest tower contained the entrance (and later
a forebuilding was added to conceal the actual door); the northeast tower
had a spiral staircase providing access to all floors; and the northwest
tower contained the garderobes. A fighting gallery ran along the wall
head.
The round towers were the answer to many problems. At Pembroke
about 1189, Earl William Marshall built a splendid round tower (see Figure
4). In that year he married a wealthy heiress who provided the resources
required for building an imposing and functional castle. A round
tower had fewer blind spots and needed less masonry, and furthermore
needed little buttressing. The tower at Pembroke Castle is not only large
but also elegantly appointed. Barrel vaults and groined vaults were both
used instead of wooden floors, and the uppermost room is covered by a
dome. The double-light windows with dogtooth ornament set in deep
embrasures form window seats. The earl and countess resided at Pembroke
until he left for Ireland in 1207.
World History
