The Avranches Traverse at Dover Castle

THE AV RANCHES TRAVERSE AT DOVER CASTLE the projecting string-course of the wall from Penchester's Tower is continued round the Avranohes Tower as far as the slight projection housing the latrine shaft, beyond which its level is continued as a chamfered offset along the wall and towers as far as the Fitzwilliam Gate. Another offset runs round the Avranohes Tower at a higher level, approximately that of the out-down wall-top on either side. At the base of the Tower is a chamfered stepped ashlar plinth which is continued along the wall beyond. There are two tiers of rectangular loops, three loops to each face: the upper. ones, above the offset, are short and show signs of having been widened. The lower ones are both narrower and longer: they are stepped down from south to north, and those on the last face cut through the string-course. There are only two lower loops here and none at the upper level; beyond is a single small loop at each level, lighting the latrine and the stair above. A brick-lined passage at ground level inside the castle leads to a barrel-vaulted stone gallery within the wall, with steps down at ea.oh bend. Each outer wall-face has three vertical slits close together, the central one at right angles to the wall face and the others usually diverging at about 60° on either side (Fig. 4). The first slit of all, however, is parallel to the ne.xt and both look straight at Penchester's Tower, with the blank wall between the towers less than a yard away to the right. The slits are about 18 in. high and 6 in. wide, with chamfered edges. Each slit has a horizontal lintel and parallel jambs, but the sill slopes downward and outward. A 4:-in. projecting ledge, chamfered on the underside, runs under each group of slits and is continued to the left-hand end of the wall-face. The last group consists · of two slits, with an angled niche to the right; beyond is a wide recess for the (blocked) latrine and another recess beyond has three slits of the normal pattern. This is the first of seven (possibly nine) similar recesses in the wall beyond the Avranches Tower itself. The passage is bricked off at this point, so that it is uncertain whether or not it continued within the wall (see pp. 85-6). Above this passage is another vaulted gallery (Fig. 3, A'), with certain differences: the loops do not splay downward and they show traces of having been altered and widened externally. The vault is pointed, and there are pointed unmoulded arches opening into the interior space in which there are the remains of a stone fireplace. The floor of this passage is level, and a round-headed doorway at the northern end gives access to a spiral stair rising to a turret and probably to a wall-walk (now vanished) over the upper gallery. All the walltops have been out down, and an enormous earth bank thrown up against th􀃢 inner face .of the wall. The wall beyond the Avr anches Tower has two projecting rectangular towers of similar masonry, with a sloping plinth in front but not at the 81