Themoat，widenedanddeepened，completelyencircledthreesidesofthecastle，runningbetweentheinnerandouterwalls，whichweresetatintervalswithsmallprojectingtowerssopiercedthataflankingfirefromlongbows，crossbowsandjavelinsmightbedirectedagainstascalingparty。
Thefourthsideofthewalledenclosureoverhungahighprecipice，whichnaturalprotectionrenderedtowersunnecessaryuponthisside。
Themaingatewayofthecastlelookedtowardthewestandfromitranthetortuousandrockytrail，downthroughthemountainstowardthevalleybelow。Theaspectfromthegreatgatewasoneofquietandruggedbeauty。
AshortstretchofbarrendownsintheforegroundonlysparselystuddedwithanoccasionalgnarledoakgaveanunobstructedviewofbroadandlovelymeadowlandthroughwhichwoundasparklingtributaryoftheTrent。
Twomoregatewaysletintothegreatfortress，onepiercingthenorthwallandonetheeast。Allthreegateswerestronglyfortifiedwithtoweredandbuttressedbarbicanswhichmustbetakenbeforethemaingatescouldbereached。Eachbarbicanwasportcullised，whiletheinnergatesweresimilarlysafeguardedinadditiontothedrawbridgeswhich，spanningthemoatwhenlowered，couldbedrawnupattheapproachofanenemy，effectuallystoppinghisadvance。