[230] The word “solar” or “soller” (_solarium_ = a terrace exposed to the sun) was used indiscriminately of any room, gallery, or loft above the ground-level of a building: _e.g._, the loft or gallery above a chancel-screen was commonly known as a “solar,” and the same word should be applied to the chamber, inaccurately called a “parvise,” on the first floor of a church porch. The word, however, is sometimes applied to a well-lighted parlour facing south, without respect to the floor on which it stands, _e.g._, the abbot’s solar at Haughmond (_Archæol. Journal_, lxvi. 307) and at Jervaulx (_Yorks. Archæol. Journal_, xxi. 337).
[231] Ord. Vit., iv. 19: “Super solarium ... tesseris ludere ceperunt.” The word “solarium” may be used, of course, in this passage with reference merely to the site of the house—_i.e._, it may mean “the first floor above the ground.” In this case William and Henry may have been playing dice in the hall itself, which, as at Christchurch, may have occupied the whole “solarium.” Robert was evidently outside the house.
[232] Bates, _Border Holds of Northumberland_ attributes the walling, etc., of Warkworth castle “on its present general lines” to Robert, son of Roger (1169-1214), who obtained in 1199, for 300 marks, a confirmation of the grant of the castle and manor from John.
[233] So called in Clarkson’s survey, made in 1567. One explanation of the name is that the tower was similar to one in Carrickfergus castle, on Belfast Lough. Clarkson describes its polygonal form as “round of divers squares.”
[234] This entrance has been blocked, and the modern entrance has been cut through a window-opening, in the adjoining bay to the west.
[235] The aisle-walls are low and the whole building is covered by a single high-pitched roof, so that there is no clerestory.
[236] The same feature occurs at the west end of the great hall at Auckland, where the daïs was placed: there are regular responds at the east end, but the eastern bay was made somewhat wider than the rest, to give room for the screens.
[237] Bishop Bek (1284-1311) probably heightened the aisle-walls and inserted traceried windows. Cosin (1660-72) rebuilt the greater part of the outer walls, renewed Bek’s windows, and added the present clerestory and roof: the splendid screen, which divides the chapel from the ante-chapel, was also part of his work.