Note 644 — Chapter VII · THE CASTLES OF THE NORMANS IN ENGLAND (continued 2)
Reading edition
It is unlikely that this is the turris mentioned in the solitary Pipe Roll of Henry I. “In unum ostium faciendum ad cellarium turris Sarum, 20s.” This entry is of great interest, as entrances from the outside to the basement of keeps were exceptional in the 12th century; but the basement entrance of Colchester keep has every appearance of having been added by Henry I.