Structure of Medieval Castles
Keep
-heart of the castle
-thick walls for maximum protection
-safest and last place in the castle during attack
-largest & tallest structure
-living quarters
Crenels
-gaps in the rampart around the top of the castle
-purpose was to fire arrows through them
Merlons
-raised structures part of the rampart of a castle
-"teeth" of the tower
-main purpose was defense
Courtyard
Neuschwanstein Castle
in Germany
Undercrofts
Bailey
-a vaulted cellar or storage room
-sometimes rented out as shops
-used as storage rooms
Great Hall
-most important room
-all members of househould sat here to eat
-feasts held here
-kings/lords did business here
-open area of castle
-contained domestic parts of castle life
-outer bailey lay outside central castle defenses, so it was more vulnerable to attack
Castle Entrance
INTERIOR OF A MEDIEVAL CASTLE
Dovecoats
Neuschwanstein Castle
in Germany
Donjon
Curtain Wall
-a building intended to house doves or pigeons
-possession of a dovecoat was a symbol of status and power
-originally built by Romans
-set of walls that protected the interior of the castle
-connected by towers to add strength
-made from ashlar
-daily activites took place here
-dungeon was here
-rooms for storing food here and a well
-Great Hall and bedchambers here
Background Info.
Ice Houses
-most medeival castles were built during the Middle Ages (476 AD - 1453 AD)
-the Normans built the first castles, motte and bailey style
-took 2-10 years to build
-special insulated house to store ice
-ice or snow here would remain frozen for months
Dungeon
-in deepest, darkest parts of donjon
-prisoners held here with no chance of escape
Bathrooms
Kitchens
-baths not taken often, only a few times a year so transportable tubs used
-garderobes - small rooms for toilets and led to cess pits or moats
Round Towers
-most efficient structure over square towers because:
-there are no corners, which gives archers 360 degree view
Windsor Castle
Windsor, England
-the kitchen was connected to dining hall in earlier times
-frying pans, pots, and waffle irons existed
-mortar and sieve cloth was a common utensil
-kitchen staff was hundreds of people
Bedchambers
Mortar and Sieve
Pantries and Larders
-used by lord and lady - privacy
-they slept half sitting up in bed
-personal attendants had to sleep on floor wrapped in a blanket
-both stored food
-larders were cool areas, arranged to be built in a spot in the castle with the least sun
Moat
-pit around the castle
-often filled with water
-provides another line of defense
Solars
Pantry
Larder
-used for sleeping and private quarters for Lord's family
-included wardrobes
-more privacy because it was away from the noise and smell of the Great Hall
Solar
Buttery
-yeomen served beer to members of the household not entitled to drink wine
-named from the beer butts stored there
-had a staircase leading to beer cellar below
Hoarding
-covered wooden gallery
-fixed to the top of a tower
-used to further help defend the castle
View from the Hoarding
Gatehouse
Chapels
-main entrance to castle, so it was heavily guarded
-protected by portcullis
-intended for prayer for all members of household
Oratory
-a private chapel
-used by Lord and his family for private prayer
Chapel at Windsor Castle
Arrow Slits
Cabinet
Boudoirs
-set inside walls and towers allowing defenders to launch arrows at attackers to outside
-a room for a single individual to have privacy
-a study for a man
-used for small private meetings
-the lady's private room
-used for bathing and dressing
-female equivalent of a cabinet
Summary
Tiffany Leshinsky, Nadine Metwally,
Juan Uribe