From The Neolithic To The Sea::A Journey From The Past To The Present
Castles
Sample Gallery
Cliffords Tower
Dover Castle
Newark Castle
Pickering Castle
A castle is a defensive structure built in a prominent position. Castles could also offensive structures, built in hostile territories to exert strategic control over surrounding lands or as forward camps from which to conduct offensives. In particular, during the High Middle Ages, castles were often built for territorial expansion and regional control. A castle was a stronghold from which its occupants could control surrounding territory. A castle was not only a bastion and place for detention of prisoners but also a social place where a knight or lord could entertain his peers. Over time the aesthetics of the design increased in importance, as the appearance and size began to reflect the prestige and power of the occupant. Often over time comfortable homes evolved within the fortified walls.
The Romans used fortifications which varied from simple temporary earthworks thrown up by armies on the move, to elaborate permanent stone constructions, notably the mile castles of Hadrian's Wall. Roman forts were generally rectangular with rounded corners. The Roman engineer Vitruvius was the first to note the three main advantages of round corner towers: more efficient use of stone, improved defence against battering rams and improved field of fire.
After the Romans, a few castles were built, but really were fortified manor houses. After the Norman invasion in 1066, the castle became the main form of defence. Built to control the land of mainly a Saxon population, the Normans being out numbered. Motte and Bailey style of castle were first built. They were constructed by digging a deep circular ditch and piling up the earth taken from the ditch into the centre. That became the motte. Sometimes, the motte began as a natural hill, which was shaped into a usable mound and surrounded by a ditch. Heights of these mottes varied from 10 feet to 100 feet and their base diameters from 100 to 300 feet. When the mound was completed, they then covered its slopes with an outer layer of clay and sometimes the sides of the mound were strengthened with timber supports or stone to prevent uneven settlement and slippage. Motte shapes could vary, they could be round, oval, or even angular. Generally, mottes were topped with a wooden tower which was used as a look-out and an elevated fighting point. Often times, the tower provided accommodation for the lord of the castle. Later, some of these wooden towers were replaced by stone keeps. Baileys were large areas of additional space adjacent to the motte which were enclosed with a circular earthwork, a mound lower than the motte. The bailey was built in much the same manner as the motte, only was much larger around but lower in height. Most of the domestic buildings for the castle would be placed in the bailey, including the stable, hall, kitchen, chapel and workshop. Even weapons were stored here for safe keeping. Some larger castles had an inner and outer bailey, and most baileys were either circular, oval or square in shape. Motte and bailey castles could be built very quickly, some being raised in only eight days. Sometimes, motte and bailey castles evolved into very large and impressive stone fortresses, when walls, gatehouses, towers, and other structures replaced the timber defenses. Nearly all villages had a motte and bailey castle to guard them, mostly what you see today is just a tree covered mound.
Stone castles were built for stability and to symbolize the power of the lords of the kingdom. Most were built up from existing motte and bailey castles. These castles, even from the earliest times, followed certain standards of design and construction. Generally, the central feature of the castle was the keep, the main commanding tower. The primary function of the keep varied, but usually it was a residential structure functioning as a redoubt in times of trouble, but could also be used as a secure storage area, later, as a prison. In motte and bailey castles, the keep typically surmounted the motte. Many early castles and certain later ones were nothing more than simple towers. Most, however, required outer walls of some sort. The keep was contained within the walls or attached to the walls. The area outlined by the walls was known as the bailey or the court, and the enclosure known as the enceinte or curtain walls.
In the end, the introduction of gunpowder led to a disappearing of traditional castles, in the meaning of a building intended for both military and residential roles. This transition began in the 14th century and was fully underway by the 15th. In the 16th century the feudal fastness had become an anachronism. Normally castles, when they were not left to fell into ruins, became peaceful mansions, or were merged in the fortifications of the town which has grown up around it.
Castle comes from the Latin word castellum, which means 'fortified place'.
The Romans used fortifications which varied from simple temporary earthworks thrown up by armies on the move, to elaborate permanent stone constructions, notably the mile castles of Hadrian's Wall. Roman forts were generally rectangular with rounded corners. The Roman engineer Vitruvius was the first to note the three main advantages of round corner towers: more efficient use of stone, improved defence against battering rams and improved field of fire.
After the Romans, a few castles were built, but really were fortified manor houses. After the Norman invasion in 1066, the castle became the main form of defence. Built to control the land of mainly a Saxon population, the Normans being out numbered. Motte and Bailey style of castle were first built. They were constructed by digging a deep circular ditch and piling up the earth taken from the ditch into the centre. That became the motte. Sometimes, the motte began as a natural hill, which was shaped into a usable mound and surrounded by a ditch. Heights of these mottes varied from 10 feet to 100 feet and their base diameters from 100 to 300 feet. When the mound was completed, they then covered its slopes with an outer layer of clay and sometimes the sides of the mound were strengthened with timber supports or stone to prevent uneven settlement and slippage. Motte shapes could vary, they could be round, oval, or even angular. Generally, mottes were topped with a wooden tower which was used as a look-out and an elevated fighting point. Often times, the tower provided accommodation for the lord of the castle. Later, some of these wooden towers were replaced by stone keeps. Baileys were large areas of additional space adjacent to the motte which were enclosed with a circular earthwork, a mound lower than the motte. The bailey was built in much the same manner as the motte, only was much larger around but lower in height. Most of the domestic buildings for the castle would be placed in the bailey, including the stable, hall, kitchen, chapel and workshop. Even weapons were stored here for safe keeping. Some larger castles had an inner and outer bailey, and most baileys were either circular, oval or square in shape. Motte and bailey castles could be built very quickly, some being raised in only eight days. Sometimes, motte and bailey castles evolved into very large and impressive stone fortresses, when walls, gatehouses, towers, and other structures replaced the timber defenses. Nearly all villages had a motte and bailey castle to guard them, mostly what you see today is just a tree covered mound.
Stone castles were built for stability and to symbolize the power of the lords of the kingdom. Most were built up from existing motte and bailey castles. These castles, even from the earliest times, followed certain standards of design and construction. Generally, the central feature of the castle was the keep, the main commanding tower. The primary function of the keep varied, but usually it was a residential structure functioning as a redoubt in times of trouble, but could also be used as a secure storage area, later, as a prison. In motte and bailey castles, the keep typically surmounted the motte. Many early castles and certain later ones were nothing more than simple towers. Most, however, required outer walls of some sort. The keep was contained within the walls or attached to the walls. The area outlined by the walls was known as the bailey or the court, and the enclosure known as the enceinte or curtain walls.
In the end, the introduction of gunpowder led to a disappearing of traditional castles, in the meaning of a building intended for both military and residential roles. This transition began in the 14th century and was fully underway by the 15th. In the 16th century the feudal fastness had become an anachronism. Normally castles, when they were not left to fell into ruins, became peaceful mansions, or were merged in the fortifications of the town which has grown up around it.
Castle comes from the Latin word castellum, which means 'fortified place'.