What are the main features of a castle?

What are the main features of a castle?

Castle Features

• Outer defenses.
• Moat.
• Walls (inner and outer)
• Towers (inner and outer)
• Gatehouses, drawbridges and barbicans.
• Inner defenses.
• Baileys or wards.
• Living quarters and support buildings.

What does a castle need?

The typical features of a medieval castle were: Moat – a perimeter ditch with or without water. Barbican – a fortification to protect a gate. Curtain Walls & Towers – the perimeter defensive wall.

What was the major purpose of the castle?

Castles were primarily built during the wars of the late Middle Ages for the purpose of protection. Originally, the castle was simply built, but the need for better protection rose and they became much more sophisticated. The castle started as a simple wooden structure on top of a mound surrounded by a ditch.

What was the castle keep and what was its purpose?

A medieval castle keep was a kind of fortified tower that had central importance in the defence of the castle. It also served the purpose of imprisoning political prisoners since it was considered one of the most impenetrable castle parts.

What was the weakest point of a castle?

The entrance to the castle was always its weakest point. Drawbridges could be pulled up, preventing access across moats. Tall gate towers meant that defenders could shoot down in safety at attacks below.

What is the difference between a keep and a castle?

The difference between Castle and Keep. When used as nouns, castle means a large building that is fortified and contains many defences, whereas keep means care, notice. A large building that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king.

What are the most important parts of a castle?

These are some of the key parts of a castle.

• The Keep. The keep was a strong tower located at the centre of a castle.
• Curtain Wall. The curtain wall was a defensive wall built to protect the bailey (see below) of a castle.
• The Bailey.
• Moat.
• Battlements.
• Drawbridge.
• Portcullis.
• Arrowslits.

What are rooms in a castle called?

Below are the main rooms found in medieval castles and large manor houses.

• The Great Hall.
• Bed Chambers.
• Solars.
• Bathrooms, Lavatories and Garderobes.
• Kitchens, Pantries, Larders & Butteries.
• Gatehouses and Guardrooms.
• Chapels & Oratories.
• Cabinets and Boudoirs.

What is the area around a castle called?

Courtyard – The open area with the curtain walls of a castle. Curtain Wall – The stone walls around a castle. Drawbridge – This was a wooden bridge in front of the main gate of the castle.

What is the strongest part of a castle?

Castle Gatehouse

What are three Castle terms?

Castle Terminology

• Allure or Wall-walk: passage behind the parapet of a castle wall.
• Arcading: rows of arches supported on columns, free-standing or attached to a wall (blind arcade)
• Arrow Loop: A narrow vertical slit cut into a wall through which arrows could be fired from inside.

What are the up and down bits on a castle called?

The raised parts are called cops or merlons, the indentations embrasures or crenelles.

What is the water called around a castle?

Moat

Can you put a moat around your house?

Is it even possible to put a moat around your own property? Absolutely. There aren’t any laws saying you can’t do it.

What is the purpose of a moat around a castle?

A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices.

How do you defend a castle attack?

How to defend a castle

1. Building up high. Building a castle up high made it difficult for enemies to get to the castle.
2. Tall towers. Strong towers were added to curtain walls to watch out for enemies.
3. Battlements. Battlements were walls on the roof of a castle.
4. Arrow slits.
5. Moat.
6. Drawbridge.
7. Portcullis.
8. Dungeons.

Where does the king stay in a castle?

throne hall

What were three methods used to invade a castle during the Middle Ages?

There are a number of ways of assaulting a castle: over the top of the walls using towers or ladders, under the walls using a mine, or through the walls using a battering ram, pickaxes or other tools.

What was the best way to attack a castle?

Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle.

How do you attack a castle ks3?

Ladders – The enemy would try to climb over castle walls, using ladders. Fire – Early castles were made of wood, so they were easy to attack by setting fire to them. Battering ram – A large log that was hit against the castle walls to weaken them.

How long can it take to take over a medieval castle if you are attacking it?

Sometimes the attacking army simply surrounded the castle and waited for those inside to run out of food and surrender – but since all castles kept a supply of food ready, these sieges often lasted for as long as two years.

How many different types of castles are there?

three