Castle Features

1
Castle Features
2
A castle was the fortified home of a wealthy
noble and built as a place of protection in times
of battle.
3
Moat

• A moat was a great ditch around a castle and
  could be either wet or dry.
• The moat, usually filled with water, was an
  important part of medieval fortification.
• Castle builders frequently diverted small streams
  or rivers to fill the moats with water and
  enhance the defenses of a castle.

4
Moat
5
Drawbridge

• The drawbridge was one of the most important
  defensive features of a castle.
• A drawbridge was a main entry to a castle and
  usually located over a moat.
• This drawbridge could be raised, leaving
  attackers unable to enter the castle.

6
Drawbridge
7
Gatehouse

• The gatehouse was the living quarters of the
  guards over the main gate of the castle.
• As time went on it became heavily fortified and
  very important.
• Access to the palace grounds on this side could
  be made only through this drawbridge and
  gatehouse.

8
Gatehouse
9
Gatehouse
10
The portcullis was a heavy gate made of wood and
iron which could be dropped down to close off the
gatehouse.
11
An exposed portcullis.
12
Outer Wall

• The outer wall, or curtain as it was sometimes
  called, a feature common to most medieval
  castles.
• The curtain was simply a set of walls that
  surrounded and protected the interior of the
  castle.
• Strongly built, it was not uncommon for the
  castle's walls to be 10 or more feet in
  thickness.
• Walls were often connected by a series of towers
  to add strength and provide for better defense of
  the ground outside the castle.

13
A drum tower was a round tower built into a wall,
usually connecting stretches of exterior curtain
wall.
14
Wall Walks

• Wall Walks were an important security feature in
  medieval castles.
• They made it easy to move quickly between towers
  and allowed the garrison to better defend the
  castle.

15
Sentries could keep watch for approaching enemies
from their high position, and defenders could use
the wall walks as a fighting platform from which
attackers could be repulsed.
16
Battlement a narrow wall built along the outer
edge of the wall walk to protect soldiers against
attack.
17
A Closer Look
18
Arrow-loops were narrow openings or crosses set
inside walls and towers enabling defenders to
launch arrows at outside attackers.
19
The Keep

• Almost all castle construction began as a single
  tower, called a keep, to which other defensive
  works were later added.
• The keep was the strongest and most heavily
  fortified part of the castle, and was usually the
  place of last refuge when defending the castle.
• The keep was the center of castle life, often
  serving as the lord's residence.
• In it the great hall was located. The great hall
  was the heart of the castle. It was used for
  family dinners, banquets, games, dancing, and
  entertainment and sometimes a courtroom.

20
Keeps were sometimes built round and sometimes
square. Square keeps made nicer rooms
21
But round keeps were easier to defend
22
Attacking a Castle

• A movable tower, used to put armed men on top of
  the walls of a fortified place.
• Animal hides have been hung on the side of the
  tower to prevent its catching fire from fire
  arrows.
• The moat, at lower left, has been filled in with
  logs so the tower can be rolled into position.

23
Movable Tower
24
Attacking a Castle

• The trebuchet was a serious weapon of medieval
  castle warfare and siege.
• Using a large counterweight, it was able to hurl
  huge stones against castle walls and was
  surprisingly effective.

25
Trebuchet
26
Trebuchet