Page 20 - All About History - Issue 19-14

Kings & Queens

How do we know this?
There is a good range of historical
information available on castles – not least
castles themselves, many of which have
stood the test of time and are still available
to view. Castle: A History Of The Buildings
That Shaped Medieval Britain by Marc Morris
is an enlightening read while Castles: Their
Construction And History is a more scholarly
book but still enjoyable.

MEDIEVAL

CASTLE

A KING’S HOME AND PROTECTION
AGAINST HIS ENEMIES, 13TH
CENTURY, BRITAIN

Homage tower
This is the main tower and
normally serves as the residence
of the king and his family. The
quarters here are the castle’s most
lavish; the king’s valuables and
money are often kept in the lower
part of the tower.

Circular towers
Castles are frequently
designed with circular
Drawbridge towers, which can absorb
Most castles are surrounded by a moat more impact than straight
walls, so are therefore
filled with water, which adds an extra harder to topple. These
layer of defence. Those wanting to exit towers are designed to
or enter the castle must do so over provide a good view of the
the drawbridge, which can be located countryside and are high so
next to a gatehouse for added security. that any approaching army
The water in the moat is not very can be spotted from afar.
appetising – the waste from the castle
toilets is tipped straight in.

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