Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 1
THE CASTLE BUILDER: KEY WORDS WORKSHEET
Using the Castle Builder activity at www.activehistory.co.uk, complete this
worksheet by clicking on the key words on the screen as you build your castle!
Key Word
Details
Castle moats could either be wet or dry. There were times when the lack of water forced
castle architects to build dry moats, which would be filled with spikes and thorny bushes.
Moat
Moats were used from the earliest medieval castles throughout the Middle Ages.
They were often the castle's first line of defence against an attacking army.
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a heavy wooden bridge over a moat. In times of attack, it can by
winched up over the entrance of the castle to serve as a door.
Portcullis
A portcullis is a large wooden gate that was lowered through slots in the
gatehouse to defend the entrance to the castle. Made usually from many pieces
of horizontal and vertical oak beams with sharp spikes at the bottom, the
portcullis was strong and very heavy. Counterweights were sometimes used to
make it easier to raise a heavy portcullis.
Barbican
A barbican is a stone outbuilding which encases the gatehouse to provide it with
extra protection. Some barbicans consisted of a narrow passage that allowed a
limited number of attackers access to a gate, forcing them into a confined area
where they could be shot at by defenders.
'Curtain' wall
The curtain wall was the perimeter wall which ran all around the edge of the
castle to provide it with its first real line of defence. For extra protection, some
castles had concentric walls. The curtain wall of Framlingham castle is shown
on the left and has thirteen towers.
Concentric walls
Concentric castles have several rings of defensive walls. There would firstly be a low
curtain wall. If the attackers got through this, they would face another wall (or even
several). These walls would get higher towards the centre of the castle to allow archers to
fire down at the attackers. The first true concentric castle in Britain was Caerphilly Castle
in Wales ordered by Henry III.
Illustration: Beaumaris Castle
Merlons and embrasures
Merlons are the protective bits of wall on the battlements. The gaps through
which defenders will fire arrow and throw missiles at attackers are called
embrasures.
Round towers
Castle towers were a vital part of defence. From the towers, archers could fire at
attackers. Trebuchets and mangonels could be positioned on the towers to fire at
attackers. Square towers were easy to build, but they could sometimes be
demolished if the enemy mined underneath them. Round towers were more
expensive and complicated to build, but much more secure.
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2
Square towers
Castle towers were a vital part of defence. From the towers, archers could fire at
attackers. Trebuchets and mangonels could be positioned on the towers to fire at
attackers. Square towers were easy to build, but they could sometimes be
demolished if the enemy mined underneath them. Round towers were more
expensive and complicated to build, but much more secure.
Motte
A mound of earth on which a wooden tower was built to act as defendable
position and a look-out point. The motte was constructed by building up layers of
earth and rocks to a height anywhere between 10 and a 100 feet. At the top of
the motte was built a wooden palisade and tower which was usually on stilts.
Wooden steps or ladders connected the top of the motte to the bailey below.
Bailey
The Bailey is simply the name given to the main courtyard of the castle. The
bailey had room for buildings to house the Lord and his immediate followers plus
space for animals and storage. In times of trouble, the local people could enter
the bailey where they would be safe from attackers. If the bailey itself was
invaded, people would retreat to the keep, the last point of defence in the castle.
Machicolations
Built of stone (and so more durable than hoardings), machicolations were built
jutting out from the curtain wall of the castle to allow defenders to drop stones
and oil onto attackers.
Hoardings
Hoardings are wooden "sheds" jutting out from the main castle walls. These can
be quickly put in place during an attack, and defenders can fire arrows and drop
stones / oil on attackers from them. However, they are easily set alight.
The crossbow was developed from a weapon called the Ballista (pictured). A heavy arrow
would be placed inside. The bow would be then be wound back and released, shooting the
arrow with great force. They were very easy to use Anyone could use one. However, the
weight of the arrow meant that it did not travel as far as one loosed from a longbow.
Crossbowmen
The crossbow was really the first hand-held weapon that could be used by an untrained
soldier to injure or kill a knight in plate armour. The most powerful crossbows could
penetrate armour and kill at 200 yards. A crossbow can be loaded long before the
bowman might need to shoot. In this way, the bowman would be able to shoot
immediately if surprised. Crossbows require less upper body strength to operate as well:
soldiers can use both arms to span (draw back) a crossbow.
On the other hand, longbowmen could shoot up to 5 times more frequently than a
crossbowman. They may have been more expensive, but they were more efficient. They
could also generally fire further, as their arrows were lighter. The longbow was the
machine gun of the Middle Ages: accurate, deadly, possessed of a long-range and rapid
rate of fire, the flight of its missiles was likened to a storm!
Longbowmen
On the other hand, longbowmen could shoot up to 5 times more frequently than a
crossbowman. They may have been more expensive, but they were more efficient. They
could also generally fire further, as their arrows were lighter. The longbow was the
machine gun of the Middle Ages: accurate, deadly, possessed of a long-range and rapid
rate of fire, the flight of its missiles was likened to a storm!
Mangonels
The magnonel is a type of catapult. A large arm, loaded with rocks, would be
attached at right angles to a a shaft of wood. A piece of thick rope would be
wound tighter and tighter around the shaft using winding wheels. When the shaft
was released, it would rapidly spin around as the rope unwound itself. This would
thrown the arm upwards, releasing the missiles.
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 3
Trebuchets
The trebuchet works by tying a massive weight to one end of a beam that is
hinged at its centre. On the other end, the missiles are placed. The weight is the
wound upwards into the sky by a team of men. The other end of the beam, now at
ground level, has a cup which is loaded with missiles. This is tied down with
ropes. When the ropes are cut, the missiles are launched into the sky.
Oil
Stones and boiling oil can be dropped
onto attackers over the sides of the
castle walls. These weapons are more
effective if you have hoardings or
machicolations.
Stones
Stones and boiling oil can be dropped onto attackers over the sides of the castle
walls. These weapons are more effective if you have hoardings or
machicolations.