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Callie King
Advanced Comp.
Ms. Andrus
22 December 2010
Castle Design
“It is a most formidable, strong fortress whose wall are cut out of solid rock. The fortress at the
top of a precipitous cliff and there is no other fortress like it be found in the realm of Poland or in the
lands of the Swedes and the Czechs, or in the state of Holland, or in the mountains of Germany.” – a
seventeenth century Turkish traveler, said in reference to Kamyanets-Podilsky in the Ukraine ( D o y l e ) .
In the time of castles, things were simpler. Those with wealth were powerful, and those who
were powerful were attacked. A king or lord needed a stronghold that could withstand attack, house
many, and flaunt his superiority to the world ( B e n j a m i n ) . Thus would begin the process of building
something both beautiful and formidable, a timely and expensive task.
Building a castle required the work of thousands of hands. Including but not limited to
carpenters, masons, diggers, quarrymen, and blacksmiths, all under the direction of a master builder
(Freudenrich).
Most of the materials used were those that were readily available at or near the site of the
castle. Common materials were stone, clay, and oak. However the use of materials from far away
suggested that the builder was wealthier, as they would have been obtained at greater cost.
To fashion these raw materials into something that could be used was no small feat in
medieval times. To split stones quarrymen had to first “read” the rock to see where it would break.
A series of holes were then driven into the stone along that line. Finally, corners were driven into the
holes sending shockwaves through the stone, splitting it ( F r e u d e n r i c h ) . The stone, however, wasn’t
done yet. After the stone was transported to the building site by horse drawn wagons stonemasons,
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used chisels to fashion the rough pieces into blocks. Finally, a man powered crane lifted the blocks
into place. If a block didn’t need to be moved much and for moving into the wagon a crowbar was
used.
To keep the bocks together a mixture called mortar was used. Mortar was made from a mixture
of water, sand and lime, variations including cockleshells, oxblood, and crushed chalk ( H u l l ) .
The roof proved to be a difficult task. The introduction of flying buttresses helped to distribute
the weight of the walls and roof down to the ground ( A l c h i n ) but the roof still posed one of the largest
problems. Wood was the cheapest and most readily available material. The downside, though, was that
wood burned and was more perceptible to water damage. Although expensive, lead didn’t burn, and
was water and wind proof. All roofs were covered with an outer covering of thatch, oak shingles, slates,
flag stones or clay tiles. Some roofs also included an undercoating to help dissipate heat (most
commonly sand) ( H u l l ) .
The shape of the roof as long been disputed. Many scholars believe they may have been flat.
Possibly the circular roofs were cone or dome shaped. Square and rectangular roofs probably formed a
single or double gable roof ( H u l l ) .
Since all castles had to be tall and imposing. Stairs of some sort were a must to the reach the
upper levels. Whether they were movable wooden ladders or fixed stone cases they were always
present. A common model, the newel stair is an interesting fixed staircase example. The newel stair
consists of a central column or post around which a spiral stair is fixed. Each stair is shaped like a
keyhole. The circular ends stacked upon one another. The steps rotated so that each step just barely
overlapped the step below it, thus the wider edge was the edge that hugged the outer wall. Stairs were
spiraled counterclockwise in case of an attacker trying to ascend them. This would force an attacker to
expose more of their body to use their sword in their right hand ( H u l l ) .
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A castle needed to be able to defend itself against attackers not just be protected from them. In
the development of fortifications there were, naturally, variations of form in the several countries,
consequent on differences of climate, available material, and national characteristics ( T o y
x i i i ) . However there are many reoccurring features. The first step in defense was to spot attackers
before they were upon the castle. The bastion sometimes referred to as the crow’s nest was located at
the highest point in the castle ( H u l l ) . Attackers could be spotted and the castle prepared while the
danger was still a ways off.
The most widely known defense is the moat and drawbridge. Nearly all drawbridges were made
of wood. While the earliest drawbridges where quite primitive, just a plank that could be removed from
position, the stereotypical one is the pulley drawbridge. The pulley drawbridge could be hauled up,
within the safety of the castle, either by a rope or chain. Another advantage to this design was that the
upright drawbridge could serve as an additional, outer door, an added precaution. A drawbridge wasn’t
of much use without a moat. However a moat wasn’t always filled with water. They could be filled with
sharpened shafts that pointed skyward. Anyone who did not want to be impaled would think twice
about trying to cross them ( H u l l ) .
Water moats filled with alligators or crocodiles are a myth. They were often times filled with fish
or eels for food. The water moat’s defenses lay in that they could not be tunneled under or waded
across and anyone who tried to swim across quickly became an easy target for archers or other
defenders.
Archers could shoot from along the top of the curtain wall or through arrow loops. Arrow loops
also known as arrow slits or bow loops allowed archers to fire their arrows without exposing
themselves. Arrow loops where simply slits in the castle wall, and averaged between three to twelve
feet in length. Occasionally a splayed foot or a crossing horizontal slit was used too, to give the archer a
larger panoramic range ( H u l l ) .
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An addition or alternative to the moat was the barbican. The barbican “bottle necked” any
invaders, leading them into a narrow passage that confused the attackers. The attackers would find
themselves in a maze of twists and turns with no definite route. This allowed defenders to pick off their
enemies one at a time.
A defining feature of the castle is the battlements. In fact, battlements have been used on other
structures to give the impression that they are true castles. Battlements provided a place to escape
incoming shots (the merlons) and a place to make their own shots from (the embrasures). The merlons
were five feet wide and ranged from three to seven feet high. The embrasures were usually around two
or three feet wide ( H u l l ) .
A batter, plinth or spur is the angled footing on a wall or tower. It caused dropped missiles to
ricochet horizontally towards the assailants. It also deflected blows from battering rams making them
less effective.
Finally, one of the last defenses used when the attackers were right upon the castle were the
machicolations or murder holes. Machicolations were openings in the floor of a projecting parapet or
platform along the wall, above an archway or door. Projectiles or burning tar could be dropped down
through the holes on the would be assailants ( H u l l ) .
Nearly all defenses were accessed by towers. This was very convenient as they also served as
the sleeping quarters for the castle garrison (guards/troops).
If any prisoners were taken they were held captive in the dungeon. The dungeon was located
near or inside the main gatehouse to prevent the prisoner from gaining access to the interior, was just a
simple room or even an elaborate one if the captive was of nobility.
Oubliettes were terrible gruesome dungeons. Basically a hole into nothingness, the only way in
or out was through a trap door in the ceiling that led to a guardroom above. Occasionally water would
seep into the oubliette filling the room and making survival nearly impossible ( H u l l ) .
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Although the castle was fortified for attack and could serve as a safe place when there was one,
a castle was the home of that noble or king and his family. It also had to have the conveniences of a
home.
Castles were often cold and drafty. Heat mainly came from fireplaces. The kitchen may have
been the warmest room because it housed the largest fireplace used for cooking the food for the great
quantities of people residing in the castle. The chimneys of castles rose for a couple of floors and then
vented to the outside, hoping to provide a little heat to the upper floors. Heavy tapestries where also
hung, not just to offer beauty but to try to absorb the heat from the fires and to keep out the cold air.
The privy was very primitive and it can be betted that there wasn’t any hot water to wash
hands. Even a simple wash basin was found in only the most fanciful of privies. A simple stone, or
sometimes wooden, seat emptied into the moat or stream through the latrine chute. As a precaution
iron bars were placed over the end of the latrine chute to prevent invading armies from entering this
way ( H u l l ) .
Windows weren’t entirely practical and so were a rare occurrence on the first floor. Any
windows where located on the upper floors where invaders were less likely to access them. Glass was
expensive and crude and so was rarely used. Windows could be closed with shutters or with parchment
made from oiled sheep or goat skin.
The Great hall was the main meeting place of a castle. Nobles and Lords would hold banquets
and parties in this room. The windows in this room were the exception being large with benches under
them for sitting. At one end of the room was a raised dais where the Lord of the castle would sit at a
table with his family and preside over the festivities. It was not unusual for guests to spend the night
splayed across the room after a night of merrymaking ( " M e d i e v a l - C a s t l e s " ) .
A castle served many purposes and gave a close sense of community. It protected its residents
in times of hardship and was highly self sufficient. While many of its values are lost its structure lives on.
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