Castles

Castles


     In medieval times, castles served as the home and fortress of a monarch

or noble.  The earliest castles were built from earth and wood.  By the 12th

century, most castles were built from stone.  The stones came from local mines

or quarries if possible, but sometimes they had to be carried long distances by

water or on ox wagons.  The roofs of castles were covered with slates, clay

tiles, or wooden shingles.

     Castles were built on steep hill sides or at the top of rocky cliffs.

This was for protection from attackers.  It made it harder for them to reach the

castle.

     Castles also had additional purposes.  They sometimes served as barracks,

prisons, storehouses, armories, treasure houses, and the center for local

government.  Castles sometimes had brewhouses, a laundry a huge bakers oven,

workshops, dovecotes, and stables (MacDonald, p.12)

     Castle walls surrounded the entire castle and were usually several

meters thick.  They usually had 3 layers:  a rough stone inner shell, a  thick,

solid filling of flint and rubble, and an outer layer of stone called ashlar.

(MacDonald, p.8)  There was usually a walkway along the top of the walls so

guards could keep watch.  Some castle walls had spaces at the top called

embrassures, which allowed archers to shoot with the protection of the wall.

These openings also permitted stones or boiling water to be thrown down on the

enemy.  (Encyclopedia Americana, p.790).  Towers were built along castle walls

at regular intervals to strengthen them and provide area for castle workers or

visitors.

     Moats often surrounded castles for protection.  Some people built

castles on banks of lakes or rivers and channeled water to the moat.  A

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