Castle Structure

Structure of a castle

The keep

Positioned in the middle of the castle the keep a fall-back point and a place of safety for when the castle is invaded. The limestone of the keep was sometimes painted white to dazzle possible invaders. The keep was the most towering part of the castle so settlers could see out but invaders could not see in. the keep was also the strongest point of the castle because if they were invaded that is where everyone would go. Walls were twelve-thirteen ft wide. The most common shapes of the keep where spherical or cuboid parapets were on top so the soldiers could go along them and shoot down.

Walls and curtain walls

Surrounding the outer castle the curtain walls would be turrets joint together by thick stone walls.

The drawbridge would commonly be made out of wood because of this it would be highly flammable. The drawbridge was not supported by a beam so it would swing up and down and side to side like a seesaw.

Gate house

One of the most important parts of a castle was the gate house which you can tell by how heavily defended it is, and you can tell by it being the entrance. There would be a heavy, thick wooden door that would be incredibly heavy, invaders would try to burn this door down but this did not always work: behind the wooden door is a heavy portcullis that weighs even more than the door.

Bailey

The followers and soldiers lived in the bailey. The bailey is a large piece of land varying in size from one acre to three acres this was one of the first line of defence And the part of the castle which took up most of the land. The bailey was surrounded by curtain walls (a type of defensive that are like turrets joint by towering stone walls.

Motte

The invaders would get tiresome from getting up to the Motte because of how steep the hill is. Around the Motte is a deep ditch for added security. The Motte was on top of the Bailey. Motte translates into mound or clod of