Table of Contents
What is the purpose of a keep in a castle?
A medieval castle keep was a kind of fortified tower that had central importance in the defence of the castle. It also served the purpose of imprisoning political prisoners since it was considered one of the most impenetrable castle parts.
What part of a castle is the keep?
The keep, located within a courtyard and surrounded by a curtain wall, was the heart of a medieval castle. The hall keep was a low building while the tower keep or donjon could have three or more floors and be topped by turrets and battlements.
Who lives in a castle keep?
Discover more about the people who lived and worked in castles, from the Lord and Lady to the unfortunate servant who had to clean out the cesspit. The Lord and Lady of the castle. The Soldiers. The Servants. The Cook. The Jester. The Gong-Farmer.
What rooms are in a castle keep?
Rooms in a Medieval Castle The Great Hall. Bed Chambers. Solars. Bathrooms, Lavatories and Garderobes. Kitchens, Pantries, Larders & Butteries. Gatehouses and Guardrooms. Chapels & Oratories. Cabinets and Boudoirs.
Why is a keep called a keep?
The word originates from around 1375 to 1376, coming from the Middle English term kype, meaning basket or cask, and was a term applied to the shell keep at Guînes, said to resemble a barrel. Contemporary medieval writers used various terms for the buildings we would today call keeps.
What is a keep in a Motte and Bailey castle?
The castle is made up of two parts: The motte is a raised mound of earth which has a wooden or stone building on it, often referred to as a keep. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard that is surrounded by walls and a ditch and palisade — which is a wooden stake fence.
What is inside a keep?
The keep and the auxiliary buildings that supported castle life varied from castle to castle. Sometimes buildings (like the chapel, great hall and kitchens) were integrated into the keep, and sometimes they were separated. The keep was the main residence of the ruling lord.
What are the main features of a castle?
The key features of a castle include: Rampart, Dungeon, Portcullis, Moat, Drawbridge and Turret.
How big is a keep?
Usual height for the motte of a large motte and bailey: 30 feet (9 m). Height of the walls of Framlingham Castle in England: 40 feet (12 m). Height of the keep at Dover Castle in England: 80 feet (24 m).
Do families still live in castles?
The funny thing is, there are a surprising number of historic castles still in use today. These medieval castles are not only still standing, they remain private residences (at least in part) to families that can trace their lineage back through the centuries.
What did a Seneschal do?
seneschal, , French Sénéchal, in medieval and early modern France, a steward or principal administrator in a royal or noble household. As time went on, the office declined in importance and was often equivalent to that of a bailiff (q.v.); the office and title persisted until the French Revolution.
Did castles smell bad?
Often the moat surrounding the castle was used as a sewer. Both the moat and the castle quickly became smelly and dirty. It’s said that the kings and queens of England never stayed longer than eight weeks in one of their castles because of the build-up of foul odors.
What is a solar in a castle?
solar, also spelled sollar, in architecture, private room located on the floor above the great hall in a late medieval English manor house. The solar served as a kind of parlour to which the family of the owner of the manor house or castle could retire from the bustling communal living of the hall below.
What would be on the first floor of a castle?
Bed Chambers and the Solar The private bed chambers of a medieval castle were typically accessed by a small passage at the top end of the great hall – often the bedrooms and living rooms of the lord and lady of the castle, and their close family or honoured guests, would be on the first floor of the structure.
What’s the first room in a castle?
The great chamber was at the dais end of the hall, usually up a staircase. It was the first room which offered the lord of the household some privacy from his own staff, albeit not total privacy. In the Middle Ages the great chamber was an all-purpose reception and living room.
What are the 4 types of castles?
Use the links below to read through the information on each of the four different types of Medieval castles; Motte and Bailey, Concentric, Shell Keep and Square Keep.
What makes a castle a castle?
The word ‘castle’ derives from the old English word ‘castel’, which meant village. And now the Oxford English Dictionary defines a castle as ‘a large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and often a moat’.
What was the weakest point of a castle?
The entrance to the castle was always its weakest point. Drawbridges could be pulled up, preventing access across moats. Tall gate towers meant that defenders could shoot down in safety at attacks below. The main gate or door to the castle was usually a thick, iron-studded wooden door, that was hard to break through.
What was the purpose of a keep?
The Keep was the inner stronghold of the castle. It was usually either square or round. The keep was the center of castle life, often serving as the lord’s residence, and was usually the place of last refuge when defending the castle.
What is the purpose of a bailey in a castle?
The bailey was the center of domestic life within the castle and could contain a variety of buildings, including halls, kitchens, stores, stables, a chapel, barracks, and workshops.
Why did stone castles replace Motte and Bailey?
The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone. Stone is more durable and resistant than wood and so it became the preferred building materials for castles. Stone castles were built taller and gave better protection against attack, fire and cold rainy weather.
