Early castles Typical castles during the Norman period

Early castles • Typical castles during the Norman period, built on a motte surronded by a bailey courtyard at the bottom

Launceston Castle in Cornwall

Later castles • The motte was replaced by a strong tower called keep, the focal point of the castle

Easier to defend Round keep

The most common in Wales • Concentric castles with outer or curtain walls

Later with king Henry VIII • To protect England from Spanish invasions he built rose -shaped castles

For safer protection A moat was a deep ditch filled with water all around the castles

To get to the castle A drawbridge was built

The entrance • A portcullis was a strong wooden and iron grating for blocking or allowing access

Against the enemy • Machicolations are holes in parapets through which stones and other weapons were thrown

Against the enemy • Murder holes are holes in the roof through which rocks or other things capable of causing death were dropped

Against the enemy • An arrow slit is a hole in a wall through which defenders could quickly fire arrows from bows

Against the enemy A gun loop is a hole through which to fire cannons.

For prisoners • A Dungeon was the jail were prisoners were held and tortured

More holes • Beam holes are where beams that held up the ceilings were fitted.

Connections • Spiral staircases inside towers connect the separate floors of a castle

Connections • Wall walks are passage ways between towers for soldiers on guard