Friday, October 11, 2002
Castles Explained
Early castles were comparatively simple in layout. They consisted of a massive stone tower, or KEEP, built upon elevated ground, surrounded, or fronted, by a walled courtyard, known as a bailey, with a fortified GATEHOUSE. The whole was surrounded by a moat, or deep ditch, filled with water...
Soldiers occupied the first floor of the Keep as a Guardroom; below was a stone-vaulted basement.? On the second floor was the Baronial Hall and above that were chambers for use as dormitories and other domestic purposes.? From this simple fortification developed more elaborate and complex structures, varying greatly in design and plan.
Early castles were comparatively simple in layout. They consisted of a massive stone tower, or KEEP, built upon elevated ground, surrounded, or fronted, by a walled courtyard, known as a bailey, with a fortified GATEHOUSE. The whole was surrounded by a moat, or deep ditch, filled with water...
Soldiers occupied the first floor of the Keep as a Guardroom; below was a stone-vaulted basement.? On the second floor was the Baronial Hall and above that were chambers for use as dormitories and other domestic purposes.? From this simple fortification developed more elaborate and complex structures, varying greatly in design and plan.
