Introduction to Life in a Castle
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An Englishman's home is said to be his castle, but before 1066 and the Norman conquest that wasn't really true.
The Normans were around from 1066 when they fought a famous battle called the Battle of HASTINGS. Originally from north France - known as Normandy, The Normans came to England and Ireland to conquer. The very first castles that the Normans built were known as A MOTTE AND BAILEY.
The Castle :
A castle to a king was not just a home it was a place to prove he was king and to rule his country by protecting and defending them. Castles were built all over the country and had many uses:
As time went on the Norman castle builders changed , updated and bettered their building skills. They no longer built a strong keep surrounded by weaker walls - they built massive outer walls and an even stronger keep. Massive towers were built into the walls which started as square and became round. If anyone attacked and managed to get in, the keep, with its very thick walls, was their very last line of defense. Although all this may seem fine a castle was a very uncomfortable place to live in. They were cold and very draughty. They had little furniture. The floors were covered with rushes or straw instead of carpets. There were NO bathrooms - the medieval toilet was usually drained into the moat. And lastly there was always the fear of the Castle being attacked.
The Normans were around from 1066 when they fought a famous battle called the Battle of HASTINGS. Originally from north France - known as Normandy, The Normans came to England and Ireland to conquer. The very first castles that the Normans built were known as A MOTTE AND BAILEY.
The Castle :
A castle to a king was not just a home it was a place to prove he was king and to rule his country by protecting and defending them. Castles were built all over the country and had many uses:
- for protection
- to keep local people under control
- a place to live
As time went on the Norman castle builders changed , updated and bettered their building skills. They no longer built a strong keep surrounded by weaker walls - they built massive outer walls and an even stronger keep. Massive towers were built into the walls which started as square and became round. If anyone attacked and managed to get in, the keep, with its very thick walls, was their very last line of defense. Although all this may seem fine a castle was a very uncomfortable place to live in. They were cold and very draughty. They had little furniture. The floors were covered with rushes or straw instead of carpets. There were NO bathrooms - the medieval toilet was usually drained into the moat. And lastly there was always the fear of the Castle being attacked.
