Summary

Introduction to Castles

Castles are more than just monuments to the past, they hold the key to understanding a crucial period in civilization’s growth. This series explores how castles were built, their construction and design over the centuries, and their lasting impact on imagination. It delves into the history of castle builders, laborers, and kings, and how the Middle Ages and wars shaped the castle’s development, to understand how the modern world was constructed.

Construction of Castles

Building castles required determination, skill, planning, and significant resources, with medieval engineers applying knowledge of physics to construct stable buildings. The construction of a castle involved manually quarrying and transporting enormous quantities of stone over long distances without proper roads or vehicles. The builders then meticulously crafted fine details, such as door edges and archways, requiring hundreds of thousands of hours of labor.

As the walls rose, architects had to solve major problems, including designing and building complex features like spur buttresses, using single pieces of stone cut to order and assembled by hand. The construction of lavish castle interiors, featuring painted halls, chambers, and ornate decorations, showcased a king’s wealth and status to his nobles and courtiers, but came at an astronomical cost, nearly bankrupting the king and requiring heavy borrowing and parliamentary funding.

History of Castle Building

Humans have built with stone for millennia, with hill forts serving as power bases and safe havens for local tribes. The Romans built stone forts and walls to protect their empire, but the European castle as we know it emerged in the 11th century, primarily to defend a lord, his family, and territory. Early castles were made of earth and timber, with a wooden tower on a mound surrounded by a defensive enclosure, and surprisingly, 99% of them were made of wood.

The first timber castles were built in Britain, with Hayne Domen, constructed in 1070, being a notable example. These castles, introduced by the Normans after the 1066 conquest, were sophisticated structures with timber defenses and significant buildings. They provided a quick and effective way for the Normans to establish control and security in newly conquered territory, giving them a significant advantage over the native English.

Notable Castles

Rochester Castle, built by Archbishop William of Corbay, is a statement of the church’s interest in temporal power, serving as a secure fortress with symbolic purpose, declaring authority over the surrounding countryside.
Dover Castle, a royal palace of King Henry II, features a great tower and chambers that showcase the might and glory of its builder, with areas for private apartments, government business, and meetings.
Château Gaillard, built by Richard the Lionheart, is a revolutionary fortification in 12th century France, with a unique tear-shaped design and sheer round towers, constructed by an army of laborers in just two years.
Kyfelli Castle, constructed within three years due to the master mason’s expertise, is a testament to the physical and intellectual abilities of the workers, who must have had knowledge of physics and building plans.
Harlech Castle, built by Edward I, is a notable example of medieval engineering, with massive resources and logistics required for its construction, and featuring impressive architecture and concentric defenses.
Karavan Castle, designed to be different, with unique polygonal towers and striped bands of stones, symbolizing royal authority in Gwyneth, and aligning Edward I with the past and solidifying his political presence.

Castle Builders and Laborers

The record of castle builders showcases the labor force’s efforts, allowing empathy with the people who built these structures, highlighting the human hands that shaped them and the details left behind, such as mason’s marks. Master James, an architect, faced pressure to justify expenses for a large workforce, including masons, laborers, and craftsmen, but his work pleased King Edward, who rewarded him with a constable position at Harle Castle.

Legacy of Castles

Edward’s Castle, a 750-year-old world heritage site, still impresses visitors and divides opinion among locals, symbolizing both oppression and a vibrant community that has reclaimed it, representing a complex part of Wales’ history and castle legacy. The birth of Edward’s son in a castle in Wales led to a symbolic gesture, where Edward offered his son as the new Prince of Wales, born in Wales and unable to speak English. This tradition continues, with Prince Charles being invested with the title in 1969 at Caernarfon, a ceremony that is still popular among tourists today.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Castle	A large building or structure, typically of a medieval period, used as a fortified residence for a king or noble.	Rochester Castle is a notable example of a medieval castle in Britain.
Spur Buttress	A type of architectural support that projects from a wall to provide additional strength and stability.	The construction of Château Gaillard featured unique spur buttresses for added support.
Medieval Engineer	A person who applies scientific and mathematical knowledge to design and build structures during the medieval period.	Medieval engineers used their knowledge of physics to construct stable castle buildings.
Timber Castle	A type of castle made primarily of wood, often with a wooden tower on a mound surrounded by a defensive enclosure.	The first timber castles were built in Britain, with Hayne Domen being a notable example.
Mason’s Mark	A symbol or signature left by a stonemason on their work, often used to identify the craftsman.	Mason’s marks can be found on the stone walls of many castles, providing insight into the labor force that built them.
Concentric Defense	A type of defensive strategy that features multiple layers of walls or fortifications, often used in medieval castles.	Harlech Castle is a notable example of a medieval castle with impressive concentric defenses.
Master Mason	A skilled stonemason who oversees the construction of a building or structure, often responsible for the design and planning.	Master James, an architect, was responsible for the construction of Harle Castle and pleased King Edward with his work.
Quarrying	The process of extracting stone from a quarry, often used in the construction of castles and other buildings.	The construction of a castle involved manually quarrying and transporting enormous quantities of stone over long distances.
Architect	A person who designs and plans the construction of buildings and other structures, often requiring knowledge of physics and engineering.	Master James, an architect, faced pressure to justify expenses for a large workforce, including masons, laborers, and craftsmen.
Fortification	The act of strengthening or defending a building or structure, often using walls, towers, and other defensive features.	Château Gaillard is a revolutionary fortification in 12th century France, featuring a unique tear-shaped design and sheer round towers.

Watch The Video

How To Build The Ultimate Medieval Castle

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who designs and plans the construction of buildings’?

A) Laborer
B) Mason
C) Architect
D) Engineer

2. Which term refers to ‘a long period of time, typically hundreds or thousands of years’?

A) Millennium
B) Century
C) Decade
D) Era

3. What does ‘temporal power’ mean in the context of the church’s interest?

A) Spiritual influence
B) Political authority
C) Economic control
D) Social status

4. Which word describes ‘a person who has a high level of skill or expertise in a particular field’?

A) Master
B) Laborer
C) Apprentice
D) Novice

5. What is the meaning of ‘concentric defenses’ in the context of castle construction?

A) A single wall surrounding the castle
B) Multiple walls or layers of defense
C) A moat surrounding the castle
D) A tower at the center of the castle

Answer Key:

1. C
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Simple and Past Perfect Tenses

The past simple and past perfect tenses are used to describe completed actions in the past. The past simple tense is used for completed actions that happened at a specific time, e.g., “The Romans built stone forts and walls to protect their empire.” The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past, e.g., “The Normans had introduced timber castles in Britain before they established control over the newly conquered territory.” This grammar point is crucial in understanding the history of castle building, as it helps to establish a clear timeline of events. For example, “By the time the Europeans built the first stone castles, humans had already been building with stone for millennia.” This sentence uses the past perfect tense to show that one action (humans building with stone) happened before another action (Europeans building stone castles).

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time the Normans ________ Britain, they ________ a sophisticated system of castle building.

conquered, had developed
had conquered, developed
conquered, developed
had conquered, were developing

2. The first timber castle ________ in Britain was Hayne Domen, which ________ in 1070.

was built, was constructed
had been built, was constructed
was constructed, was built
had been constructed, was built

3. By the 11th century, the European castle ________ as we know it today, primarily to defend a lord and his territory.

had emerged
emerged
was emerging
has emerged

4. The master mason ________ the construction of Kyfelli Castle within three years due to his expertise.

had completed
completed
was completing
has completed

5. Before Edward I ________ Harlech Castle, he ________ several other castles in Wales.

built, had built
had built, built
was building, built
built, was building

Answer Key:

1. The correct answer is: had conquered, developed

2. The correct answer is: was built, was constructed

3. The correct answer is: had emerged

4. The correct answer is: completed

5. The correct answer is: built, had built