Henry's Castle Construction Lesson Quiz

Answer: Drawbridge

The castle is protected by a deep ditch, or moat, that is filled with water and all sorts of (yuck!) other waste. There has to be a way in; during the early days of castle building, the bridge might be destroyed or just moved in case of an attack. Now we have a drawbridge with a hinged edge that can be lowered with a rope or chain.

Answer: Barbican

A barbican can be a gateway, tower, or fortified outpost that protects the entrance to the castle. Usually there are towers on each side where guards keep watch. The barbican is usually connected to the city walls by the "neck", which is a walled road.

Answer: Keep

The keep is the most highly fortified building of the castle complex. This is where our lord, the Earl of Warwick lives. However, if the castle is under attack, those who are not fighting are protected within the walls of the keep. The early motte-and-bailey castles had keeps made of wood; the threat of fire eventually made stone a more popular building material. Stone keeps take longer to build, however, and require a master stonemason.

It takes a year to build about twelve feet of a stone keep.

Answer: Archers

Embrasures, also called arrow loops, loopholes, or arrow slits, allow our archers to be protected as they fire from inside the castle. Some embrasures are made so that a small cannon can also be fired through the circular opening. The more common vertical loopholes allow the archer to cover a variety of ranges; the horizontal loopholes are usually used in areas where the range is restricted. Sometimes the vertical and horizontal loopholes make the shape of a cross.

They are used mostly by our crossbowmen.

Answer: Machicolation

The machicolation allows castle defenders to drop heavy stones or nasty liquids, such as lye or boiling water, on enemy troops. Boiling oil is not used very often because it is so expensive. There are also holes called murder holes for the same purpose in ceilings and gateways.

Answer: Hoarding

During a siege, the hoarding is erected as a temporary structure on the exterior of the castle wall. We don't use these as much any more, because machicolations have been incorporated into the design of Warwick Castle and they do not burn! They are useful, however, in helping our defenders improve their line of fire, especially around the wall base, while offering them a bit of protection. Actually we always keep ready-built hoardings on hand, and store them away inside the complex so they are ready to bring out when necessary.

Answer: Crenels

Another example of an embrasure, the crenel is the gap in the battlement, while the solid part is called a merlon. In England we have a law that is called the license to crenellate. That means the holder of the property has the permission of the king or other high-ranking lord to fortify their property. If a lord crenellates without permission, he is in a bit of trouble, but can obtain a pardon by paying a fine.

While some historians believe this was an attempt by the king to limit the number of fortifications that could hold out against a royal army, others believe it was more of a status symbol of power and royal connection.

Answer: Wall-walk

The chemin de ronde, a protected walk way, is situated behind the castle battlement. Sometimes high castle walls are difficult to defend from the ground. By using the chemin de ronde, defenders can patrol from the top of the walls, and be in a good position for shooting at attackers.

Answer: A turret projects from the edge of the building; a tower continues to the ground.

A turret is usually smaller than a tower. There is no set design for a turret; it can have a covered, pointed roof, crenellations - or not. It can be higher than other parts of the castle, but doesn't have to be. The main difference is that a turret comes out of the edge of the castle wall, and does not continue to the ground.

This requires some extra skill and planning, because the weight of the turret can put additional stress on the wall. Turrets provide some extra defensive position if needed, and, being part of a room, can be entered from the inside of the castle.

Answer: Postern

It is a good idea to have another way out of the castle, however, here at Warwick Castle for security reasons very few people - not even Henry, believe it or not! - know where the postern is located. It can be used for coming and going clandestinely (not that we have anyone who does that!), but it can also be used as a sally point in case the castle is ever besieged.