Life in a castle
- The Lord and Lady of the castle.
- The Soldiers.
- The Servants.
- The Cook.
- The Jester.
- The Gong-Farmer.
Who would have lived in a castle?
During the late Middle Ages, from the 10th to the 16th centuries, kings and lords lived in castles. As well as the lord, the lady (his wife), and their family there were lots of staff. Some were important officials, such as the constable who took care of the castle when the lord was away.
What were Norman castles used for?
Norman castles were designed for a different purpose, they were not defensive structures like the burhs , they were designed to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons and remind them of Norman power. Norman castles were often built in locations that were considered of strategic value.
Who lived in Motte and Bailey castles?
At the bottom of the motte was the bailey. The bailey varied in size from one to three acres. Inside the bailey, lived the followers of the Lord who ran the castle. There were many buildings inside the bailey including stables, storehouses, bakeries, kitchens, houses, and quarters for soldiers.
What was a Norman castle?
Norman Castles were typically built on the highest ground in the area, often adjoined Rivers and overlooking towns and harbours. They often made use of existing sites of Roman or Saxon forts and burhs. If no suitable motte existed then the Normans simply built one – as at Norwich.
How did toilets work in castles?
In the medieval period luxury castles were built with indoor toilets known as ‘garderobes’, and the waste dropped into a pit below. It was the job of the ‘Gongfarmer’ to remove it – one of the smelliest jobs in history?
Did castles stink?
Often the moat surrounding the castle was used as a sewer. Both the moat and the castle quickly became smelly and dirty. It’s said that the kings and queens of England never stayed longer than eight weeks in one of their castles because of the build-up of foul odors.
What are 5 features of a Norman castle?
- Key Features. Windows.
- Doors. Castle doors had to be reinforced to withstand attack.
- Towers. Crenellated towers are a distinguishing feature of Norman castles.
- Timber. The first of England’s Norman castles were built from wood.
What were the 4 main reasons that castles were built?
Medieval castles were built from the 11th century CE for rulers to demonstrate their wealth and power to the local populace, to provide a place of defence and safe retreat in the case of attack, defend strategically important sites like river crossings, passages through hills, mountains and frontiers, and as a place of
Who built the first castles?
The first castles were built by the Normans
The great age of castles began almost 1,000 years ago and lasted for nearly 500 years. The Normans introduced the first proper castles, starting with the wooden Motte and Bailey castles, to England following their victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
What is the oldest castle in England?
Windsor Castle, England
The oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle is a royal residence located in Berkshire, England. Originally built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, the lavish castle has been used by succeeded monarchs ever since.
How many castles did the Normans build?
Gatehouses and drawbridges were added and sometimes, the only feature left from the original castle would be the castle mound. Archaeologists believe that in the first 20 years of William’s reign, the Normans built as many as 500 motte and bailey castles throughout England.
When were Norman castles built?
William the Conqueror built his first castle at Hastings soon after the Normans arrived in 1066. They looked for sites that provided natural obstacles to an enemy, such as a steep hill or a large expanse of water.
What is the oldest Norman castle?
Chepstow Castle
Looming from the clifftops above the river Wye, Chepstow was founded as a key defensive position immediately after the Norman invasion. It is now the oldest surviving stone castle in the country.
What happened to the Normans?
The Anglo-French War (1202-1214) watered down the Norman influence as English Normans became English and French Normans became French. Now, no-one was just ‘Norman’. As its people and settlements were assumed into these two larger kingdoms, the idea of a Norman civilisation disappeared.
Who built the Norman castles?
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror had two castles built following his march into the city in 1068. The main one is on the site now occupied by York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower. Norman castles were generally built to a standard design called a motte and bailey.
How did castles stay warm?
Castles weren’t always cold and dark places to live.
But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace. The hall would also have had tapestries which would have insulated the room against too much cold.
How did royals go to the bathroom?
The royals don’t use a ‘bathroom’ or ‘toilet’
Members of Britain’s most famous family don’t use the word “toilet.” Where they relieve themselves is called a “loo.” House Beautiful noted that they don’t say the word “bathroom” either unless there is an actual bathtub inside.
Why did they put straw on castle floors?
Historical use
They were used in all areas of the house, including kitchens, dining halls and bedrooms. The herbs were laid on the floor along with reeds, rushes, or straw, so that pleasant odours would be released when people walked on them.
Where is the oldest castle in the world?
Located in Syria, the Citadel of Aleppo is often touted as the oldest castle in the world. The earliest structures date back to 3000 BC. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the millennia, most recently during the Syrian civil war. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Did everyone stink in the Middle Ages?
Before germs and pathogens were fully understood, people of medieval Europe often equated bad smells with disease, which makes a sort of rudimentary sense when you think about sanitation. So smelling bad and having bad breath, for example, were considered very negative things related to illness.