Lesson Objectives

To find out:

What life was like for those that livedand worked within a castle(food, entertainment, jobs done)

I am King Edward I.

When Llywelyn refused to accept

me as king I decided to crush the

Welsh. In 1282 I finally forced my

way into the mountains of Wales.

Within a few months Llywelyn was

dead.

Wales was mine. I built massive

new castles and no-one had ever

seen anything so fine. The Welsh

never broke free from English

control again.

1. Flint2. Rhuddlan3. Conwy4. Beaumaris5. Caernarfon6. Harlech7. Aberystwyth8. Builth

Using an atlas can you put the correct number next to each castle.

Castles built by Edward I

Mark the timeline with a cross indicating when you think castle building roughly began.

Next, mark down the time in which we now live.

According to what you have marked down, roughly how long ago were the first castles built?

© BBC

The first castles were built from wood. These

castles were quick to build and the materials to

construct them could usually be found nearby.

Wood was eventually replaced by stone which was

much stronger. Planning these stone castles could

be a difficult job however. Building supplies

sometimes had to be transported to the castle site,

often by sea or river. A castle could take up to 10

or even 20 years to build and cost the equivalent of

millions of pounds to build.

The great age of castles began almost 1000 years

ago and lasted for nearly 500 years.

Castles acted as a base from which a lord and his

soldiers could launch attack on enemies. They

could also provide protection for the lord and his

men. With high towers and thick walls they

became impressive and intimidating defensive

structures. But, they were also homes to many

people with comfortable chambers, halls and

chapels.

In order to build a castle like Beaumaris what

type of labourers do you think you would have

needed?Type of job

Number of men needed

Type of job

Number of men needed

Type of job

Number of men needed

In order to build a castle like Beaumaris what

type of labourers do you think you would have

needed?Type of job

Number of men needed

Type of job

Number of men needed

Type of job

Number of men needed

To build Beaumaris Castle, 30 blacksmiths, 400

masons and 2,000 labourers were hired.

In early castles, life was not comfortable. The wind whistled

through the arrow loops and open windows and the walls were

damp.

Over time the castle furnishings improved, especially within the

bed chambers and living rooms. These were heated by large

open fires and lit by candles which helped to protect the

inhabitants from the chill air.

Special rooms, like the Chapel or Lord’s Chamber often had

glass windows and plastered walls hung with tapestries. Floors

were even sometimes covered with sweet smelling herbs.

This is a pupil’s cutaway drawing of the inside of a castle tower.

Guards kept check for attackers

Room used by the Lord’s servants, notice no decoration or fire

The Sleeping Chamber had mats on the floor and decorated walls and a burning fire

The Solar was the Lord’s private apartment

The Cellar was often full of weapons and used for storage of food

See if you can label the tower correctly.

Toilets (Garderobes) were usually built into the outer walls of

the castle. The waste dropped into cess pits or the moat. The

garderobe was also a place where clothes were sometimes

hung. The awful smell often deterred moths who would get into

the material. This is where the word wardrobe comes from, as

ward can mean to discourage something.

The Lord sometimes had

his own private toilet.

Strips of linen were used

instead of toilet paper

and sweet smelling

herbs were sprinkled on

the floor.

Garderobe exit holes at Caerphilly Castle – above the moat!

When the Lord was away the kitchen was relatively quiet.

Why do you think that this was?

However when the Lord was in residence and when important

guests were visiting the kitchen buzzed with activity. The cook

shouted orders and the under cooks chopped the vegetables.

The worst job in the kitchen, such as cleaning and fetching

water, was done by young boys called scullions.

Every castle needed its own water supply in order to survive a siege. Sometimes water would be channelled straight into the kitchen.

The Lord and his family sat at the high table.

There was usually some form of entertainment (music for example) for the Lord and his

guests while they ate.

Guests ate with their fingers or with knives or spoons. Forks had not been invented.

A cup-bearer used to make sure the king’s cup was filled with wine.

Meals began early at about 10 p.m. and lasted for several hours!

Please click on the screen

© Cadw. Crown Copyright

Can you find and label…

Rounded Towers The Great Hall The Well The Gatehouse

Food and drink in theMiddle Ages

Food and drink in theMiddle Ages

Please click on the screen

Food

Jobs

Activities

Living Conditions(facilities,

furniture…)

What have we learnt about life in a castle?

Clothing

www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/clothing.html

Food

www.castles_of_britain.com/castlesf.htm

Castle Areas

www.castlewales.com/beaumar1.html

Medieval Jobs

www.castles-ofbritain.com/castle32.htm

These websites may be of help when carrying out your research

END