The Development of The Development of Square Keep CastlesSquare Keep Castles

Learning objectiveLearning objective: to understand what a square keep to understand what a square keep castle was and what their advantages and castle was and what their advantages and disadvantages were.disadvantages were.

Starter – How many words from SQUARE KEEP CASTLES can you make?

The Square Keep castleThe Square Keep castle

• These replaced the wooden keeps and These replaced the wooden keeps and were bigger – up to 35 meters high, with were bigger – up to 35 meters high, with three or four storey's and spiral staircases three or four storey's and spiral staircases in the corner turrets.in the corner turrets.

• The way into the keep was through the The way into the keep was through the fore building, which contained stairs to the fore building, which contained stairs to the first floor. The Great Hall, the Lord’s first floor. The Great Hall, the Lord’s bedroom and solar (study) and the chapel bedroom and solar (study) and the chapel were placed there.were placed there.

• The soldiers lived on the top floor and the The soldiers lived on the top floor and the ground floor was for stores, and prisoners. ground floor was for stores, and prisoners.

The Square Keep castleThe Square Keep castle

• The windows were thin slits, but The windows were thin slits, but arrows could be fired out through arrows could be fired out through them. Around the keeps was a strong them. Around the keeps was a strong wall, called a curtain wall, with a wall, called a curtain wall, with a gatehouse.gatehouse.

• Inside the gate was a thick metal Inside the gate was a thick metal grille called a portcullis. grille called a portcullis.

Rochester CastleRochester Castle

Advantages of the Square Advantages of the Square ‘‘stonestone’’ Keep Keep CastleCastle

1. The castles were made of stone and had deep foundations. This made them hard to knock down.

2. The castles were very large. Room for lots of soldiers and their supplies. They were also several floors high – up to 35 meters high.

3. Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper floors, where soldiers in the castle had a good view from the top.

Disadvantages of the Square Keep castleDisadvantages of the Square Keep castle

1. The corners could be easily damaged - one corner broken brings two walls down.

2. Attackers can get right up to the walls.

3. Difficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wall.

TasksTasks

STONE WALLS

Reorganize these into the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES boxesReorganize these into the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES boxes

Made of stone

Deep foundations—hard to knock down

Corners could be easily damaged—one corner broken brings two walls down

Large—for lots of soldiers and their supplies

Several floors high

Attackers can get right up to the walls

Entrance above ground level

Walls can be undermined

Difficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wall

Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper floors

Good view from the top

 

ARROW SLITS

BAILEY CURTAIN WALL

FLANKING TOWERS

(to protect corners)FORE BUILDING

to protect entrance

BATTLEMENTSDRAWBRIDGE

OUTER BAILEY ENTRANCE

• Reorganise these into the STRENGTHS and Reorganise these into the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES boxesWEAKNESSES boxes

• Made of stoneMade of stone• Deep foundations—hard to knock downDeep foundations—hard to knock down• Corners could be easily damaged—one corner Corners could be easily damaged—one corner

broken brings two walls downbroken brings two walls down• Large—for lots of soldiers and their suppliesLarge—for lots of soldiers and their supplies• Several floors highSeveral floors high• Attackers can get right up to the wallsAttackers can get right up to the walls• Entrance above ground levelEntrance above ground level• Walls can be underminedWalls can be undermined• Difficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wallDifficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wall• Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper

floorsfloors• Good view from the topGood view from the top

Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget!

• Any new words into the Word Cloud Any new words into the Word Cloud please.please.