Michele Sinclair
... award winning author of Historical Romance

Medieval Times and Castles

Other Medieval research can be found on Medieval Knights & Warfare and Medieval Life.

With very few exceptions, descriptions are not my opinions but excerpts pulled from the sites. Each link will open in a new page. Michele

Medieval History

Feudalism
Feudalism is the name given to the system of government William I introduced to England after he defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Feudalism became a way of life in Medieval England and remained so for many centuries.
More on Feudalism
"Feudalism" is when the king appointed a lord to take care of his land. The lord then appointed many knights or nobles to possess the land he firstly acquired from his king by distributing it equally among them. They in turn used serfs to work the land.
Introduction to the Dark Ages
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the V century, a new period which is referred to as the "Middle Ages" began. Some historians call this "The Dark Ages" because they were in fact full of grief, sorrow, torture, invasions and plague.
Year of 1066
The year 1066 is considered one of those dates in Medieval England which is difficult to forget. At the start of 1066, England was ruled by Edward the Confessor. By the end of the year, a Norman — William the Conqueror — was king after defeating Edward's successor, Harold, at the Battle of Hastings. Many historians view 1066 as the start of Medieval England.
Asian Invasions During the Medieval Times to Europe
During the Medieval Times, Europeans not only had to worry about internal battles — ...
... but they also had to deal with outsiders such as the Vikings, Russians and; mainly, the Asians.
Eleanor Crosses
Charing Cross was one of 12 "Eleanor Crosses" erected by a disconsolate Edward I when his wife Queen Eleanor of Castile died in 1290. Eleanor bore Edward 16 children in an unusually happy union for that period of arranged marriages.
Medieval Myths
The Medieval Times were characterized for having an unstable way of thinking among the rich and the poor. This led to economical, religious and intellectual instability which then led to people committing to religion or mythology.
Medieval London
In some ways the medieval history of London can be said to have begun on Christmas Day, 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned king of England in a ceremony at the newly finished Westminster Abbey, just three months after his victory at the Battle of Hastings.
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta — a translation of the original text as confirmed by Edward II in 1297.
More about the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed in June 1215 between the barons of Medieval England and King John. "Magna Carta" is Latin and means "Great Charter". The Magna Carta was one of the most important documents of Medieval England.
Anglo Saxon History Timeline
A site listing events, people, daily life, and Anglo Saxon London history.
Historical timeline information is very helpful while developing a story.
Primary Sources Regarding The Reign of Cnut The Great
The credibility of the sources of information about Cnut The Great's reign is important when utilizing or investigating this period in Anglo-Saxon History.
Roman Britain
A site listing events, people, daily life, cities and Roman London history.
Timeline of the Kings and Queens of England
Timeline and facts about the Kings and Queens who have ruled England, Wales and (from the time of James I) Scotland.
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Glossary on Medieval Terms

Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournament
Glossary of Terms:
The glossary is meant as a growing resource for students, re-enactors, and anyone interested in knighthood, chivalry, or the medieval tournament.
Medieval Terminology
Want to know terms and meanings of armor? Weapon Nomenclature? People? Castles? This site is for you.
Site of Medieval Sites
Just what you need! A site that can take you to a site with a list of a BUNCH more medieval sites!
Glossary of Some Medieval Clothing Terms
Compiled by Marc Carlson. Unlike many glossaries or lexicons, the definitions given here are not monocular; they have not been drawn together and written as a single source presenting The Truth. These are generally separate definitions drawn from a number of sources. That means that as you look through here, you may notice definitions that may conflict with one another, or what you have been taught elsewhere.
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A Little on Vikings

Viking Invasions to Europe
Lack of agriculture led many adventurous Vikings to sail South in search of land. ... Consequently], they began conquering Scotland — and at their peak, they conquered half of England.
Viking Men, Women, and Children Life
The Vikings were very similar to most of European people in terms of their life and the way they lived. When the Vikings were at its peak, men had to protect his king or local chieftain in order for him to 'deserve' his lands.
Viking Weapons
The Vikings before then XI century, were an immense threat to England and the rest of Europe. They were able to create very fine weaponry which was, in a way, different from other medieval weapons.
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Medieval Castles — General Information

All About Castles
What is a castle? ... Why were castles built? ... When were castles built?
About Castles
The Normans were master castle builders. After 1066, England witnessed a massive castle building program on the orders of William the Conqueror. First, motte and bailey castles were built. Once William had firmly established his rule in England, he built huge stone keep castles. By the time of Edward I, concentric castles were being built.
Castle FAQs
Frequently asked questions about castles.
Decline of the Castle
As military necessity changed in Great Britain there was less emphasis placed on defense and more on comfort. By the 15th century the majority of new buildings, while having some defensive features, were primarily designed for comfortable living conditions.
Building a Castle
Even today, centuries after they were active in British history, castles demonstrate the majesty, power and wealth of their noble builders. By the end of the 12th century, stone castles became more elaborate, the obsession of several powerful personalities who felt pressure to prove their own value by constructing these towering piles.
Castle Building Material
At first, castles were made up of nothing but earth, with timber towers and buildings. They could be built quickly, and without skilled laborers. In later castle development, castles were built of stone, or converted to stone. Stone was quarried locally, if possible, or taken from buildings near the site. In some castles you can even see some Roman red bricks.
Castle Building FAQ
While this site is about a company that build solid stone castles in current times, it's FAQ asks questions you would want to know.
Concentric Castles
The concentric castle was an enclosure castle with an additional curtain wall built, in close proximity, around the entire enclosure. In a sense, the concentric castle consisted of "walls within walls", where the inner walls, gatehouses and towers were higher than the outer walls, gatehouses and towers.
Fortified Manors
A manor was an estate held by and the principle dwelling house for a lord. Most of the time, the lands surrounding the manor were farmed and taken care of by people who owed the lord money or service.
Medieval Churches
Apart from the manor, the church was the main focus of community life. Church parishes were usually the manor villages.
Motte and Bailey Castles
There are motte and bailey castles in every county of Wales, England, and Scotland. In fact, nearly all villages had a motte and bailey castle to guard them. So exactly how were they built?
More about Motte and Bailey Castles
Motte and bailey castles appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Motte and bailey castles were a common feature in England by the death of William the Conqueror in 1087. Their construction was the start of what was to become a massive castle building program in England and Wales.
History of Medieval Castles
William the Conqueror changed history when he conquered Great Britain in 1066. Having built more than 40 castles across England, William's belief was that by building numerous castles in key-spots, Great Britain would be able to easily repel foreign invasions mainly from the Vikings and the French.
Castles in England and Wales
The Norman conquerors developed castle building into a fine art. They had to; it was such a turbulent and insecure period that defense was a necessity of life. When most people think of castles they tend to picture a massive stone structure, but before 1100 castles were primarily thatched wooden buildings on the motte and bailey plan.
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Parts of a Castle

Castle Curtain Walls
A curtain wall, or enclosing wall, of a castle bounded or enclosed the castle. Most often it was attached to the towers and gatehouse. There are examples of walls dividing or splitting a bailey into two wards, and this is called a cross-curtain. Some curtain walls would be built around the bailey of a motte castle.
Castle Drawbridges
Almost all drawbridges were made of wood. The earliest were removable. When the need came, the guards would withdraw the platform from its position, thus offering protection to the castle. In later development, the drawbridge had ropes and pulleys attached where the guards would haul up one end of the platform by pulling on the ropes.
Castle Fireplaces
Heating of a castle was somewhat crude in the beginning. Fires were started by striking pieces of flint over tinder. Tinder consisted of small dry twigs or leaves. Most of the time just an open fire or open hearth placed in the middle of the floor supplied the only heat. Many areas of the castle were not heated at all. Later the open hearths were placed against a wall. An arch and back were added, and the true fireplace appeared.
Castle Furnishings
Just as two castles were never built the same, so too were there never two castles furnished the same. A lot depended on the wealth of the lord. The great halls were painted and had tapestries hanging from the walls. The ceilings had corbels carved or painted. Maybe the floor would be covered with straw and scented with herbs.
Medieval Moats
Medieval moats were trenches filled with water to prevent direct contact with the castle's walls.
Castle Portcullis
A portcullis was a heavy grilled door that dropped vertically down through slots or guides, and most often protected the main entrance of the castle. It could be made of many different materials, but almost all were made of oak, then plated with iron. On the bottom were spikes. The raising of the heavy portcullis was sometimes assisted with counter weights, pulleys, and rope.
Castle Stairs
There were several types of stairs in castles, from moveable ladders to grand masonry ones. The earliest were movable wooden ladders. Most entrances were on a level above the ground, so when the defenders of the castle went to bed or needed to isolate the tower or keep, they would just pull the ladder up and store it.
Castle Wells
Wells were essential in castles. Take away the drinking water and you've captured a castle.
Castle Windows
Openings for light in the castle tended to be either loops or windows. The loops did not provide an overall good view, and windows offered little protection for defenders. In the basement and first floor areas there were no windows and very few loops. The loops were provided with no closure, except maybe a thick curtain. The second and third floors would have had windows fitted with seats.
Medieval Architecture
All about art, church sculpture, Romanesque period, gothic style, church building, church sitting and orientation.
Parts of a Castle from the www.castles.me.uk site
Castle Moats, Murder Holes, Drawbridge, Portcullis, Crenellations, Machicolations, Barbican, Curtain Wall, Castle Loopholes, Palisade, Ramparts, Oubliette, Buttress, Flying Buttress, Motte, and Arrow Slits.
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Castle Buildings and Rooms

Castle Floor Plans
Well thought out medieval castle floor plans started as far from the castle front doors as the city itself.
Rooms in a Castle
The number of rooms in a castle varied greatly. Smaller castles which were only used as military headquarters had approximately only 20 rooms.
Castle Chapels
Chapels were an important part of life in a castle and the central place for community gatherings. Castle keeps had chapels, but sometimes they were located in the bailey, or outer ward. Other places chapels could be located were in the castle towers and gate houses.
Castle Dungeons
Frequently, the castle's prison was located near or inside the main gatehouse to prevent the enemy from gaining access to the interior. Then, the guards could also keep a close watch over their captives.
Castle Gatehouses
The castle's entrance was its weakest point, so priority was given to building a strong gatehouse. Often this part of the castle was the first to be rebuilt in stone. The conversion of the gatehouse into stone protected it from attack by fire, but also from other kinds of assault.
Castle Halls
Castle halls were the all-purpose structure of the castle.
Castle Kitchens
Kitchens had huge cooking ovens, some large enough to roast two or three oxen at the same time.
Castle Privy
A privy is a medieval name for latrine. It was also called a necessarium, jakes, draught, and gong.
Solars
Originally the word solar, or soller, was used to describe any room above the ground level of a building. It refers to a well lighted parlour or chamber facing south, no matter the floor level.
Castle Towers
Mural towers were towers built into the castle wall. They were square, rectangular, polygonal, round, and D-shaped. Before the end of the 12th century, they were mainly rectangular in design. Polygonal ones appeared in the late 13th and 14th centuries. Round and D-shaped towers also appeared in the 13th century and had many advantages over square or rectangular ones.
Pele Towers
The pele tower was a strongly built tower, less grand than a tower keep, used for a place of refuge and look-out. They were built between 1200-1700s or after, and sometimes are difficult to date.
Parts of a Castle from the www.castles.me.uk site
Castle Dungeons, Medieval Great Hall, Privy, Crenellations, Castle Gatehouse, Garderobe, Barbican, Solar, Wardrobe, Minstrels Gallery, Bailey, Donjon, Castle Keep, Bastion, Bower, Buttery, Oratory, Castle Chapel, and Battlements.
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Copyright 2006-2009 Michele Sinclair.