 About Castles
An in-depth look into why castles developed. This section also takes you on a tour of the main parts of a castle.
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License
What did it take to build a castle? This section is about getting a license to build a castle. What happened when a castle was built without a license?
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Bathing and Washing
There are many myths surrounding bathing and washing in medieval times. Find the truth here.
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Life in a Castle
Get an insight into the everyday life of people living in a medieval castle, and what made it difficult to live in one.
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Birds Eye Views
An interesting, illustrated look at some of the castles from the air.
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Medieval Biographies
A look at the castle builders and other important people of Medieval times.
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Building a Castle
A look into how castles developed and how they were built. How long did it take? How much did it cost?
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Medieval Jobs
What kind of work did the people do? Find out about the different medieval jobs here.
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Building Materials
Find out what kind of materials were used to make the castles, from the quarries to metal.
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Medieval Kings
The kings could be ruthless. Find out what they did, or didn't do. What contributions did they make to castles.
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Castle Defenses
The moats, battlements, and more. Here is a description of the important castle defenses.
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Medieval Siege
Experience a siege first hand. Find out how it was really like to attack and defend a castle.
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Castle Provisions
Find out what it took to prepare a castle for war. What kind of provisions did the garrison need to survive a siege?
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Medieval Women
How was it really like to be a woman during medieval times. Find out here.
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Chapels
Where was a chapel located? What were they like? This section will answer those questions and more.
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Motte and Bailey Castles
The earliest true castles were the motte castles. Find out the stages of development and how they were built.
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Concentric Castles
The ultimate castle. Read about these giant fortresses in this section.
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Parts of a Castle
The major parts of the castle are pointed out in this colorful illustration.
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Decline of the Castle
What happened to the castle? Follow their rise and fall in this section.
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Pele Towers
Pele towers were known as the poor man's castles. Read about these "little known" castles here.
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Drawbridges
Find out about a castle drawbridge, from the simple moveable wooden platform to the latest pivoting bridge.
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Portcullis
How did the people raise and lower the gates in medieval times? In this section find out how and why the portcullis existed.
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Drawings
Get a visual guide to the weapons of medieval warfare in this section.
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Privy
A rather awkward subject to talk about, but going to the potty in medieval times was sometimes a cold experience.
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Dungeons
Find out the secrets of the cold dark dungeons in this section. Learn the true story.
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Ringwork Castles
A little talked about castle type. What were they? What did they look like? Read all about them here.
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Entertainment
Find out about all the entertainers at the castle. What really took place at the tournaments and festivals?
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Roofs
There are many theories on how a castle roof looked. Here, take a look at the construction.
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Fireplaces
From the earliest open hearth fires to the fancy decorated and hooded fireplaces. Find out how people kept warm in a castle.
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Solars
What were solars used for? Where did they come from? The description and history is here.
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Food
What was available to eat in medieval times? What did they eat? You may find some surprises.
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Stairs
Read about how and why stairs were built at the castles. What is a newel stair?
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Fortified Manors
Fortified manors became common in the 13th century. Find out what they were and what kind of defenses they had.
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Stone Castles
Read a brief history of stone and enclosure castles. Some good examples are also provided.
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Furnishings
This section explains with what and how a castle was furnished.
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Symbols of Britain
This section will introduce and help you identify the many flags, logos, and symbols of Britain. Take a look.
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Gatehouses
Often the gatehouse of the castle was the focal point of refuge and attack. Find out why.
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Tools
With what did the medieval workers use to build the castles? Learn about the various tools here.
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Glossary
Complete glossary of castle terms. A must for anyone researching the castle.
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Tower Houses
Scotland remained unstable long after England and Wales. Read all about these unique late castles.
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Ground Plans
Take a view of the first floor of a castle. In this section there are ground plans for Harlech, Conwy, Beaumaris, and Skenfrith Castles.
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Towers
Square, rectangular, polygonal, round, and D-shaped. Wall towers were built in many shapes. Find out more.
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Halls
The castle hall was the all-purpose structure in the castle. Where were they located? What were they like?
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Undermining
What is all this about undermining? Find out about this heart-stopping occupation.
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Keeps
Why did keeps evolve? Why were they used? Find out in this section.
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Walls
Learn about the castle enclosing walls. How high were they? How thick did people build them?
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King Edward l
The king who built castles. Here, you will read about Edward I and his castles.
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Weapons
Find out about the weapons of medieval warfare. They were crude, but deadly.
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Kitchens
Explains how kitchens developed, what they contained, and why they existed.
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Wells
Water was the life blood for the people in the castle. Read about the wells.
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Knights
All about knights, from childhood to adulthood, and why they were used.
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Windows
There were many types of windows developed for the castle. Brush up on the history.
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