Castle Essay

2214939 What is a Castle?

A castle generally speaking, has often been described as a large building, constructed during

the medieval period by a noble or lord. However, it has often been challenging to specifically

decipher a detailed definition of a castle because the word is linked with multiple

connotations. Throughout this essay the question of what a castle actually is will be

addressed with reference to the various primary and secondary sources available on this

topic; the primary focus being the contrasting opinions of militarists, symbolists and

revisionists regarding the function of a castle. The altered perception regarding the function

of a castle originated from Coulson’s article, ‘Structural Symbolism in Medieval

Architecture,’ which discusses the symbolic feature behind the license to crenellate. The

license to crenellate was originally thought to fundamentally possess a military function as it

was a form of security and protection for the state to create a sense of loyalty with those of

influence. The essay will proceed with the importance of design and the misconceptions of

this which connect to the castles function. Lastly, the physical structure of a castle will be

discussed as the media continue to portray a castle as being constructed with stone when in

fact many were built with timber. A castle can often be defined by its characteristics,

physical structure and its purpose however, it is still practically impossible to define the

word castle as there is still so much speculation attached to it. The following essay will argue

that there is no short definition when distinguishing a castle. The justification for this being

that scholar’s opinions have continued to change as more research has been conducted just

as the function, design and infrastructure of a castle has evolved as time progressed.

The function of a castle has often been seen as the foundation towards defining a castle

however, scholar’s continue to debate its function as to whether it was based around

military or residential purposes. The catalyst for this debate was Coulson’s article ‘Structural

Symbolism in Medieval Architecture’ which discussed the nature towards the license to

crenellate. This article completely altered the way in which a scholar would perceive a castle

as the purpose of a license was based around symbolism in which men of lesser status

would obtain a license to increase their own status and influence.1 A license produced a

sense of entitlement and it was something individuals would be proud to display in their

1 C. Coulson, ‘Structural symbolism in medieval castle architecture’, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 132 (1979), p.78

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household.2 Revisionists originally believed that castles were solely based on military

function soon progressed their thought based on Coulson’s new approach and have begun

to look past the traditional military approach and formulate an opinion of a castle based on

multiple factors.

Revisionists would agree evoking a license to crenellate was a badge of seigniorial status

and was not based on the crown’s interest regarding security and defense of the state.3 The

symbolic gesture behind crenellation sparked a debate amongst historians regarding the

military role of a castle as militarists argued that status was irrelevant as the function of a

castle would always associate itself primarily with defense.4 Platt made unsuccessful

attempts to discredit Coulson’s theory as he believed the license to crenellate was

fundamentally based around defense and not symbolic gesture provided by the crown with

his evidence referenced to Bodiam castle.5

To determine the function of a castle one must look into the context of each castle

constructed and with reference to Platt he concludes that Bodiam’s license to crenellate

cannot be perceived with symbolic intent due to its political circumstance.6 Bodiam’s license

to crenellate was enacted as a response by the government and local gentry due to the

French raids.7 However, as Johnson suggests the gun points on the gates at Bodiam were

identified as a defensive structure but due to the positioning it would have been ineffective

if a siege had occurred.8 The Bodiam debate will never come to definitive conclusion

however, based on the positioning of the guns perhaps they were strategically placed to

emphasize the owners knowledge of military. Platt’s theory as a militarist is outdated and

oversimplified as his opinions often depict the circumstance of this period in a rather basic

and straightforward manner; the reason for this being that Platt continued to assume that

those in power would only wish to conquer and defend their area. Coulson has not

disregarded the theory that the origins of crenellation was based around defense however,

2 S. Speight, ‘British Castle Studies in the Late 20th and 21st Centuries’, History Compass, 2 (2004), p.8 3 R. Liddiard, Castles in Context: Power, Symbolism and Landscape, 1066 to 1500 (Macclesfield, 2005), p.74 C. Platt, ‘Revisionism in Castle Studies: A Caution’, Medieval Archaeology, 51 (2007), p.83 5 ibid p.87 6 ibid p.887 R. Liddiard, (Macclesfield, 2005), p.88 M. Johnson, Behind the Castle Gate: from medieval to Renaissance (London, 2002), p.29

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in his opinion the motifs behind the license were sentimental.9 Liddiard and Creighton have

also critiqued Platt’s work as they believed the scholar has relied on previous generations

conceptions of a castle and has in turn generated his own opinions based on military

functions alone.10 Defensive structures were important to during this time period and can be

viewed as one of the many elements to be considered when defining a castle. However, the

symbolic gesture of the license to crenellate has emphasized that a castle cannot be defined

on defensive functions alone as it also encompassed residential features with regards to the

design of a castle.

As research methods have improved, historians have discovered the various elements

contributing to the design of the castle which cannot fall into the one specific function of

military or residential. The design of a castle, such as the use and effectiveness of arrow slits

can often be a feature which has been used to define a castle. The use of arrow slits by the

thirteenth century was common as they understood it as an effective form of defense.11

With reference to the White Castle various experiments were implemented to test the

effectiveness of the use of arrow slits. The results concluded that the defender who would

be using the arrow slit would still have been vulnerable to attack. 12 White castle was

constructed in the thirteenth century therefore, as more castles were erected the design

would have evolved which could have been the reason as to why the arrow slits at White

castle were not as effective as intended. Jones and Renn also believed that the

advancement in design could be a justification for the arrow slits being placed at different

heights.13 Perhaps there is an alternative answer, which was based around symbolic intent

as those who constructed the castles would have wanted to intimidate onlookers with the

use of their defensive architecture. Although the progression of design is a justification for

the different height levels however, the architect could not afford to make mistakes due to

the vast finances required to construct such buildings.14 Therefore, this is a form of evidence

9 C. Coulson, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 132 (1979), p.79 10 O. H. Creighton, R. Liddiard, ‘Fighting Yesterday’s Battle: Beyond War and Status in Castle Studies’, Medieval Archaeology, 52 (2008) p.162 11 P. N. Jones, D. Renn, ‘The military effectiveness of arrow loops. Some experiments at White Castle’, Chateau Gaillard, 9-10 (1982), p.445 12 ibid. p.450 13 ibid. p.45114 R. Liddiard, (Macclesfield, 2005), p.43

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as to the symbolic intent of the arrow slits positioning. Arrow slits were primarily a form of

defense and although they may possess symbolic influence it remains a central factor when

defining a castle.

A crucial design characteristic when interpreting a castle as a defensive structure is the

‘keep’ commonly referred to as the donjon. One of the fundamental weaknesses in the

earlier English keeps was that they were exposed to mining, picking and boring as its square

design restricted the defender’s outlook when attempting to shoot arrows.15 Although the

donjon has been stigmatized as a defensive structure it could also have been viewed as a

sign of seigniorial status. Between the tenth and twelfth century the builders believed the

use of the donjon would provide a visual impact and emphasize the owners power.16

Therefore, the donjon cannot be stigmatized with a defensive nature as it has proven to be

ineffective during attacks, emphasizing that its construction could be based on status and

seigneurial authority.17 However, from the twelve century onwards there was a change in

design from a square structure to a rounded structure.18 This change was due to the

evolution of the design within castles as time progressed the designers realized the square

design was inefficient for military use however, the donjon continued to remain a feature

which would fundamentally intimidate and impress onlookers. An example of a donjon

which was constructed as a form of lordly stature and not defense was at Langeais and

Chepstow. The doorways at Langeais were pierced at both the ground level and the first

floor which indicates that a defensive structure was of little importance to the architect.19

Turning to Chepstow the various doorways to enter the donjon possessed restricted access

which emphasized the main doorway was intended for those of influence and status.20 On

balance, the donjon has often been perceived as a form of defense however, it was actually

a display of power and wealth as it lacked characteristics to be an effective form of defense.

15 R. Liddiard, (Macclesfield, 2005), p.47 16 P. Marshall, ‘The Angevin Donjon and Its Legacy in Post-Conquest Britain’, in R. D. Oram (ed.), ‘A House That Thieves Might Knock At’, (Donington, 2015), p.199. 17 O. H. Creighton, R. Liddiard, Medieval Archaeology, 52 (2008) p.162 18 R. Liddiard, (Macclesfield, 2005), p.50 19 P. Marshall, ‘The Angevin Donjon and Its Legacy in Post-Conquest Britain’, (Donington, 2015), p.204 20 ibid. p.204

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Early castles have usually been depicted as a defensive structure however, on reflection

they could also be viewed as a place of residential living.21 On reflection as time moved

forward the function of a castle also changed as social and domestic considerations became

more important when constructing a castle.22 An example which emphasizes the residential

function of a castle is the great tower at Hedingham Castle. A tower house can often be

constructed to provide a secure residential purpose for the owner and his family as it

provided a comfortable living space for the family and occasional guests.23 However, there

is also link to the idea of symbolism as those who possessed a tower house had a great deal

of wealth. A tall tower can often portray this as it expresses the significance of lordship as

the building overlooks everything in the castle.24 Hedingham tower house is an example of a

building which has not been used for defensive purposes which is often a misconception

with such buildings. Hedingham tower house could have been used solely for entertainment

purposes if the upper floor was disregarded. Historians cited in Dixon and Marshall, Brown

would agree similarly once the context of the building had been deciphered each scholar

argued that the construction of this building was depicted as a ceremonial reception to

mark the Earl Aubrey III Chamberlains new title.25 As evidence of this the entrance (figure 1.)

was not adequately defended however, its extravagant design emphasized that the owners

have attempted to implement their new level of status.26 Overall, the design of the tower

house possessed a symbolic intent than of military function as the use of mural chambers

secluded visitors based on their rank or regarding the type of business that needed to be

conducted.27 A castle has often been portrayed as a symbol of lordship, a place of

government and an area for administrative purposes,28 therefore a castle cannot be defined

to one category as it has remained a multifunctional entity.

21 O. H. Creighton, Early European Castles: Aristocracy and Authority, AD 800-1200 (London, 2012), p.27 22 C. Coulson, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 132 (1979), p.77 23 G. Eadie, ‘Identifying Functions in Castles: A Study of Tower Houses in Ireland’, in R. D. Oram, (ed.), ‘A House That Thieves Might Knock At’, (Donington, 2015), p.424 P. C. Brears, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England (Totnes, 2008), p.3525 P. Dixon, P. Marshall, ‘The Great Tower at Hedingham Castle: A Reassessment’, in Liddiard, R. Anglo-Norman Castles, (Woodbridge, 2003), p.306 26 ibid p.30427 P. Marshall, ‘The Angevin Donjon and Its Legacy in Post-Conquest Britain’, (Donington, 2015), p.209 28 C. J. Tabraham, Scottish Castles and Fortifications (Edinburgh, 1986), p.29

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A castle has often been interpreted with the use of various techniques to gain a greater

sense of clarity when distinguishing the definition and the function of a castle. ‘Spatial

analysis’ has often been used to assess the various characteristics of a landscape, structure

or a place which can be associated with space.29 Whereas ‘access analysis’ examines the

relationships between space with an specific area.30 Faulkner has used such techniques to

determine the function of a castle as these techniques have proven excellent when

deciphering the use of space within a castle which has enabled scholars to possess a greater

understanding of the castles function. The implementation of such techniques have enabled

scholars to distinguish to importance of privacy during the sixteenth and seventeenth

century. The use of private rooms for the owner can be regarded as a significant component

when defining a castle for whatever a purpose a castle was designed for private rooms were

continuously allocated for the owner to retain a sense of seclusion to reflect. This is shown

with the use of a single staircase which was a form of segregation within a tower house as it

limited the level of accessibility to certain areas whilst separating the owner from the rest of

the household.31 The level of accessibility to a certain area can often depict the function of

the room as those deemed difficult to access by the general staff could lead one to assume

it was for private use. The use of closets became apparent in sixteenth and seventeenth

century whereby rooms were allocated for the owner to spend time alone reflecting,

29 R. Sherlock, ‘Changing perceptions: spatial analysis and the study of the Irish tower house’, Chateau Gaillard, 24 (2010), p.239 30 ibid. p.241 31 G. Eadie, ‘Identifying Functions in Castles: A Study of Tower Houses in Ireland’, (Donington, 2015), p.13

Figure 1. is a photograph of the close up entrance at Hedingham tower house.

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praying or writing ones private thoughts.32 Closets often did not possess any windows and

would be situated in the most remote parts of the household such as a tower. 33 This has

emphasized the importance of privacy for the owners as they purposely chose to construct a

room without windows to ensure they would remain in seclusion to conduct various affairs.

An example of the importance of privacy during this period was depicted in Lady Anne

Fanshawe’s autobiography that her husband would retire to his study which indicates to the

reader that Lady Anne Fanshawe would not be authorized to enter his area unless invited.

Lord Fanshawe would use his personal closet to deliberate over various political matters

whilst his wife would remain completely unaware regarding nature of his work.34 Overall,

the use of various techniques have enabled scholars to gain a greater understanding with

reference to the use of space within castles. Such techniques have enabled scholars to gain

a greater understanding of the function of a castle being defined with a residential purpose.

However, the overall definition remains difficult to distinguish as castles continue to

incorporate both a residential and military function.

There is often a misconception regarding the construction of a castle as this is arguably the

foundation towards the initial perception of a castle. In modern day society the media have

continuously portrayed the appearance of a castle with the use of stone material however,

during the construction of early castles timber was viewed as a vital asset towards its design

along with the castles function. When constructing a castle timber and stone were often

incorporated together however, it is unclear as to whether timber structures were

constructed as a permanent fixture or were simply used during times of warfare.35 Timber

could have often been used with stone to strengthen masonry or to strengthen foundations

however, it is undetectable in the finished structure.36 The switch to the use of stone could

be due to the lack of timber available as this was an expensive commodity to purchase and

required more maintenance in comparison to that of stone. Often the use of timber and

stone would be found with reference to its defensive purposes for example, as Carisbrooke

32 H. Ronnes, Architecture and Elite Culture in the United Provinces, England and Ireland, 1500-1700, (Amsterdam, 2006), p.134 33 ibid p.134 34 H. Ronnes, (Amsterdam, 2006), p.134 35 R. Hingham, B. Philip, Timber Castles (Exeter, 2004), p.181. 36 ibid p.184

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in the thirteenth and fourteenth century possessed various defensive elements with the use

of this material.37 Another example of the importance of timber as a form of defense is at

Penard (Glamorgan) whereby a stone hall was constructed in the thirteenth century and

was surrounded with timber defenses.38 Timber and stone in the early stages of castle

building have often intertwined and have created a defensive structure. These materials

have proven to be a contributing factor when defining a castle as they are the foundation of

the castle before implementing various design features.

Not only was stone and timber an important material in the construction of a castle but

sandstone also proved vital and can be used as a feature when defining a castle. Arguably,

the use of sandstone could indicate the wealth of the owner as often builders would have to

wait for prolonged periods to obtain the materials as they could not have been sourced

immediately. An example of a castle constructed with sandstone was Castle Raglan often

referred to as the ‘Yellow Tower’ which was originally a manor house situated in the south

east of Monmouthshire in Wales. This is a residential building as it possesses various

decorative elements such as the use of hand guns and small cannons in the walls circular

opening around the castle which were visually impressive however, would be ineffective if

under attack.39 The architectural design and use of sandstone blocks would provide a visual

display of the owners wealth along with intimidating onlookers. The use of various materials

can be viewed as a crucial factor when defining a castle as it has enabled scholars to gain a

greater understanding of the purpose behind the construction along with its symbolic

intent.

As historians have gathered more evidence with the use of excavations and techniques have

enabled them to gain a greater understanding regarding the function and purpose of a

castle. However, as a result opinions regarding the definition of a castle has changed greatly

as the more research that has been conducted has provided greater insight into the castle

being depicted as a multifunctional entity. The symbolic gesture behind the license to

crenellate proposed by Coulson ignited a debate amongst scholars regarding the function of

37 ibid p.172 38 ibid p.18739 J. R. Kenyon, ‘The Yellow Tower of Gwent, Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales’, in R. D. Oram (ed.), ‘A House That Thieves Might Knock At’, (Donington, 2015), p.69

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a castle. Many continued to propose a castle was often defined by its defensive attributes

however, more recent historians have challenged this idea as they concluded that castles

also possessed a residential function. Evidence of this has been made apparent with the

implementation of various techniques which have established the importance regarding the

use of space within castles. Arguably castles functioned as residential and ceremonial areas

based on the various design techniques implemented which emphasized the owner’s

military knowledge but if a siege were to ever occur these attributes would remain

ineffective. Furthermore, a common misconception when defining a castle is the image of a

castle being constructed with use of stone when in many cases parts of the castle were

actually built with the use of sandstone and timber. However, the use of such materials

began to dwindle as time progressed due to the lack of resources available therefore, stone

became more frequently used. On balance the question still remains unanswered in this

field of the precise definition of a castle. It is impossible to distinguish an indefinite answer

to this question as the development throughout the history of castles has altered its

function from a primarily military function to an incorporation of military and residential

purpose.

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Bibliography

Brears. P. C, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England, (Totnes, 2008) p.35-53Coulson. C, ‘Structural symbolism in medieval castle architecture’, Journal of the British

Archaeological Association, 132 (1979), pp.73-90

Creighton. O. H, Early European Castles: Aristocracy and Authority, AD 800-1200 (London,

2012), pp.25-49

Creighton, O. H. Liddiard, R ‘Fighting Yesterday’s Battle: Beyond War and Status in Castle

Studies’, Medieval Archaeology, 52 (2008) pp.85-93

Dixon, P. Marshall, P. ‘The Great Tower at Hedingham Castle: A Reassessment’, in Liddiard,

R. Anglo-Norman Castles, (Woodbridge, 2003), pp.296-306

Eadie. G, ‘Identifying Functions in Castles: A Study of Tower Houses in Ireland’, in Oram, R.

D. (ed.), ‘A House That Thieves Might Knock At’ (Donington, 2015), pp.2-18

R. Hingham, B. Philip, Timber Castles (Exeter, 2004), pp.171-193

Johnson. M, Behind the Castle Gate: from medieval to Renaissance (London, 2002) pp.19-55

Jones. R D, Renn. D, ‘The military effectiveness of arrow loops. Some experiments at White

Castle’, Chateau Gaillard, 9-10 (1982), pp.445-456.

Kenyon. J. R, ‘The Yellow Tower of Gwent, Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales’, in R. D.

Oram (ed.), ‘A House That Thieves Might Knock At’, (Donington, 2015), pp.63-75

Liddiard. R, Castles in Context: Power, Symbolism and Landscape, 1066 to 1500

(Macclesfield, 2005), pp.1-10 pp.39-68

Marshall. P, ‘The Angevin Donjon and Its Legacy in Post-Conquest Britain’, Oram, R. D. (ed.),

‘A House That Thieves Might Knock At’, (Donington, 2015), pp.198-213.

Platt, C. ‘Revisionism in Castle Studies: A Caution’, Medieval Archaeology, 51 (2007), p.83-

102

Ronnes. H, Architecture and Elite Culture in the United Provinces, England and Ireland, 1500-

1700, (Amsterdam, 2006), pp.121-145

Tabraham. C. J, Scottish Castles and Fortifications (Edinburgh, 1986), pp.17-28

Sherlock. R, ‘Changing perceptions: spatial analysis and the study of the Irish tower house’,

Chateau Gaillard, 24 (2010), pp. 239-50.

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Speight. S, ‘British Castle Studies in the Late 20th and 21st Centuries’, History Compass, 2

(2004), pp.1-30.

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Castle Essay