Castles were built tomake sure that theycould not be seized

in a battle.

The picture oppositeshows how a castlecould be defended..

Lesson objectivesLesson objectives

To learn how a castle was defended

To begin to recognise some of the defensive features of a castle

How to defend a castle

What defensive features can you

see?

Soldiers would be throwing rocks and boiling water on to

the enemy

The soldiers would close the portcullis

The Drawbridge would be raised

Click on the screen

Even if the enemy did break into the castle

grounds the towers had been designed to

withstand an assault.

Even if the enemy managed to get inside the tower, it

would be difficult for a right handed knight to fight his

way to the upper floors due to the spiral staircase.

Beaumaris Castle was designed so that

there were few to no weak points.

It is a perfect example of a concentric

castle.

Look at the next slide carefully.

What do you notice about the design of Beaumaris Castle?

Highlight and name some of the defensive features found at

Beaumaris Castle.

This was the moat that would be

filled with water to stop attackers

getting near the walls

Huge gatehouse to stop an attack

Huge gatehouse to stop an attack

An outer wall

The inner wall

How to defend a castle?

Towns were also defended with gatehouses and town walls e.g. Conwy

Guards kept watch behind crenellations

The portcullis would be shut closed to stop

attackers getting to the wooden gate and through

the entrance.

Soldiers fired arrows through

narrow slits called “loops” built into the

walls

The town walls of Conwy. These walls were designed so that it protect the inhabitants from attack. The walls are over 3/4 mile in length and include twenty one towers and three gateways.

Defending a Castle

END

Defending a Town

END