The NormansStone Castles Kate Henry

The chapel

Most castles had a small private chapel near to the lord’s chamber. The walls were often painted and the windows made from stained glass. It was the castle’s most beautiful room.

The great hall

The great hall was the heart of the castle. On special occasions, banquets were held there. The Lord, his family and other important guests sat at the high table which was raised above the other diners.

The kitchen

Kitchens were built away from the castle in case they caught fire. They included cooking ovens for baking and huge fireplaces for smoking and roasting food. They also had a water supply and drainage.

Location

Castles were usually built on high ground. This made them easy to defend as attackers could be seen coming. Castles were often built near rivers so that people in the castles would have easy access to water for cleaning and drinking and transport.

SecuritySecurity

The walls of the castle were very high to make it hard for attackers to climb over. The main gate or door to the castle was usually a thick, iron-studded, wooden door which was hard to break through. A spiked wooden or metal barrier called a portcullis helped protect the doors from firing and battering. It was lowered by chains from a chamber above the gateway.

Building a castle

It took many years and cost a lot of money to build a castle. It was very hard , slow and dangerous work. Building was supervised by a master builder. Stone for the castle was cut at a quarry. The walls could be five or six metres thick and sixty metres high. Wooden scaffolding was used to allow builders to build the high parts. The roof was made from wood and covered with lead.

The owner of the castle

The castle was usually owned by a Norman lord. The lord controlled a large area of land, sometimes as much as two counties. The lord who owned a castle was called an overlord. He divided his land into smaller estates called manors. Each manor was given to a lesser lord, who was called a lord of the manor.

Some castles in Ireland now

Trim Castle, Co. Meath Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare

King John’s Castle, Limerick Blarney Castle, Co. Cork