Castles and Manors
By Casey Beattie and Matt Gendreau
During the middle ages, Feudalism was the main source of government. It provided protection and defense from enemies. Feudalism was developed by King William of England who could not take care of all his land or keep the people from rebelling. He cut the land into sections and appointed barons and bishops to govern the land. People formed small villages that surrounded the central lord. Villages were formed on a manor that usually consisted of the castle, church, and surrounding lands. The manors were isolated except for the occasional pilgrims and peddlers. The lords gave their own taxes and tolls to the peasants. The lords also administered punishment and created their own laws. The manor, which was the lord’s estate, was the central component of the medieval economy. Because peasants were considered to be the lowest of the lower class they became bound to the lord who offered them food and protection from the outside world, they became known as serfs. Unlike slaves they could not be bought or sold, yet the debt they owed to the lord kept them from leaving the land. In exchange for protection, the peasants worked the land they lived on and gave their profits and loyalty to the lord. If asked the Peasant would also have to serve in the army. Peasants were sorted into two groups; there were the farmers and the craftsman. The farmers harvested, planted, and fertilized crops daily. The farmers also grew crops such as vegetables, fruits, and other necessities. They paid the lord with their harvest and the surplus was sold or kept for their family. Craftsmen created their own goods and sold them. They paid the lord a tax for the land they lived on. Usually craftsmen were trained by their parents or people in the profession. To keep the medieval economy flowing farmers and craftsmen needed each other for purchases and sales. Peasants lived in one bedroom shacks and mostly shared space with their animals. In the feudal system everyone was under a lord, excluding the king. With the introduction of feudalism, the middle ages also introduced women as “evil.” Peasant life was said to be dominated by the Catholic Church. The Church was a common meeting place for the peasants and the many practiced religious rites when they could afford it. Church was held every morning for the lord and his family, while peasants used Churches built in the villages. The priests helped nurse the sick, and if they were smart enough they taught younger children the bible passages. It was a law that people attended church on Sundays. Castles were built for defense in wars and kept the peasants safe. The first castles were built by the Normans during their invasion and conquest of England. These castles were premade and brought over with the Normans fleet. The castles were built with wood and were known as the Motte or the Bailey. In the beginning castles relied on their surrounding environment for protection and were often built with wood, which was later said to be too easy to burn. During the twelfth century builders began to use stone for building which resisted fires better. These castles consisted of a square or circular tower with walls up to thirty feed thick. The best landscape for the castles were areas that were high and had rocky ground, such as mountain passes, isolated peninsulas and islands. The castles were not built for comfort, and only the lord and his family were given the right amenities. Because the castles were built for protection and defense, windows were only slits in the walls, water had to be brought by bucket, and stone floors kept in little heat. To keep away the enemy armies and build lookout positions walls were built very high. As engineering skills developed, more towers were built and connected to the main castle by inner and outer walls. Every part in a castle was important. The castle moat was a deep ditch which encircled the castle. Because castles were built near water, a dam was built to control the supply of water into the moat. Some were about thirty fee deep and twelve feet in width. They were used as a way to keep the approaching army far enough away from the castle for better defenses. The Great Hall is a large room that was used for main meetings and dining areas for everyone living in the castle. This was the main room that all castles revolved around. Torches were used as light, and the Hall was furnished and decorated to show the wealth of the owner. One of the most important parts of the castle was the heavy, moveable draw bridge which went across the moat or ditch. The drawbridge could be raised when there was approaching trouble, and it could be lowered again when the trouble was gone. The drawbridge was completely removable and was raised with pulley systems. The drawbridges were introduced in the years 1066-1485 with the Norman and Plantagenet castles. The castle keep was built as the most protected part of the castle. This part was often used as the lord’s residence. The keep is a square room that held its own well, a staircase that leads to the first floor, and a Chapel built into its side. The most famous square keep is the White Tower in Great Britain. Construction on the keep began in 1078 and finished in 1097. Eventually the square keep developed problems as it became prone to mining, and the fact that an enemy could take cover by hiding in a corner. Because of this the circle keep was built which provided no hiding area for the enemy. Other keeps were created over the years such as the shell castle keep which was stronger in many areas. During the rule of King Edward I, Concentric castles were designed and built. He hired the best architect and engineer, Master James of St George. A concentric castle was a “castle inside a castle.” There were many towers, gatehouses, walls and buildings that were built for defense. These castles helped conquer Wales and provided a chance to introduce comfort into a castles development. Greatly known for its bloody executions, the Tower of London is one of the most famous castles in England that was built during the middle ages. Also known for its terrible torture and imprisonment of its prisoners, the castle was built by William the Conqueror. The original purpose of the castle was to act as the base of royal power in London, provide a place where horses and soldier could be housed, provide a retreat for the royal family, and to help protect London from incoming invasions. The very first tower built on it was known as the “White Tower.” After many years of building, the castle was completed with twenty-one towers, which covers eighteen acres of land. New functions such as prison, a place for trials and area for executions were incorporated into the building. In the Tower of London there is a legend that is said to be very important in history known as the legend of the Ravens. In many parts of the world Ravens are considered to be a bad symbol. The chronicler Geoffrey of Monomouth instigated the myth by writing a book called Historia Regum Britanniae (The History of Britain.) The book tells of a King named King Bran Hen of Bryneich. His name means Raven when translated, and when he was killed in the war his head was requested to be buried. His head was buried where the castle now stands which was told to symbolize a talisman against invasion. It’s said that if 6 ravens are not kept in the tower at all times then the White Tower will fall and disaster will come over England. The architecture of the castles greatly differed by design. When some of the lords wanted to show off their wealth others may have wanted to convey fear, domination, power, and respect or even envy. The distinct architecture of a castle can usually tell historians what year the castle was built. By the late Middle Ages the demand of merchant goods became more apparent and the economy grew from agriculturally based to commercial interests. Trade became popular and peasants began to find safety in the social classes. As the lords raced against each other to build the best castles and show their wealth many great architectures were built. Capturing these castles in the wars took many strategies. If the attackers failed to enter the castle, they tried to surround the lands and try to starve them. If that technique also failed the attacker might try to tunnel under the castle walls. The castles that were built during medieval times still stand tall in many locations and their legends and architecture are greatly admired by architects around the world. Castles and manor life were an essential part to medieval times and it changed history for the better.
Work Cited: http://www.castles.me.uk/castle-keep.htm http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Feudalism_and_Medieval_life.htm http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/famous-castles-of-the-middle-ages.htm http://www.medieval-castles.net/castle_architecture/chapels.htm
