Chapter 4: An Example of a Medieval Caslte

A popular example of a medieval castles is Warwick Castle. Warwick Castle was built in 1068 as a Motte and Bailey castle, 3 years after King William conquered England. It was rebuilt in the 12th century in stone. This meant castles were not so weak to fire. There are round towers to defend against the mining tactic used by attackers to make the castle collapse, relieving pressure of the previous square corners of castles. Several port cullis - heavy iron gates - can be found while entering the castle's main gate, defending against a battering ram that could be used. Machicolations - holes in the battlements - can be found. People used these by pouring boiling tar and large heavy rock at the attackers through these. There are also arrow loops going down the towers for archers to shoot through and defend the archer shooting. The River Avon acts a natural defence as if it was a moat. The rest of the castle is surrounded by a dry ditch. It was controlled by the later Earl of Warwick, Henry de Beaumont. After this it came under wonership of several people like: Roger de Beaumont; William de Beaumont and when regime changed so did the castles ownership from different families to the Crown's direct ownership to the 8th Earl of Warwick.

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