What were the advantages of stone keep castles?
Stone castles had a number of advantages over wooden motte and bailey structures: They could be built inside the walls of the motte and bailey castle, this meant that the castle was still operational whilst it was being rebuilt. Unlike a wooden castle the new stone keeps did not rot or go up in flames.
What are the key features of a square keep castle?
A stone keep was the central feature, with thick walls and few windows. Entrance to the keep was by stone steps leading to the first floor. The kitchens were situated on the ground floor while living quarters were on the upper floors. The first keeps were rectangular in shape but later ones were often circular.
What was the stone keep castle made of?
Generally, they were built of sandstone or limestone, but the whole castle wouldn’t have been made of stone – it was expensive and unwieldy. Costs would have been cut by using wooden roofs, partitions, and supports.
What is a square keep?
The square keep, as the name implies, was square or nearly square in plan, and it rise sheer to the battlements. In the larger examples, the entrance is covered by a fore building, generally of the full width of one side, but of inferior height. The square keep was most frequently higher than its own width.
What are the strengths of a square keep castle?
Square keep castles were made of stone to last longer – stone was guaranteed not to rot so these castles were much stronger than wooden motte and bailey ones. Because of the strength of stone it can be built up to provide an advantage in height and giving a good view for miles.
What are the disadvantages of a square keep castle?
Square keeps did have their weaknesses. It was possible to undermine the corners of a square keeps to make them collapse. Enemy minors would dig tunnels beneath the castle at the corner removing the foundations and replacing them with wooden props.
What is stone keep castle?
A Stone Keep Castle is a type of castle built in the 11th and 12th Centuries by the Normans who originally came from France. The people who built them and lived in them were typically rich noblemen and their families who wanted to show their power and status.
Why were stone keep castles better than motte and bailey castles?
The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone. Stone is more durable and resistant than wood and so it became the preferred building materials for castles. Stone castles were built taller and gave better protection against attack, fire and cold rainy weather.
What is stone keep?
The Stone Keep was a central feature of the castle, a stone tower built on the highest point. It was typically very tall with thick stone walls and is where the owners would have lived. Not all keeps were the same but there would have typically been: Battlements – on the top of the keep to provide defence.
What were the weaknesses of a square tower?
What is the main weaknesses of the stone keep castle?
Stone keep castles were a lot bigger than motte and bailey castles and were able to hold more soldiers. Because of their vast size they were much harder to attack. However, they had two main weaknesses – there was nothing to be done if the enemy surrounded except remain in the castle.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of a stone keep castle?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of a stone keep?
Stone keep castles were a lot bigger than motte and bailey castles and were able to hold more soldiers. Because of their vast size they were much harder to attack. However, they had two main weaknesses – there was nothing to be done if the enemy surrounded except remain in the castle.
What was the weakness of a square keep?
Square keeps did have their weaknesses. It was possible to undermine the corners of a square keeps to make them collapse. Enemy minors would dig tunnels beneath the castle at the corner removing the foundations and replacing them with wooden props.
What are the advantages of a stone castle?
Stone castles had a number of advantages over wooden motte and bailey structures: They could be built inside the walls of the motte and bailey castle, this meant that the castle was still operational whilst it was being rebuilt. Unlike a wooden castle the new stone keeps did not rot or go up in flames.