Medieval Castles
The Architecture of Medieval castles were ambitious - state of the art castles of the Middle Ages. The medieval era is also referred to as the Middle ages and we have spanned this period of time from the Norman Invasion of 1066 to the Tudor dynasty of the Renaissance which ended in 1603
Medieval architecture ranged from the Romanesque Architecture style of the Normans - the motte and bailey design castles to the massive Norman Stone Castles with their towering stone keeps. The Romanesque style of Medieval Architecture moved on to the Edwardian Concentric castles used by the plantagenet English King Edward I and then the more slender and pointed style of the Gothic Medieval Architecture |
The changes in Medieval Architecture were made in response to:
* Social and cultural changes during the Medieval era.
* Changes in needs of the population.
* Changes in technology, in terms of the building tools, which were available of medieval castle architecture.
* New building techniques, construction methods and ideas for new styles of Medieval Castle architecture.
* Symbolic reasons and designs in the style of architecture or practical reasons for new locations for castles.
* The desire for more comfort in the castle interiors.
* Social and cultural changes during the Medieval era.
* Changes in needs of the population.
* Changes in technology, in terms of the building tools, which were available of medieval castle architecture.
* New building techniques, construction methods and ideas for new styles of Medieval Castle architecture.
* Symbolic reasons and designs in the style of architecture or practical reasons for new locations for castles.
* The desire for more comfort in the castle interiors.
Short History... The History of Medieval Castle Architecture dates back to the Normans. This was an exciting time in Medieval European history. Many English and European Medieval Knights had travelled to the Holy Land on Crusades. The knights had seen the magnificent solid fortresses of the Byzantine Empire and these massive buildings influenced and revolutionized Medieval castles building ideas, engineering and architecture. |
Medieval styles of architecture sapanned the following periods of English History from 1066~1603
* Romanesque Medieval Architecture of the Normans.
* The Edwardian Medieval Architecture of the Concentric Castles.
* The Medieval Gothic style of Architecture favored by the Platagenet.
* The Medieval Coastal Forts and Palaces of the Tudoe dynasty during the Renaissance.
* Romanesque Medieval Architecture of the Normans.
* The Edwardian Medieval Architecture of the Concentric Castles.
* The Medieval Gothic style of Architecture favored by the Platagenet.
* The Medieval Coastal Forts and Palaces of the Tudoe dynasty during the Renaissance.
Norman Medieval Castle Architecture
The Medieval castles built to the design of Norman architecture had many problems in terms of defense which needed to be resolved. The wooden motte and bailey castles were at risk of fire, therefore their towers were quickly replaced by the stone keeps - which also had their problems.
* The corners of the square keeps featured in Medieval Norman architecture were weak and at risk of collapse due to mining techniques employed by attackers.
* There was only one defensive wall.
* The Medieval Architecture featured in the Norman Castles were extremely uncomfortable - Dark, Dank and Cold.
* Norman Castles were particularly at risk from siege warfare.
* The corners of the square keeps featured in Medieval Norman architecture were weak and at risk of collapse due to mining techniques employed by attackers.
* There was only one defensive wall.
* The Medieval Architecture featured in the Norman Castles were extremely uncomfortable - Dark, Dank and Cold.
* Norman Castles were particularly at risk from siege warfare.
Edwardian Medieval Castle Architecture (Concentric castles)
The magnificent Welsh Medieval Castles built by the Plantagenet King Edward I are excellent examples of the early styles of Medieval Castle Architecture.
The innovations of Medieval Castle Architecture are demonstrated in the design of the Concentric Castles. A good description of a concentric castle is "a Castle within a Castle". The medieval architecture of the concentric castles was effectively lots of buildings, walls, towers and gatehouses in one massive castle complex built within in successive lines of defense.
The different types of Gothic Architecture styles, featured in Medieval Castle Architecture, are divided into three phases:
* 1200 to 1300 Early English Gothic Style(also called Lancet)
* 1300 to 1400 Decorated Gothic Style
* 1400 to 1500 Perpendicular Gothic Style
* 1200 to 1300 Early English Gothic Style(also called Lancet)
* 1300 to 1400 Decorated Gothic Style
* 1400 to 1500 Perpendicular Gothic Style
Early English Medieval Gothic Castle (1200 to 1300)
* Large blocks of stone used by the Normans, were replaced by shaped stone. The stone of gothic castles was cut with precision.
* The Norman hollow walls were replaced with solid walls and pillars - allowing then to hold far greater weights- it provided much bigger castles.
* Early English Gothic architecture emphasized height and made good use of the pointed arch.
* The pointed arch could support greater weight, allowing the walls of the Medieval Castle to be thinner with wider window openings.
* The introduction of flying buttresses in Medieval Castle Architecture distributed the weight of roofs and walls right down to the ground.
* Gothic Medieval Architecture and design allowed architect to spread the weight to different points of the castle.
* Towers were often surmounted with very slender towers.
* Improved Medieval tools such as chisel, as opposed to axes, led to more decorative designs.
* Sculptures of stone Gargoyles were introduced as waterspouts protecting the foundations from rain.
* The Norman hollow walls were replaced with solid walls and pillars - allowing then to hold far greater weights- it provided much bigger castles.
* Early English Gothic architecture emphasized height and made good use of the pointed arch.
* The pointed arch could support greater weight, allowing the walls of the Medieval Castle to be thinner with wider window openings.
* The introduction of flying buttresses in Medieval Castle Architecture distributed the weight of roofs and walls right down to the ground.
* Gothic Medieval Architecture and design allowed architect to spread the weight to different points of the castle.
* Towers were often surmounted with very slender towers.
* Improved Medieval tools such as chisel, as opposed to axes, led to more decorative designs.
* Sculptures of stone Gargoyles were introduced as waterspouts protecting the foundations from rain.
Decorated Medieval Gothic Castles (1300 to 1400)
* The Decorated Gothic Medieval Architecture style was characterized by wider windows.
* The wider windows were decorated with tracery (a system of window decoration) and ornamentation.
* Gothic Rose windows are associated with great gothic churches and cathedrals however some small rose windows were featured in the chapels of medieval castles. Rose windows were a decorative by-product of the development of stained glass.
Perpendicular Medieval Gothic Castles (1400 to 1500)
It is characterized by the following elements:
* Fan vaulting
* Hammerbeam roofs
* Towers featured in Welsh Medieval Castle Architecture were often surmounted with very slender towers
* Improved Medieval tool such as the chisel, as opposed to axes, led to more decorative designs.
Defining Features of Medieval Castle Architecture
* The stone featured in Medieval Castle Architecture was cut with precision.
* Medieval Castle architecture featured solid walls and pillars - allowing them to hold for greater weights- the medieval style of castle building and architecture provided much bigger castles.
* The Medieval Gothic Castle was able to hold greater weight which meant architects were able to design bigger castles.
* The use of the Gothic arch in Medieval Castle Architecture led to the construction of light and airy structures - lightening and heighterning of Gothic structure.
* Wide window openings and gothic Rose Window (in Medieval chapels, churches and cathedrals)
* The introduction of flying buttresses in Medieval Castles Architecture.
* More towers were featured Medieval Castles Architecture.
* Decorative designs and sculptures including gargoyles.
* Medieval Castle architecture featured solid walls and pillars - allowing them to hold for greater weights- the medieval style of castle building and architecture provided much bigger castles.
* The Medieval Gothic Castle was able to hold greater weight which meant architects were able to design bigger castles.
* The use of the Gothic arch in Medieval Castle Architecture led to the construction of light and airy structures - lightening and heighterning of Gothic structure.
* Wide window openings and gothic Rose Window (in Medieval chapels, churches and cathedrals)
* The introduction of flying buttresses in Medieval Castles Architecture.
* More towers were featured Medieval Castles Architecture.
* Decorative designs and sculptures including gargoyles.