What are the weaknesses of a Shell Keep castle?

What are the weaknesses of a Shell Keep castle?

The major disadvantage of a Shell Keep castle came from its main defensive mechanism. It still relied on the motte, and remember that mottes were man-made hills, which meant that they could be unstable. Sitting a large structure on an unstable mound was pretty risky!

What are the strengths and weaknesses of a 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 disadvantages of stone keep castles?

They were expensive to build and to maintain and so only the wealthiest lords could afford to build very secure stone castles.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of motte and bailey castles?

Although the wooden structure was much more vulnerable to damage than a stone structure, a motte and bailey castle could be built quickly until the Normans had the time to build more permanent stone structures. The major weakness of the motte and bailey castle was the likelihood of the keep rotting or burning down.

What are the advantages of a shell keep castle?

As a development in castle technology, shell keeps held great advantages over motte-and-bailey castles. Stone walls were far stronger, and their circular shapes meant they were better able to absorb blows from advancing siege technology.

What does the keep do in a castle?

Traditionally keeps were built as a type of fortified tower built by European nobility. Keep’s were built within castles during the Middle Ages and they were used as a refuge or last resort should the rest of the castle fall to enemies.

What are some advantages of stone keep castle?

Stone castles were higher and provided superior defense against attack, fire, and cold rainy weather. They could also be lived in during peacetime. The most obvious advantage of building with stone is that it does not decay when exposed to air or water.

What are the strengths of motte and bailey castles?

At a glance: advantages of Motte and Bailey castles

• Cheap and easy to build – you could even use an existing mound or hill for foundations.
• Didn’t require and specialist materials – earth and timber were always nearby.

How were motte and bailey castles attacked?

Fire. Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle.

What is the purpose of a castle keep?

Keep’s were built within castles during the Middle Ages and they were used as a refuge or last resort should the rest of the castle fall to enemies. Today keeps are scattered across Europe and form an important part of the architectural heritage.

What did a shell keep have?

A ‘Shell Keep’ is the name given to a thin, usually round, defensive enclosure that was built atop of the castle Motte (the man-made mound). Crucially, these enclosures were built of stone. They replaced the original palisade fences of Motte and Bailey castles, which were built of wood.

What’s the difference between a castle and a keep?

Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary.

Why is the keep the safest place in a castle?

With its extra thick walls and protected entrance, the keep was generally the safest place in a castle during the siege warfare of the 11th and 12th century CE.

How were stone keep castles defended?

They had higher walls, called merlons, with lower gaps between, called crenels. Defenders would use crossbows to shoot arrows through the crenels,and then hide behind the higher merlons.

How were motte and bailey castles defended?

The closeness of connection between the mound and the ditch is reflected in their names: Motte and Moat come from the same medieval root. The bailey was an outer enclosure, which was also defended by a fence and sometimes a ditch, providing a first, outer line of defence for the motte.

How did they defend a motte and bailey castle?

Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle.

Why is a keep important?

Who lived in a Medieval Castle Keep? The Keep of a Castle was often centrally located and a stronghold of the castle, as it was the residence of the Lord, his family, and all the important people of the castle. The keep was considered to be the safest place in the castle.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a shell keep?

As a development in castle technology, shell keeps held great advantages over motte-and-bailey castles. Stone walls were far stronger, and their circular shapes meant they were better able to absorb blows from advancing siege technology.

What is a shell keep castle?

Shell keep castles are an interesting development in the medieval castle, as they are relatively rare, and varied quite considerably in form and function. At a most basic level, shell keep castles were made up of a (usually round) curtain wall, often built on top of a motte or similar earthwork.

Is Restormel Castle the best-preserved shell keep in England?

Restormel Castle is perhaps the best-preserved medieval shell keep in England. This 12 th century Norman fortification boasted walls 2.4 metres thick and 7.6 metres high, with a circuit 38 metres in diameter.