Life in the early castles was far from comfortable . The wind whistled through the wooden shutters in the windows and most people slept on benches or on rough mattresses in the great hall. By 1200s, castles had well furnished bed chambers and living rooms, heated by large open fires and lit by candles.
What was it like living in a castle ks1?
Many people would have lived and worked in the castle. They would cook and clean for the lord or king . There would also be a gardener, stable hands, a blacksmith, a baker and a treasurer who counted all the money. Life in a castle in medieval times was very dark and cold.
What was life like in the castle?
Once upon a time castles were full of life, bustle and noise and crowded with lords , knights, servants, soldiers and entertainers. In times of war and siege they were exciting and dangerous places, but they were homes as well as fortresses.
What was life like living in a castle in the medieval times?
Living in medieval castles wasn’t just about indulging in non-stop feasts, being entertained by jesters, and watching flamboyant jousts. Castle life, even for the upper class, would not have been all that glamorous. Dark and gloomy rooms, lit and heated by suffocatingly smoky fires , were par for the course.
What is a castle ks1?
Castles are a type of home that was built to protect the people inside . People who lived in the castle included lords, who were in charge, as well as soldiers to defend it from enemy invaders, and even cooks and cleaners to keep everyone fed and tidy up. They could be very crowded places to live.
Can you live in a castle for free?
If you’ve ever dreamed of having your own castle, now’s your chance. Italy is giving away 103 run-down properties , including villas, inns, and castles for free. That means anyone can start building their personal versions of Winterfell, Casterly Rock, or The Pyke.
Did castles smell bad?
Castles were dark inside with little natural light. ... There were also other problems with living in a medieval castle, the main one being that there were no sewers or flushing toilets. Often the moat surrounding the castle was used as a sewer. Both the moat and the castle quickly became smelly and dirty .
How did they keep castles warm?
Thick stone walls, tiny unglazed windows and inefficient open fires made the classic castle something of a challenge to keep warm. ... By heating the stones as well as the chamber, and directing the smoke away from the room, these fireplaces made life in a medieval castle a considerably more comfortable affair.
Why did they stop building castles?
Why did they stop building castles? Castles were great defences against the enemy . However, when gunpowder was invented the castles stopped being an effective form of defence. ... The medieval castle with its high vertical walls was no longer the invincible fortification it had been.
What rooms are inside real medieval castles?
- The Great Hall.
- Bed Chambers.
- Solars.
- Bathrooms, Lavatories and Garderobes.
- Kitchens, Pantries, Larders & Butteries.
- Gatehouses and Guardrooms.
- Chapels & Oratories.
- Cabinets and Boudoirs.
Do castles have toilets?
The toilets of a castle were usually built into the walls so that they projected out on corbels and any waste fell below and into the castle moat. Even better, waste went directly into a river as is the case of the latrines of one of the large stone halls at Chepstow Castle in Wales, built from the 11th century CE.
How old is the oldest castle in the world?
Probably the oldest and largest castle in the world is the Citadel of Aleppo located in the very old city of Aleppo, Syria, built around 3000 BC .
Why are castles so big?
made of stone so they lasted longer. Stone would not rot so the castles were a lot stronger than wooden ones . because stone is strong, it is possible to build up so that you have a height advantage and can see for miles. also the walls can be made very thick therefore making them very strong.
What are the main features of a castle?
- Outer defenses.
- Moat.
- Walls (inner and outer)
- Towers (inner and outer)
- Gatehouses, drawbridges and barbicans.
- Inner defenses.
- Baileys or wards.
- Living quarters and support buildings.
Who works in a castle ks1?
There were lots of servants and they all had different jobs to do: Sewing, laundry, for the knights , nurses who looked after the young children of the Lord and Lady. The outside servants looked after the horses, mended the armour and weapons, looked after the garden and beekeepers who provided honey for the kitchen!
What were the different parts of a castle?
- The Keep. The keep was a strong tower located at the centre of a castle. ...
- Curtain Wall. The curtain wall was a defensive wall built to protect the bailey (see below) of a castle. ...
- The Bailey. ...
- Moat. ...
- Battlements. ...
- Drawbridge. ...
- Portcullis. ...
- Arrowslits.
