Here Cassandra, the heroine of the classic novel I Capture the Castle describes her first sight of the castle she was to live in. Indeed there are few more romantic buildings than the great stone castles of Britain and Ireland. Life in a medieval castle, however, was not so romantic. Castles were dirty, crowded, unsanitary uncomfortable and draughty, especially in the cold, bleak winters.
The primary purpose of the castle, which originated from the Norman conquest was for defense. Providing a home for the lord and his family was a secondary purpose. William the Conqueror built castles in vulnerable locations, for example, along the Channel coast, at gaps in the hills and by river crossings, and in or beside towns or villages likely to rebel.
They were first built of wood in the 'motte and bailey' style. The motte was the trench around the mound on which the wooden tower was built. It became a dry or wet moat. The bailey or outer coatyard contained the stables, barns, stores and the bakehouse. Eventually the castles were built using stone often strong Caen stone from that region of France.
The lower floor of the castle was used to store food, military equipment and the creepy dungeons for unwelcome prisoners.
The great hall of the castle was often church-like in appearance with its nave and two side aisles. Here the whole household ate and slept.
The chambers or private rooms of the king or lord and his immediate household were located in the narrow corners of the towers and approached by steep, winding stairs, useful for swordfights. Nowadays they appear amazingly small and difficult to climb into.
During the fifteenth century the primary purpose of the castle changed to providing a home for the lord. Private chambers were extended and furnishings became more luxurious, containing beautiful tapestries and paintings. Windows became larger and stained-glass windows were often commissioned. Although furnishings were few, they were of good quality and made out of fine wood. Fireplaces replaced the open hearths which had filled the rooms with smoke, Elaborately carved beds with rich hangings, carved chests, and gold and silver plate became more common.
In those days a man's wealth was judged by the amount of land he owned. The people believed that 'every man had his place' and social mobility was frowned on and not encouraged. There was a strict social heirarchy -
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