The Development of Square Keep Castles Learning objective: to understand what a square keep castle was and what their advantages and disadvantages were. Starter – How many words from SQUARE KEEP CASTLES can you make?

The Square Keep castle These replaced the wooden keeps and were bigger – up to 35 meters high, with three or four storey's and spiral staircases in the corner turrets. The way into the keep was through the fore building, which contained stairs to the first floor. The Great Hall, the Lord’s bedroom and solar (study) and the chapel were placed there. The soldiers lived on the top floor and the ground floor was for stores, and prisoners.

Inside the gate was a thick metal grille called a portcullis. The Square Keep castle The windows were thin slits, but arrows could be fired out through them. Around the keeps was a strong wall, called a curtain wall, with a gatehouse. Inside the gate was a thick metal grille called a portcullis.

Rochester Castle

Advantages of the Square ‘stone’ Keep Castle 1. The castles were made of stone and had deep foundations. This made them hard to knock down. 2. The castles were very large. Room for lots of soldiers and their supplies. They were also several floors high – up to 35 meters high. 3. Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper floors, where soldiers in the castle had a good view from the top.

Disadvantages of the Square Keep castle 1. The corners could be easily damaged - one corner broken brings two walls down. 2. Attackers can get right up to the walls. 3. Difficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wall.

Tasks BAILEY CURTAIN WALL ARROW SLITS BATTLEMENTS STONE WALLS DRAWBRIDGE FLANKING TOWERS (to protect corners) OUTER BAILEY ENTRANCE FORE BUILDING to protect entrance Reorganize these into the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES boxes Made of stone Deep foundations—hard to knock down Corners could be easily damaged—one corner broken brings two walls down Large—for lots of soldiers and their supplies Several floors high Attackers can get right up to the walls Entrance above ground level Walls can be undermined Difficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wall Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper floors Good view from the top  

Reorganise these into the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES boxes Made of stone Deep foundations—hard to knock down Corners could be easily damaged—one corner broken brings two walls down Large—for lots of soldiers and their supplies Several floors high Attackers can get right up to the walls Entrance above ground level Walls can be undermined Difficult to shoot attacker who is close to the wall Spiral staircases make it difficult to storm upper floors Good view from the top

Don’t Forget! Any new words into the Word Cloud please.