Castle questions Here are some commonly-asked questions about castle life

What is a motte and bailey castle?

Who built the castles?

It has a special design: the keep is built on a man-made mound called a motte. The bailey is the area beneath the motte where people live and work. It is surrounded by a wooden fence or stone wall.

A nobleman such as a king, prince, lord, or knight orders a new castle. The man in charge is the architect, and beneath him are the master mason and his team of stonemasons, roughmasons, and smiths. The hard physical work is done by serfs, who ‘belong’ to the nobleman and work his land in return for food, housing, and protection.

Does Lewes Castle have a drawbridge and a moat? There is a pit drawbridge at the barbican, or gatehouse. It crosses a dry moat which runs round three sides of the castle. The fourth side is inaccessible because of the hilly terrain. The moat was dug out of the soil by the serfs. The moat is dry because earth in the ditch is chalky and does not hold water. There is a portcullis in the barbican but I don’t think the older gate behind it ever had one.

Why are the windows so narrow or shaped like crosses?

They are called arrow loop windows and are for shooting arrows through when people attack the castle. They are different shapes because of the different bows we use.

Which is better square or round towers?

Square towers are easier to build, but their corners can be damaged and they are easier for attackers to undermine. Round towers are stronger and their walls are harder to climb. You can stand on the top and see for 360 degrees. At Lewes we have square and round towers.

Why have spiral staircases? Do they always go the same way?

Yes. This is because most people learn to hold their swords in their right hands. If you are a knight rushing down the stairs to defend your castle, the inside of the stairs is on your left, and your right hand is free to use your sword. If you are going up the stairs, attacking, your sword arm is squashed against the middle of the staircase and it is harder to use you sword. Spiral staircase are also good because they don’t take up much space in the towers.

Who lives in the castle?

The nobleman and his family. Also living here are servants, blacksmiths, armourers, farriers, and others who look after the noble family and the castle. Lewes castle was built by William de Warenne who came from Normandy and was a friend of William the Conqueror. He lived here with his wife Gundrada. Their descendants lived here until the end of the 14th century.

Where do they live?

In the bailey there is a large hall, a forge, stables, storerooms, kitchens, and barns. The hall is the main domestic space in peace time. The keep is designed to be a safe place during enemy attacks. It has its own kitchen and well so people can live there for some time without having to go outside the walls.

What do they do for fun?

The nobles amuse themselves with banquets, live-in entertainers, jugglers, dancers, minstrels, visiting bards and troubadours. Fairs and public entertainments in the town square can be attended by anybody. Tournaments are also entertaining, but much rarer. Where’s the loo? Is it cold in there?

Some small rooms are set aside to use as loos. They have a wooden seat above a hole that goes down into the castle ditch. They are called garderobes. There is one in the 5 barbican tower. The nobles sometimes have chamber pots in their rooms. The servants empty and clean them every day. We do not have toilet paper. We use large leaves, moss, or rags instead. We do not wash ourselves very much. There is no hot and cold running water and we do not have baths. We do not know anything about germs.

Yes. There is no central heating so we wear lots of woollen clothes, have huge fires, and try to live above the kitchen so the warmth from the cooking travels up to us. We line the walls with tapestries to keep in the heat. Curtains round the sleeping area make a snug room-within-a-room. Cold floors can be covered with rushes and herbs to make the room smell nice too.

Is there a dungeon?

Lewes Castle is used as a prison, but only for rich people who are captured and held to ransom. They have to be looked after quite well. Poor people are usually just killed. What's the best way to attack and castle? How can we stop them?

A moat is a good defence against battering rams and long ladders, as it's hard to get to the castle walls.

For small crimes the stocks are used. There is still a set in the castle Gun Garden – why not have a go?

We can drop things on attackers through the murder holes if they are trapped between the gates. We can shoot arrows or hurl stuff at them too.

A siege is a good way to attack, but it takes ages. We can stop all supplies of food and armour going into the castle and the people inside will gradually starve, die of disease, or run out of weapons. Siege engines can weaken buildings or act as a diversion when attacking a different area. They can also be used to launch things into the castle grounds: stones to destroy buildings, flaming objects to cause fires or dead animals to bring in diseases. The heads of captured enemies will upset and frighten the people if we hurl them inside. Their only defence is to hope we get bored and go away, or that someone turns up with another army to rescue them!