Build a Medieval Castle

Credits:

• Author: Linda M. Ricchiuti - Curriculum Specialist; California Technology Assistance Project
• School District: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Office
• School Address: 601 N. E Street, San Bernardino CA 92410-3093

During the Medieval era, life was lived by a very different set of political, economic, and social rules. The only form of government was a Monarchy where the king or queen ruled by "divine right." "Divine right" simply meant that people believed that God appointed the king or queen to rule with absolute power. The main economic system was Feudalism in which the king appointed a baron or knight to oversee a portion of his land in return for loyalty and protection in case of invasion. The baron or knight would oversee the serfs who labored on the land in return for protection given by the baron or knight. In order to better understand Feudalism and Monarchy, click here before you begin your task.

You are a famous builder of Medieval Castles, living in Wales in the year 1076. You are hired by the Norman Baron William de Clare to build him a fantastic castle in Aberystwyth, Wales. The population of Aberystwyth is approximately 300 serfs, 150 soldiers in residence, a household staff of about 50 people and approximately 20 family members. Before beginning the design of the castle, it is important that you see the location. Click here and locate Aberystwyth on the map of Wales. Be sure to note any geographical features that you will want to accommodate in your plans.
The Baron wants his castle to not only be beautiful, but also the strongest defensive castle ever built. You are confident that you can build the Baron this castle because you have the technology to search out many different castles all over the world and select the best features from each.
Before you can begin the castle design, you must first become familiar with the Welsh people who are going to inhabit this castle. It is important for you to research the purpose of the castle and become familiar with the daily life of a Welsh castle.  After researching and taking notes on what daily life in a Welsh castle is like, you will then begin the design of the Baron's new castle. Be sure to familiarize yourselves with the Baron's list of things he wants in the castle. You may use your imaginations to design the rest.
You will present your finished design to the Baron as a three-dimensional model. The design must be complete and detailed and must give the viewer a true sense of what the castle will look like when it is actually built.  Important features of the castle should be labeled on the model.

Keep a pad next to the computer so that as you see things on different castles that you would like to add, you can sketch pictures and take notes. For example, if you wanted to add a specific turret from a castle in Scotland, you could make notes on the specific features so you can remember to add them to the Baron's castle. Be sure you do not forget to add everything to the Baron's castle that was on his list of things he wanted! Keep that list next to the computer as you work on your research.

Step 1 - Daily Life
To begin your research look at the Internet site "Life in a Medieval Castle" which will give you a good look at daily life in a Welsh castle. Keep careful, hand-written notes in which you record all of the important aspects of daily life so you can address these areas in the design of the Baron's castle. Use the following guide questions to help you take notes on certain important areas:
What is the importance of a "Great Hall" in a castle?
What did a typical hall look like? Flooring? Lighting?

Describe how heating was accomplished in the Medieval halls.

Describe the kitchens usually found in Medieval castles.
Explain how the main bedrooms and guest rooms were laid out in the castle.
What were squints used for?
Did castles have water accessible on all floors? Explain.
Where was the chapel located in early castles?
How are guests seated when they come for dinner?
List four things you learned about knights.

Step 2 - The Baron's Castle Specifications
Once you have taken notes on the life of the castle inhabitants, you are ready to review Baron William de Clare's specific requirements. Use the Internet's "Glossary of Castle Terms" to identify each of the following things that the Baron is requiring in his castle. Write the definition of each word on a sheet of paper and keep it with you for your reference. Be sure you do not leave anything the Baron wants out (he is not a forgiving man), so review the list carefully!

1. wicket
2. allure
3. turret
4. arch
5. rampart
6. aumbry
7. postern gate
8. bailey
9. parapet
10. barbican
11. parados
12. battlement
13. outer ward
14. buttery
15. outer curtain
16. buttress
17. murder holes
18. crosswall
19. moat
20. donjon or keep
21. Hall
22. dormer
23. great chamber
24. drawbridge
25. gate house
26. dungeon
27. garderobe
28. gallery

Step 3 - Castle Research
Once you have made a list of all of Baron de Clare's requests, you may begin researching other castles for design ideas. Be sure you stay focused on castles from the same approximate time frame - 1000 to 1150. A good place to begin your search is at the Castles on the Web Internet site.

 As you browse through other castles, be sure to look for features that will help you make the Baron's castle as strong as possible. In other words, it must be able to withstand the strongest and longest attack from any enemy! Some good information on castle defenses can be found at the Castle Siegecraft and Defense site. This site will give you lots of information on how to design your castle to withstand attacks successfully.Add ideas and information to your notes as you find it.

Step 4 - Castle Layout and Design
Now that you have researched several different castles, it is time to begin designing the Baron's Castle. Begin by establishing the dimensions of the castle, be sure it is large enough to accommodate all of the castle inhabitants, including the serfs, in case of a siege.
Plan the layout of the main castle and of all the outbuildings that you will need. Include all gardens and food storage facilities that you will need. Remember food capacity is crucial to survive in case the castle is under siege. Some sieges lasted for over a year in Medieval times!
You may want to use a ruler to draw the dimensions of the castle to scale. Drawing to scale means you must choose a standard scale for measuring so that each building is in proportion with the others. For example, each 10 square feet of castle space may equal 1 inch on your blueprint. You may choose your own scale, however, your finished model must not be larger than a standard sheet of poster board.

Step 5 - The Model
Now that you have completed your plans, begin the construction of the model. Your three-dimensional model may be constructed of any materials that you choose. Clay, salt and flour dough, papier mache, sugar cubes, styrofoam, cardboard, various fabrics, sticks, real stones – all of these are all possibilities (NOTE: LEGOS are not an acceptable model material for this project). Use your imagination to create a realistic rendering of your castle design.



In conducting your research, use the "magical device" known as the Internet to help you locate other castles. No one in Medieval history knows what the Internet is, so the Baron will be VERY impressed by how much information you gathered and how fast your horse rode all over Europe!
Try looking up these Internet sites:
The Daily Life of a castle is one of several helpful sites that explain in detail life in a Medieval castle.
The Castle Siegecraft and Defense is a good site for looking at types of defense structures you may want to include in the design of your castle.
The Castles for Kids page also has great information on the life and defense of castles.

Look up the Castle Terminology to view each section of your castle design. You can click on the outer curtain, the outer bailey, and other areas!



Your castle will be judged based on how well you cover the following areas (each is eligible for up to 25 points):
Research on the background of Medieval daily life (notes and sketches)
Meeting all of the Baron's specific requirements for the castle
Creative design of the castle
Strong defensive features