Castle Parts: What these parts were

used for:
Keep The castle keep was used for defending
purposes and was primarily a circular tower.
This kept attacks from coming in at corners.
Overall, the castle keep was named the
most protected tower of the entire castle.

Bastion The castle bastion was used both both

attacking and defending intentions. The
largest purpose of this tower was to cover
‘dead ground’ located in the curtain wall of
the castle.

Wall The curtain wall was used only for

defending intentions. This was a wall on the
outermost part of the castle. They
measured at approximately 1,500 feet long.

Barbican The castle barbican was used for both

attacking and defending intentions. This
was a passage that held many gates inside.
This specific passage had ‘murder holes’
coming from the ceiling. Many also called
this the death trap.

Loopholes The castle loopholes were used for both

attacking and defending intentions. The
loopholes were slender windows that were
used for launching arrows. They had many
different designs, sizes and shape for each
weapon.

Battlement The castle battlements were used for both

attacking and defending intentions. The
battlement was also used for firing arrows.
It was built all around the top of the castle
with several gaps for firing.

Machicolations The castle machicolations were used for

defending intentions. The largest purpose of
these were to have access across the
battlements in order for soldiers to find the
enemy quicker. The machicolations would
extend over the walls as balconies would.
Holes were located in the floor in case of
wanting to drop a missile on the enemy.
These were often called murder holes as
well.
Castle Parts: What these parts were
used for:
Gatehouse The castle gatehouse was used for both
attacking and defending a intentions. The
gatehouse was the main entrance and was
built over the gateway of the castle.

The castle crenellations were used for both

Crenellations attacking and defending intentions. This
was another name for the battlement.

Portcullis The castle portcullis was used for defending

intentions. The portcullis was a very large
and heavy door that was dropped from the
gatehouse ceiling in time of attack. The
door would quickly hit the ground and keep
enemies from entering.

Drawbridge The castle drawbridge was used for

defending intentions. This bridge allowed
easy access to the castle. It was made of a
large wooden platform that would be
lowered or raised by either chains or ropes.

Murder Holes The castle murder holes were used for

defending intentions. These were the holes
that lied in the machicolations and
barbicans. Missiles were often dropped from
here that held molten lead, boiling water,
heavy stones and hot sand.

Dungeon The castle dungeon was used for neither

attacking or defending intentions, yet held
prisoners.

Moats The castle moats were used for defending

intentions. The moats kept from having
enemies destroy the castle. They contained
either wood stakes as a barrier for the
horses and men or water.