Medieval Castle Project


During the Medieval era of history, 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 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..
The Task

You are a Medieval Castle Builder 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. GO 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 castle of defense 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.

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 follow the Baron's list of things he wants in the castle, then you may use your imagination to design the restof your 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.

Keep a sketch 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 would 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.We will work on the research in class each week. You will have some time in the computer lab to work on the research. I encourage you to do asmuch research at home as you can.

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Step 1 - Daily Life

To begin your research look at the Internet site "Life in a MedievalCastle" which will give you a good look at daily life in a Welsh castle. Keep a "Builder's Journal" 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.

You will record all of your research in "details format" in your Builder's Journal. You will have the following sections:

1. Title Page 2. Daily Life 3. Descriptions of the living areas inside castles 4. Methods of defense of castles 5. Other Castle designs (in back of journal) 6. Bibliography shorthand page

In your Glossary book you will have the terms recorded and illustrated as listed in Step 2.

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" and to identify each thing that the Baron is requiring in his castle. Write the definition of each word. Be sure you do not leave anything the Baron wants out (he is not a forgiving man), so review the list carefully!

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

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. Record your notes in your Builder's Journal.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 Siege craft and Defense site This site will give you lots of information on how to design your castle to withstand attacks successfully.

Step 4 - Castle Layout and Design

Now that you have researched several different castles, it is time to begin a blueprint of 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.Next, draw an outline 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!

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.

Step5-Bibliography

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 impressed by how much information you gathered and how fast your horse rode all over Europe! You will need atyped bibliography page (in a Word document) with at least 10 internet sites or book sources listed. You will need to take your Bibliography Shorthand page from your Builder's Journal and type each into the citation machine for correct formatting.

  • Mrs. Johnson's website includes many helpful links that can aid you in your research:

Direct link to my Middle Ages/Medieval Sites:

Step 6-The Model

Now that you have completed your blueprint, begin the construction of the three-dimensional model.

Your Castle model should be a castle based on designs from the Middle Ages and should include:

Neatly colored and imprinted stonework on each tower and inside and outside each of the walls crenellationson top of each wall and tower, using paper, clay, stone fleck spray paint, etc.
Made to scale with solid, firm, colored base with neat edges
Greenery (moss, trees, bushes, etc.)
Buildings, well, ladders, walkways, appropriate figures included
Covering all of the Baron specificrequests for the castle
Strong defensive features

NO plastic, toy castle, LEGO castles or baked goods for the castle. You may make the smaller parts (furniture, flags, torches, etc.) or purchase them however this is expensive, and I don’t recommend it. Please try to use things from around the house.

We will work on the research in class each week. You will have some time in the computer lab to research and record in your Builder's Journal. I encourage you to do asmuch research at home as you can. The castle blueprint and the model are to be done completely at home.

Presentation

Each student will be required to give about a 5 minute oral presentation in a gallery-style showcase to accompanytheir Model and Builder’s Journal. The information in their journal is to be used in their oral presentation.The presentation must be practiced at home so you can be ready to give it when you arrive at school.

Project Due Dates, Due on your SIP day of the week:

Step1,2 & 3- Glossary of Castle Terms and Builder's Journal with all research complete, & bibliography shorthand page with 10 sources--Due Nov. 11th-15th

Step 4 & 5-Castle Layout (blueprint) and Design and typed bibliography--Due Nov. 18th-22nd

Step 5-Castle Model and Presentation--Due Dec.. 9th-13th

(The dates listed above depend on which day you have SIP class.)


Image Copyright 1995 by Educational Management Group, Inc.

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

MUIDEN CASTLE

CONWY CASTLE

SKIPNESS CASTLE
DONJON OF FALAISE
WEOBLEY CASTLE

HARLECH CASTLE

AUGHNANURE CASTLE