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Author Topic:   What is a Castle?
Philip Davis
unregistered
posted 05-13-99 03:52 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Prompted by the question about which has more castles Britain or Germany and by people give answers which included estimated numbers I was wondering if there can be a definition of what a castle is?
Is a temporary seige work, like the motte near Corfe Castle, a castle (I presume it would be recorded on the OS map as a motte)? Is Maiden Castle Dorset a castle? http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/dminterface/dmehindex.asp?mkey=149 Is Burgh Castle in Norfolk? http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/dminterface/dmehindex.asp?mkey=149 Is Fillingham Castle? http://www.lincsheritage.org/bpt/properties/west_lindsey/gateway.html
I have my own feeling about these but without giving some idea of what is meant by castle the mention of numbers is fairly meaningless. My own view is that it is likely the the privated fortified residences of Lords (including the monarch and ecclesiastics and also including individuals who's domains were small) built in England is between 1000 and 1500. I also feel that some remains exist of almost all of these castles although not always recognised as such. An example of a possible unrecognised seige work/castle was spotted last year by The Royal Commission for Historic Monuments' Stewart Ainsworth whilst working on Time Team television programme (see his comments on the bottom of the page http://www.rchme.gov.uk/education/ttplympton.htm .)
I know there is no definate answer to this but
I am interested in what other castle buffs think?

Geoff
Senior Member
posted 07-24-99 04:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Geoff   Click Here to Email Geoff     Edit/Delete Message
I tend to agree with your definition. One cannot be prescriptive about such things as like many words, the term 'castle' is slowly broadening to take on more general meanings.

However, in the medieval, historical sense of the word, I would define a castle as a fortified structure which usually had a residential function (even though the accomodation may have been used on an irregular basis). To my mind castles are also inseperable from feudal society.

Of course the nature of medieval castles and their functions changed over time from the timber functionality of early Norman structures to the palatial castles of the late medieval period, the defences of which were more apparent than real.

As to temporary structures, one can argue that mottes erected during periods of warfare can be accepted as 'castles' if they fulfilled the same basic functions as a more permanent castle.

Many other features ranging from Iron Age forts to mansions have the word 'castle' in their names, but they do not have the characteristics I have described. As essentially feudal structures, castles are found across Europe and I would also include those in Japan. In North America on the other hand, the term is used in a different sense to my understanding of the word.

This is only a very general answer to your question. One can scarcely do justice to such an enormous subject in so few words and no doubt others will have their own opinions on the matter.

Geoff.

wurdsmiff
unregistered
posted 09-18-99 03:10 PM           Edit/Delete Message
A castle by my definition in part agrees with your own in that some form of defensive feature must exist and that it must have formed a residence of some sort. I would not agree that it has to be the residence of a lord, a simple fortified house suffices, though I would agree that by reason of cost only those with enough finance could build a 'Castle'. To widen the discussion, my definition would exclude Edinburgh Castle which in modern times represents a military installation rather than a home, however did provide accomodation for the scottish Royal family and their representatives. A similar dilemma exists at Dumbarton, where only minimal remains survive of the original Royal castle. They are included in my definition if you argue that the military resided within. I tend to accept castles as such when ( in Scotland at any rate) they were built during the period that defensive features were necessary, and exixted. That period faded out toward the end of the 17th century as far as private houses were concerned. This includes the more ancient motte and bailley castles common here, and in a wider sense the Brochs of the Picts. There is so much variance in design, and many 'transitional houses', i.e. mansions with minimal defensive ability, that I define a castle by the presence of a single defensive feature. However if by chance a building was designed in an L-Plan for example, simply for architectural raesons, and not intentionally as a means of defence, then I would exclude it. I do not include within my lists the many large Georgian and Victorian mansions which simply include the title castle in the name. There must be or have been an earlier fortified structure on site. There is a style of architecture in Scotland known as 'Scots Baronial' which includes many castle features. however these were added purely for decorative purposes, and so such buildings are excluded.
Wurdsmiff

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