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Author Topic:   Inner Construction of Medieval Castles
rushtonix
Member
posted 06-18-2000 10:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rushtonix   Click Here to Email rushtonix     Edit/Delete Message
Obviously, the outer walls of a tower house or other medieval castle were generally made of stone. What were the interior floors and ceilings made of? The inner walls (if any)?

Thanks,

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Nelson

Levan
Moderator
posted 06-18-2000 01:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Levan   Click Here to Email Levan     Edit/Delete Message
The construction of floors is discussed in the following forum:
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/quest/Forum9/HTML/000122.html

Some other thoughts on walls...
Many tower-houses had inner partition walls constructed in much the same way as modern timber-framed houses! Basically, stud partition covered with timber planks, lath and plaster, or in some cases tiles. An example of this is at Newark Castle in Port Glasgow where a long gallery was divided in such manner. Castle Levan, also has markings on the interior walls indicating a similar treatment at one time.

Despite the modern habit of stripping walls back to the 'original' bare stone, many castles were rendered with harling on the outside and sometimes on the inside too - walls left bare were rare. The walls were also the original place for carpets. Often, where the price of carpets could not be justified, the walls were painted in simple designs not dissimilar to that found on carpets.

Another feature of Newark Castle is its pine panelling in one of the bedrooms. The panelling here matches built-in cupboards, and a bed that lifts into a cupboard.

Levan

[This message has been edited by Levan (edited 06-18-2000).]

wurdsmiff
unregistered
posted 06-18-2000 02:12 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Levan has provided an excellent example of the use of wood internally in the construction of walls.
In a few towers, such as the keep at Craignethan, a central dividing wall of stone completely divided the tower, esentially creating two towers in one.
The more typical early design called for a single room to each floor, the ground floor having a stone vaulted ceiling, which supported the floor above, whilst protecting it from the effects of fire. Often this ground floor was inaccessible from the floors above, having it's own separate entrance from the exterior. This was usually re arranged in subsequent remodelling, as was the subdivision of the floors. The main door gave access directly to the hall on the first floor via a removable stair. There was frequently a second layer of vaulting over the hall, supporting the second floor, with occasionally a timber loft below the vault, creating storage, sleeping quarters, or at Mearns a musicians gallery.
Subsequent floors were usually supported on great cross beams which rested within sockets in the walls and or on corbels, the ceilings thus created were often elaborately painted. A re-creation of such is shown on Levan's own web site.
http://fp.kirkburn.f9.co.uk/castlelevan/castlephotos/large/ceiling1s.jpg

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'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
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Gordon.


Philip Davis
unregistered
posted 06-19-2000 12:54 AM           Edit/Delete Message
The most notable and written about inner dividing wall is the screens passage wall. This was a, generally wooden (very occassional stone) wall that screened the lower part of the Great Hall, in which were the doors to kitchen, service rooms and entrance from the rest of the hall, thus reducing drafts from the outside and smells from the kitchen. Since Great Halls are usually tall rooms there was often room to put a musicians gallery on top of the screens passage.

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And as I rode by Dalton-Hall Beneath the turrets high, A maiden on the castle-wall Was singing merrily: The Outlaw by Sir Walter Scott
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html

Philip Davis
unregistered
posted 06-19-2000 01:00 AM           Edit/Delete Message
As an aside the outer walls of early castles were usually made of wood (sometimes covered with clay and plastered and painted to look like stone) backed up by stone earthwork banks, mounds and ditches. Since the wooden parts of these castles have now all disappeared the remains of castles normally show in books etc is of stone castles. However, most of the earthworks still survive although much damaged and erroded.

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And as I rode by Dalton-Hall Beneath the turrets high, A maiden on the castle-wall Was singing merrily: The Outlaw by Sir Walter Scott
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html

Erik Schmidt
Senior Member
posted 08-05-2000 12:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Erik Schmidt   Click Here to Email Erik Schmidt     Edit/Delete Message
Most of the medieval castles I have visited(Mainland Europe and Midle East) were solidly built, and thus the internal rooms were small, not needing to be divided. Larger structures would have been built with accomodating a large room in mind. Where the large single space was not required, such as below a great hall, the divisions would have been of stone to add strength.
Floors were of vaulted stone in the lower parts of buildings(Some to 3 levels), and wood on the above levels. A point to note, I have seen several castles in Switzerland with massive wooden ceilings which are covered with a layer of gravel topped with flat stone, brick or roof tiles to make the floor above(VERY HEAVY).
Nope it is of help.
Erik

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