location of castles - Castle Quest

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location of castles

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Topic: location of castles

Norman
Member

posted 11-16-2001 08:50 AM

for my project on castles I would like to know why they were built where they were. I am finding it difficult to get information on this.Was it purely for safety during battle or something else?

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Gordon
unregistered

posted 11-17-2001 07:59 AM

The choice of site for castle building had to satisfy a variety of criteria.
Firstly it had to be defendable, although defensive features such as ditches and moats, embankments etc could be constructed, the use of natural features to inhibit accesibility to an attacking force was important. That is why many castles are built on promontaries with steep slopes running off on several sides, hilltops, small islands which the castle would entirely occupy, islands in marshes etc.
Another factor was water supply. The site would be chosen where a water supply could be guaranteed, where a well could be sunk, or a natural source of water was accesible.
Dominance, the site would be chosen with a view to dominating the local population, militarily, administratively and judicially.
The castle acted as a symbol of the power of the lord within, and as such the site would have been chosen where it would have maximum psychological impact on the local area, in order to impress this power.
There's a start for you, try reading some of the old mails, do a search with the link provided.

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