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Attacking and Defending a Castle, The Curtain Wall
Built for defence the curtain wall would be anything between 8 and 20 feet thick, and up to 50 feet high. < The curtain wall was one of the most important forms of defence and, as such, its history dates back to the Hill forts of the Iron and Bronze Ages. The early curtain walls were made of heavy timbers and were originally called Palisades. The wooden wall was subject to rot when built on an earth and could be destroyed by fire. The wooden walls were therefore replaced by stone curtain walls. Crenellations were added to Medieval curtain walls which provided a fighting platform and good vantage point from which soldiers launched arrows. Index Fire Battering Ram Catapult Giant crossbow Underground mines Under siege Belfry Tower The Curtain Wall The Portcullis The Gatehouse The Drawbridge Over The Moat Oil, Water, Stones Arrows
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The
wall of the Motte and Bailey castles had an outer wall, the purpose of the
curtain wall was to protect the interior of the castle. The wall was often
connected by towers which could house castle guards. 