Castle parts

The keep The heart of the castle. The keep housed the main living quarters of the lord. It was also used as the last line of defence.

The Bailey This was the inner courtyard in the middle of the castle. A large piece of open ground, it often had other buildings on it such as kitchens, stables, barracks or workshops.

The Barbican This was the section of the wall that surrounded the gateway. It added strength to the weakest point of the castle.

Tower A circular or square building incorporated into the castle walls. It was used as a lookout and served as a strong point of defence.

The Moat A moat was a deep trench or ditch that was dug around the outside of the castle walls, it was sometimes filled with water.

Battlements The upper portions of the castle walls allowed people to observe their enemies while giving protection.

Drawbridge Used as a way to control who came into the castle. It could be easily raised or destroyed in case of attack.