What was the architecture like?
Medieval Castle Architecture was very impressive and elaborate; they added lots of detail into their buildings. Carved by the very best, painted by perfectionists and decorated by rich powerful nobles. The style of the design ranged from the Romanesque style of the Normans-motte and bailey design-to the Edwardian Concentric castles used by many of the Plantagenet Kings e.g. King Edward 1. Then onto the more lean and pointed style of the Gothic Medieval Architecture.
Medieval people also like the arched ceilings a lot in their impressive architecture, it made the room seem bigger. They also liked to paint on the ceilings although that was more to the end of the Medieval period.
Medieval people also like the arched ceilings a lot in their impressive architecture, it made the room seem bigger. They also liked to paint on the ceilings although that was more to the end of the Medieval period.
Norman Architecture?
At the beginning of the medieval period the castles that were built were the design the Normans used. Their design was the Motte and Bailey castles; at the top of the hill (man-made or original) was the keep, the safe place where the Lords and Ladies would live, then there was a bridge down from the higher grounds of the motte (hill) that lead to the flat bailey area where the peasants lived and worked. Around the edge of the motte and bailey there was a palisade, a large pointed wooden fence, also sometimes there might have been a moat or ditch to stop intruders getting over.
There were problems with the design e.g. the corners of the Keeps were weak and had a major risk of collapse due to mining by attackers, the conditions were uncomfortable, dark and cold and the whole motte and bailey could be easily burnt down as it was all made of wood however sometimes the Keeps were made of large rocks and boulders. These were major problems so later on during the Medieval period architecture moved on to Concentric castles then further down the line Gothic Castles.
There were problems with the design e.g. the corners of the Keeps were weak and had a major risk of collapse due to mining by attackers, the conditions were uncomfortable, dark and cold and the whole motte and bailey could be easily burnt down as it was all made of wood however sometimes the Keeps were made of large rocks and boulders. These were major problems so later on during the Medieval period architecture moved on to Concentric castles then further down the line Gothic Castles.
What are Concentric Castles?
Concentric Castles or Edwardian Castles were Welsh Medieval Castles built by the Plantagenet King Edward 1st, these style castles are really showing off what real Middle Ages Architecture was like.
For King Edward, he had to have the very best even if it meant getting workers from other countries. Apparently the best architect and builder for the medieval era was a man called Master James of St George. Many descriptions of a Concentric Castles is “a Castle within a Castle”, a Concentric castles was largely made up of large buildings, walls, tall towers, gatehouses in a magnificent Medieval castle in the centre. They had large and complex lines of defence built to protect their unique (at first!) excellence, riches and land.
For King Edward, he had to have the very best even if it meant getting workers from other countries. Apparently the best architect and builder for the medieval era was a man called Master James of St George. Many descriptions of a Concentric Castles is “a Castle within a Castle”, a Concentric castles was largely made up of large buildings, walls, tall towers, gatehouses in a magnificent Medieval castle in the centre. They had large and complex lines of defence built to protect their unique (at first!) excellence, riches and land.
Gothic Castles?
Middle Ages Gothic Architecture is an expression to describe the type of style buildings that were built during the years of 1300-1500, although throughout the centuries there were three main stages of Architecture that got more and more modern:
1.1200 to 1300- Early English Gothic style AKA Lancet
2.1300 to 1400- Decorated Gothic style
3.1400 to 1500- Perpendicular Gothic style
Gothic architecture has evolved over a period of 300 years finally become big in medieval times, the style were light rooms which may not fit the name “ Gothic” but they were light because of height in the pointed arches, soaring spaces, spires and peaks. Emphasis was placed on enchanting decorations and elaborate stone carvings, the Gothic design also favoured large colourful stain glass windows that tell stories and legends.
English Gothic architecture moved gradually with hefty walls and towering windows, early and famous examples of Gothic architecture in England are Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey; however across the channel it is a lot more noticeable in the MANY Chateaux in France.
1.1200 to 1300- Early English Gothic style AKA Lancet
2.1300 to 1400- Decorated Gothic style
3.1400 to 1500- Perpendicular Gothic style
Gothic architecture has evolved over a period of 300 years finally become big in medieval times, the style were light rooms which may not fit the name “ Gothic” but they were light because of height in the pointed arches, soaring spaces, spires and peaks. Emphasis was placed on enchanting decorations and elaborate stone carvings, the Gothic design also favoured large colourful stain glass windows that tell stories and legends.
English Gothic architecture moved gradually with hefty walls and towering windows, early and famous examples of Gothic architecture in England are Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey; however across the channel it is a lot more noticeable in the MANY Chateaux in France.