What was the ditch called that surrounded a medieval castle?

What was the ditch called that surrounded a medieval castle?

moat, a depression surrounding a castle, city wall, or other fortification, usually but not always filled with water. The existence of a moat was a natural result of early methods of fortification by earthworks, for the ditch produced by the removal of earth to form a rampart made a valuable part of the defense system.

What is a defensive ditch called?

When filled with water, such a defensive ditch is called a moat. However, moats may also be dry. Today ditches are obsolescent as an anti-personnel obstacle, but are still often used as anti-vehicle obstacles (see also berm). A fence concealed in a ditch is called a ha-ha.

How did they defend castles in medieval times?

Battlements were walls on the roof of a castle. They had higher walls, called merlons, with lower gaps between, called crenels. Defenders would use crossbows to shoot arrows through the crenels,and then hide behind the higher merlons.

What was in a castle moat?

Moats filled with water were usually supplied by a nearby source of water, such as a spring, lake, or river. Dams could be built that would control the level of water in the moat. While some fancy moats may have had stone sides, most moats had simple banks of earth left over from when they were dug.

What do you call a ditch that protects a castle?

A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In later periods, moats or water defences may be largely ornamental. They could also act as a sewer.

What is a war ditch called?

Earthwork: A field fortification constructed out of dirt. An earthwork could be a mound but typically consisted of a ditch and a parapet. Embrasure: An opening or hole through the earthworks through which artillery was fired. Enfilade: To fire along the length of an enemy’s battle line.

What are castle Defences?

The top of the castle walls were the battlements, a protective, tooth shaped parapet often with a wall walk behind it for the soldiers to stand on. The defenders could fire missiles through gaps (crenels). The raised sections between, called merlons, helped to shelter the defenders during an enemy attack.

What are castle walls called?

In medieval castles, the area surrounded by a curtain wall, with or without towers, is known as the bailey. The outermost walls with their integrated bastions and wall towers together make up the enceinte or main defensive line enclosing the site.

What are the walls around a castle called?

Curtain wall castles In medieval castles, the area surrounded by a curtain wall, with or without towers, is known as the bailey. The outermost walls with their integrated bastions and wall towers together make up the enceinte or main defensive line enclosing the site.

What does word moat mean?

1 : a deep and wide trench around the rampart of a fortified place (such as a castle) that is usually filled with water The moat can be crossed by a drawbridge.

What do you call water around a castle called?

The water surrounding a castle is called a moat however most castles did not have a moat. A deep wide and usually water-filled trench around a castle? A water-filled trench around a castle is known as a “moat.” A circle of water around a castle? moat What do you call water around a castle? a moat What is water surrounding a castle?

What was the outer wall of a castle called?

The Outer Curtain Wall. The ‘curtain wall’ was the vast stone wall which wrapped around the outside of a castle. As you might imagine, it’s called a ‘curtain’ because it covered everything within.

How did people defend their castles in medieval times?

Late Medieval castles boasted circular towers, which had no corners which could be undermined by cunning marauders. Machicolations were overhanging holes, or platforms, built into castles. People defending a castle could hurl items – like rocks, arrows or even animal dung – through these holes at an attacker below.

What was the name of the medieval castle in Wales?

On the Welsh coast, 250 miles from London, is the medieval fortress Caernarfon Castle. A modest castle of timber and earthworks occupied the site from the 11th century to 1283, when Edward I, marching through Wales, captured several important castles. He began replacing the existing structure with a stone one.