What is the keep used for in a castle?

keep, English term corresponding to the French donjon for the strongest portion of the fortification of a castle, the place of last resort in case of siege or attack.

Why is it called a castle keep?

Since the 16th century, the English word keep has commonly referred to large towers in castles. The word originates from around 1375 to 1376, coming from the Middle English term kype, meaning basket or cask, and was a term applied to the shell keep at Guînes, said to resemble a barrel.

Whats the difference between a castle and a keep?

Originally Answered: What is the difference between a castle and a keep? The castle is the whole area contained within the walls and the keep is the central stronghold. A Keep is a smaller castle.

What rooms are in a castle keep?

Rooms in a Medieval Castle

• The Great Hall.
• Bed Chambers.
• Solars.
• Bathrooms, Lavatories and Garderobes.
• Kitchens, Pantries, Larders & Butteries.
• Gatehouses and Guardrooms.
• Chapels & Oratories.
• Cabinets and Boudoirs.

What are the main features of a castle?

The key features of a castle include: Rampart, Dungeon, Portcullis, Moat, Drawbridge and Turret.

What was most important for a castle?

Curtain Walls & Towers – the perimeter defensive wall. Fortified Gatehouse – the main castle entrance. Keep (aka Donjon or Great Tower) – the largest tower and best stronghold of the castle.

Who lived in the keep of a castle?

The most important person in a castle was the owner —the king, lord, knight or lady. But they didn’t live there all the time. Kings of England owned dozens of castles, and could never have visited them all.

What is a keep in a Motte and Bailey castle?

The castle is made up of two parts: The motte is a raised mound of earth which has a wooden or stone building on it, often referred to as a keep. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard that is surrounded by walls and a ditch and palisade — which is a wooden stake fence.

How big is a keep?

Usual height for the motte of a large motte and bailey: 30 feet (9 m). Height of the walls of Framlingham Castle in England: 40 feet (12 m). Height of the keep at Dover Castle in England: 80 feet (24 m).

What is inside a castle?

Inside the castle walls there might have been a magnificent hall, comfortable chambers and a beautiful chapel. Larger castles had their own fish ponds, orchards and vineyards, as well as gardens which supplied vegetables and herbs. Most castles had a small private chapel near to the lords chambers.

What should a castle have?

Barbican – a fortification to protect a gate. Curtain Walls & Towers – the perimeter defensive wall. Fortified Gatehouse – the main castle entrance. Keep (aka Donjon or Great Tower) – the largest tower and best stronghold of the castle.

What makes castle a castle?

The word ‘castle’ derives from the old English word ‘castel’, which meant village. And now the Oxford English Dictionary defines a castle as ‘a large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and often a moat’.

Why was Stana Katic let go?

Stana Katic was fired – she did not want to leave the show. It turns out that Stana’s reason for leaving (or being fired) the show wasn’t completely based on budget cuts, and actually had a whole lot to with her ongoing feud with co-star Nathan Fillion (Richard Castle).

What was the keep in a medieval castle?

A Medieval castles keep was among those castle parts whose charge was not permanently given to a single person. This was because a medieval castle keep could serve different purposes at different times. When it was used for defence purposes, its charge would be given to the knight responsible for defence.

What does a keep on a castle mean?

A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary.

How tall is a castle keep?

Castle keeps varied in size. The round keep at Pembroke Castle is four stories, over 53 feet in diameter, 80 feet in height, and has walls 16 feet thick. It is one of the greatest keeps ever built.