Durham Castle
Romancing a castle, or is it romance in a castle? We are fascinated with the idea of a castle. Kids create sand castles, sculptors carve ice castles and street artists paint 3-D images of castles onto sidewalks. Castles were built for the Crusaders as protection–designed for strength, not beauty. Yet their massiveness and skillful masonry convey a sense of grandeur and of style. There is no mistaking the character of a Norman Keep at the top of a castle.
Durham Castle Keep exterior
Castles were designed to deal with weapons and tactics which changed slowly, and the availability of materials, manpower and skills was also influential. The shortage of timber in Palestine, for example, encouraged the use of more stone than in Europe.
For some centuries, the security of life in towns depended upon their fortifications, and the constricting girdle of walls and towers did much to shape the architecture of cities. As with the island of Manhattan, they encouraged high rather than wide building. Castles were fortified villages, sheltering people of every level of society and providing a store for grain against famine as well as imminent siege.
Durham Keep Terrace
Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England. In 1837, the castle was donated to the newly-formed University of Durham by Bishop Edward Maltby as accommodation for students. It was named University College. Architect Anthony Salvin rebuilt the dilapidated Keep from the original plans. Opened in 1840, the castle still houses over 100 students, most of whom are in the Keep.
Castle Keep details (Dover Castle)
Click the Keep above for the details.
The castle stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham’s peninsula, opposite Durham Cathedral.The castle was originally built in the 11th century as a projection of the Norman king’s power in the north of England, as the population of England in the north remained “wild and fickle” following the disruption of the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is an example of the early motte and bailey castles favored by the Normans. The holder of the office of the Bishop of Durham was a appointed by the King to exercise royal authority on his behalf, the castle was his seat.
Castle Bodiam moat
The design of castles has always been a subject worthy of princes. Château Gaillard is a ruined medieval castle, located 90 meters above the commune of Les Andelys overlooking the River Seine in the Upper Normandy region of northern France, one of the most original designs, was the personal achievement of Richard I of England. The owners of most castles played a large part in their design.
Chateau Gaillard, France
The evidence is scanty, but we can reasonably surmise there was a close working relationship between the princes and the peers who designed the castles and their usually anonymous master masons, who signed their work with their individual marks.
English: 12th century oak chest iron wrapped. Original purpose-to store alms from sinners seeking remission
The styles of this period are known as Romanesque and Norman (800-1150). After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the new king, William the Conqueror granted protection and repose to the conquered Saxon Thanes. Medieval homes were sparsely furnished by modern standards. The most common items were chests. They came in a variety of shapes and sizes. Besides serving as easily transportable storage containers, the chest also served as tables and for seating. Wood of the day was oak, or whatever local woods were available. A visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, will give you a first hand look at this type of work.
Oak chest-iron wrapped
The seven Crusades that occurred between the years 1096 and 1270 were of great political, economic and artistic importance. The Crusades did not accomplish any lasting good so far as their original purpose was concerned. They brought, however, a great change in the thought and in the manner of living of the people of Europe that was first noticeable in the Gothic period. They awakened interest at home in the ancient civilizations of Greece, Asia Minor, and the highly developed culture of the Eastern Empire, and they developed a doubt concerning some of the doctrines of the established Roman church, that later formed the roots of the Renaissance.
Durham Castle is jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, a short distance across Palace Green.
Would you like to live in a castle? Hmm, well, experience living in one for a day, a week, a year?
Great post, Gail. I, too am fascinated with castles. I will say, I thought castles were built also because of the feudal system. The landowners got tired of their peasants burning down their homes because of their poor treatment. 🙂
Although nowhere could I find of what you speak, castles built to protect nobility from crowds of peasants burning their homes. However, castles were built to awe the local population to keep them under control. From a strategic point of view, castles provided a monarch with defenses that would slow down the movement of an opposing army. They were built to intimidate, to protect, and provide fortification. There were different types of castles, each with slightly different purposes for those living there.
If the peasants were burning the homes of nobility, the castle would give protection, especially those with moats, but the nobility very often preferred to live in fortified manor houses. For example, in Florence, Italy, the Devanzati Palace, that you can still visit, like many other palaces in Italy and other countries, in Cascais, Portugal, had fortification with crenelated walls at the rooftops and observation towers to see the enemy approaching.
I love your questions, they always take me one step further in adding information to my post. Thanks.
I’ve always been fascinated with castles, Gail…thanks for another beautifully written and informative blog!
Thank you Kristan. I appreciate your kind comments and encouragement. It is a pleasure to write these blogs.
LOVE castles, Gail! How did you know? There is something so mythical and magical about them. You did a superb job representing the beauty, utility, and mysticism of the Keep. Nice post!
Paula, thank you. You can imagine, I’m sure of the different people with varied skills living in the keep, who work in the castle and keep things running smoothly. And thank you for your kind words, words that are encouraging and inspiring.