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Castles Comparision
Comparing the Medieval Castle with
the Victorian Castle
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The fighting gallery was used as
a platform from which to repel the enemy |
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Fighting Galleries
Below the crenellations of Caerphilly are holes that were used for beams, to support fighting galleries or hoardings.
Fighting galleries were temporary erections in times of siege and jutted out at the top of a castle's walls so that the defenders could fire and drop missiles onto the attacking enemy as well as preventing them from scaling the walls.
Burges included just such a gallery at Castell Coch above the gate and but as a permanent feature that is as authentic as it could be.
Supporting Spurs
A common characteristic to thirteenth century castles is a squared strengthening at the base of the round towers to prevent undermining and both Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle have these supporting spurs.
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The supporting spurs at
Castell Coch are at the base
of the tower in this picture. |
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The spurs at the base of Castell Coch's towers are part of the original castle and therefore not a Burges addition. Arrow slits and drainage holes break up the austerity of Castell Coch's walls much as with any medieval castle and windows are small and high in true defensive fashion.
Protective wooden flaps
The exterior windows and embrasures are covered with wooden flaps for the protection of archers.
The flaps reinforce the European appearance of the castle and were probably more common in France, Germany and Switzerland but it is difficult to be certain as such things do not survive in this country as most castles lay in ruins. The conical towers on Castell Coch are another element that appears to be European; most historians would consider them to be French rather than English.
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