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Castles Comparision
Comparing the Medieval Castle with
the Victorian Castle
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The keep tower is seen here
behind the gatehouse with the
well tower in the foreground |
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William Burges had used as reference the same European castles that had already influenced many of the castles that were already in Wales. Burges makes no mention of any reference from the North Welsh castles but there are more similarities than the architectural details. Like the North Welsh castles, Castell Coch has stout towers, a keep tower that sits in a defensive position by the gatehouse and the use of a D-shaped tower like some used at Harlech and Beaumaris. these comparative features could be more to do with Castell Coch's original Medieval plan, but one that was definitely a Burges addition appeared in the plans but not on the completed castle. Burges drew a tall thin turret from the roof of the keep tower. the turret bears a close resemblance to the turrets found at Harlech, Beaumaris and Conway and these are turrets that do not appear in the European castles.
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The fully working
gatehouse at Castle Coch
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The Gatehouse
The arch of the gateway at Castell Coch is like that of many castles in that it is no larger than it needs to be. The gatehouse that surrounds it boasts murder holes and an authentic drawbridge and portcullis in full working order. The gatehouses at Beaumaris Castle and Caerphilly Castle had much the same arrangement as Castell Coch but on a larger scale.
Inside, Castell Coch has a single small courtyard with no space for a dividing wall as seen with many medieval castles probably because Castell Coch is so compact.
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