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Medieval Castles
Castles with no Keep
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Caernarfon Castle; one of a chain
of Welsh castles built by Edward I. |
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The types of castle building outlined above occurred in the two centuries after the Norman Conquest. Later these castles were added to so as to meet the demand for space and comfort and in response to new ideas on fortification. Entirely new castles were also built in response to changes in ideas. The keep, whatever size or shape, was abandoned in favour of a greater emphasis on layout, curtain walls, towers and the gatehouse. The keepless castle made its most significant appearance during the reign of Edward I when he had a chain of castles built across North Wales in his efforts to subdue the Welsh.
Castles of Edward I
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Rhuddlan Castle; one of a chain
of Welsh castles built by Edward I.
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Conway Castle; one of a chain
of Welsh castles built by Edward I. |
| This was a period of intensive castle building that was aided by the technological developments of the last century as well as the King's own experience of siege warfare, both at home and abroad. The pacification of North Wales began in 1277, the same year as the building of his first castle in the chain, Flint castle. Over the next ten year period, Edward I built Rhuddlan, Conway, Caernarvon, Harlech, Beaumaris, and adapted Criccieth. North Wales became enclosed on three sides and all the castles could be supplied by sea therefore not relying on transport through hostile Welsh territory. Flint castle was the most unusual of the chain and perhaps shows evidence of the transition of the old pattern of building castles to the new. At Flint, the keep was still used, in the form of a round tower, as a last resort to defenders, but also with a new purpose as a flanking tower to protect the entrance to the inner bailey.
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