Norman castle 7

Norman Castles. The Keep

In the Norman castle at the top of the keep were the  battlements, where soldiers kept a look-out over the countryside to see what the saxons were doing.

Below the battlements were the sleeping-rooms for the lord and his important visitors. Other people slept on benches in the Great Hall or lay down on the floor wrapped in their cloaks.

The Great Hall was a long, bare room with small windows in the thick walls. The floor was made of rough oak planks ans was covered with rushes. The fire was on a stone slab in the middle, and the smoke had to find its way out through the little windows.

On the next floor were the guard-room and the chapel.

At the very bottom of the keep were store-rooms for food and armour. The well might be here, and also a dungeon for prisoners.