Defences

=__DEFENCES__=

A castle was built to withstand attack from enemy. Castle builders added many defensive features to make their castles difficult to attack. Many castles were **built on high ground** with clear views of the surrounding land.


 * Moats**
 * Attackers were easy to shoot whilst swimming or rowing across the moats
 * Filled with water.
 * Cut down on tunnelling under the castle.


 * Rampart **
 * Steep banks of earth or rubble.
 * Attackers had to climb over them to get closer to the castle.
 * High walls**
 * Very high making it hard for attackers to climb over.
 * Curtain walls **
 * Tall thick curtain walls surrounded the castle like a strong shield.
 * Few doors in the wall limited access to the castle.
 * Flanking Towers**
 * Towers built as part of the curtain wall.
 * More difficult to capture.
 * A good early example of a castle with flanking towers is Framlingham in Suffolk. Along the curtain wall, at intervals, are thirteen square or rectangular towers.