Life Inside a Medieval Castle!

Summary

Join a virtual tour of a medieval castle in Ireland, dating back to 1140, renowned for its size and preservation. Discover the castle's defenses, including the portcullis, murder holes, and a small 'wicket' door. Learn about the castle's history in films like 'Braveheart', and explore its Great Hall, Lord's chambers, and spiral staircases. Engage with quiz questions about medieval castle life, from the portcullis' origin to the castle's unique toilet system and the impact of cannonballs on thick walls.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Kare-Kare Castle dates back to 1140 and is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland.
• 🚪 The small door, known as a 'wicket gate', was designed to make intruders vulnerable and served as a late entry for castle residents.
• 🔍 Above the arched door, a 'murder hole' was present, where substances like boiling water or hot sand could be poured onto enemies.
• 🎥 The castle's main gate, or 'portcullis', is one of the oldest functional castle gates in Ireland and has been featured in films, including 'Braveheart'.
• 🌀 The spiral staircases in medieval castles typically turned clockwise, disadvantaging right-handed attackers and making them nearly defenseless.
• 💩 In medieval times, before the invention of the flush toilet, castles used a 'garderobe' which channeled waste down into the moat.
• 🏹 Archers in the battlements could fire up to twelve arrows per minute, defending the castle from attackers.
• 🍽️ The Great Hall was a place for feasting, with seating and food allocation based on social status, including the exclusive use of salt for royalty.
• 🗝️ The word 'portcullis' comes from the French 'porte colee', meaning 'sliding door', referring to the heavy gate mechanism.
• 🎯 Evidence of a cannonball strike from the 1300s remains in the castle wall, demonstrating the castle's resilience to such attacks.
• 🌿 The castle's preservation is remarkable, with many original features intact, offering a glimpse into medieval life.

Q & A

What is the name of the castle featured in the video?

The castle is referred to as 'Kare-Kare Castle'.

What year was the Kare-Kare Castle built?

The construction of Kare-Kare Castle dates back to the year 1140.

What is the purpose of the small door in the castle, also known as a 'wicket'?

The small door, or 'wicket', forced those who entered to be in a more vulnerable position, making it easier to attack if deemed an enemy. It also served as an entrance for castle residents arriving late after the main gate had been closed.

What substance was commonly poured from the 'murder hole' above the small door?

Contrary to popular belief, boiling oil was rarely used due to its expense. Boiling hot water or red-hot sand was more common, as they were readily available and could penetrate enemy armor.

Which famous film was filmed at the castle, featuring a Scottish warrior?

The famous film is 'Braveheart', starring Mel Gibson.

Why do medieval castles have spiral staircases that turn in a clockwise direction?

Building a spiral staircase in the clockwise direction made it difficult for right-handed people to use their dominant sword hand, rendering them nearly defenseless.

What is the origin of the word 'portcullis'?

The word 'portcullis' originates from the French language, where it translates to 'sliding door'.

How were castles equipped for waste disposal before the invention of the flush toilet?

Castles were built with a 'garderobe', which is essentially a combination of a closet and a restroom, with waste exiting the castle interior down into the moat below.

What evidence of medieval warfare can be seen on the castle walls?

There is an actual cannonball lodged in the side of the castle from the 1300s, showing the impact of medieval warfare.

Which spice was considered a luxury and reserved for those of royal status in the Middle Ages?

Salt was considered a luxury and was only offered to those of royal status and guests of great importance.

How many arrows per minute could a well-trained archer fire during the medieval period?

A well-trained archer could fire as many as twelve arrows per minute, which is one every five seconds.