Ward (fortification)
Encyclopedia
In fortification
s, a bailey or ward refers to a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall
. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a Motte-and-bailey
. Castle
s can have more than one ward. Their layout depends both on the local topography and the level of fortification technology employed, ranging from simple enclosures to elaborate concentric defences. In addition to the gradual evolution of more complex castle plans,
there are also significant differences in regional traditions of military architecture regarding the subdivision into wards.
), giving an upper ward and lower ward. They can also be nested one inside the other, as in a concentric castle
, giving an outer ward and inner ward. On the other hand, Tower house
s lack an enclosed ward.
The most important and prestigious buildings, such as the great hall
and the keep
or bergfried
, were usually located in the inner ward of the castle.
Nonetheless, there are a few castles where the keep is outside the inner ward, such as Château de Dourdan
and Flint Castle
.
Lower or outer wards often held less important structures, such as stable
s, if there was not enough space in the inner ward.
Outer wards could also be largely defensive in function, without significant buildings. In the concentric castles of the military orders, such as Krak des Chevaliers
or Belvoir
, the inner ward resembled a cloister
ed monastery
, while the outer ward was little more than a narrow passage between the concentric enceinte
s. In general, wards could have any shape, including irregular or elongated ones, when the walls followed the contour line
s of the terrain where the castle was sited. Rectangular shapes are very common (as in castra
and quadrangular castle
s).
A particularly complex arrangement of wards can be found at Château Gaillard. There is both a lower ward separated from the main castle by a deep ditch, and a concentric arrangement inside the main castle with an inner and middle ward,
, there is a distinction between a Vorburg and a Kernburg roughly corresponding to lower and upper wards in English castles. In German-speaking countries, many castles had double curtain walls with a narrow ward between them, referred to as a Zwinger. The outer wall was a Zwingermauer or type of mantlet wall. These were often added at vulnerable points like the gate, but were rarely as fully developed as in the concentric castles in Wales or the Crusader castles.
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s, a bailey or ward refers to a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall
Curtain wall (fortification)
A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult....
. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a Motte-and-bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
. Castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s can have more than one ward. Their layout depends both on the local topography and the level of fortification technology employed, ranging from simple enclosures to elaborate concentric defences. In addition to the gradual evolution of more complex castle plans,
there are also significant differences in regional traditions of military architecture regarding the subdivision into wards.
Upper, lower, inner and outer wards or baileys
Wards can be arranged in sequence along a hill (as in a spur castleSpur castle
A spur castle is a type of medieval fortification that uses its location as a defensive feature. The name refers to the location on a spur projecting from a hill...
), giving an upper ward and lower ward. They can also be nested one inside the other, as in a concentric castle
Concentric castle
A concentric castle is a castle with two or more concentric curtain walls, such that the outer wall is lower than the inner and can be defended from it. The word concentric does not imply that these castles were circular; in fact if taken too literally the term "concentric" is quite misleading...
, giving an outer ward and inner ward. On the other hand, Tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
s lack an enclosed ward.
The most important and prestigious buildings, such as the great hall
Great hall
A great hall is the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or a large manor house in the Middle Ages, and in the country houses of the 16th and early 17th centuries. At that time the word great simply meant big, and had not acquired its modern connotations of excellence...
and the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
or bergfried
Bergfried
A bergfried is a tall tower typically found in medieval castles in German-speaking countries . Its defensive function is to some extent similar to that of a keep or donjon in English or French castles...
, were usually located in the inner ward of the castle.
Nonetheless, there are a few castles where the keep is outside the inner ward, such as Château de Dourdan
Château de Dourdan
The Château de Dourdan is a castle in the town of Dourdan in the Essonne department of France.-Construction:The fortification is characteristic of the military architecture of this period. It is built on a square pattern, with towers at three of the corners and an isolated donjon at the fourth...
and Flint Castle
Flint Castle
Flint Castle located in Flint, Flintshire, was the first of a series of castles built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales.The site was chosen for its strategic position in North East Wales...
.
Lower or outer wards often held less important structures, such as stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
s, if there was not enough space in the inner ward.
Outer wards could also be largely defensive in function, without significant buildings. In the concentric castles of the military orders, such as Krak des Chevaliers
Krak des Chevaliers
Krak des Chevaliers , also Crac des Chevaliers, is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by a settlement of Kurds; as a result it was known as Hisn al Akrad, meaning the "Castle of the...
or Belvoir
Belvoir
Belvoir , in some cases pronounced "beever", may refer to:*Belvoir, Doubs, a commune in the Doubs département of France*Belvoir, Leicestershire, a village in Leicestershire, England**Vale of Belvoir, an area of England...
, the inner ward resembled a cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
ed monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, while the outer ward was little more than a narrow passage between the concentric enceinte
Enceinte
Enceinte , is a French term used technically in fortification for the inner ring of fortifications surrounding a town or a concentric castle....
s. In general, wards could have any shape, including irregular or elongated ones, when the walls followed the contour line
Contour line
A contour line of a function of two variables is a curve along which the function has a constant value. In cartography, a contour line joins points of equal elevation above a given level, such as mean sea level...
s of the terrain where the castle was sited. Rectangular shapes are very common (as in castra
Castra
The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin. It may have descended from Indo-European to Italic...
and quadrangular castle
Quadrangular castle
A quadrangular castle or courtyard castle is a type of castle characterised by ranges of buildings which are integral with the curtain walls, enclosing a central ward or quadrangle, and typically with angle towers. There is no keep and frequently no distinct gatehouse...
s).
A particularly complex arrangement of wards can be found at Château Gaillard. There is both a lower ward separated from the main castle by a deep ditch, and a concentric arrangement inside the main castle with an inner and middle ward,
Holy Roman Empire
In the Germanic castles of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, there is a distinction between a Vorburg and a Kernburg roughly corresponding to lower and upper wards in English castles. In German-speaking countries, many castles had double curtain walls with a narrow ward between them, referred to as a Zwinger. The outer wall was a Zwingermauer or type of mantlet wall. These were often added at vulnerable points like the gate, but were rarely as fully developed as in the concentric castles in Wales or the Crusader castles.
Sources
- Cathcart King, David James (1991). The castle in England and Wales: an interpretive history., Studies in Archaeology Series, Routledge, ISBN 978-0415003506
- Hull, Lise (2008). Understanding the Castle Ruins of England and Wales: How to Interpret the History and Meaning of Masonry and Earthworks., McFarland. ISBN 978-0786434572
- Toy, Sidney (1985). Castles: their construction and history, Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0486248981