Ring Works

Castles of the World: Reference for castles, palaces and monasteries including: castle tours, medieval architecture, hotels, travel, plans, weddings, castles for sale, souvenirs, books, directory, site of the week, history, armor and swords.

Tours Castle Tours  Hotels Castle Hotels  Architecture Architecture  Castles for Sale Castles for Sale World Tours Escorted Tours
 Search Search  Bulletin Board Bulletin Board  Kids Kid's Castles Kids Cruises Kids River Cruises Kids Resorts

Previous Page Home Page Top Page Next Page

C) Ring works

These are earthen mounds, which supported a timber superstructure, sometimes combined with a bailey or outer-banked enclosure. It is the method of fortification applied to towns and cities and was the earliest type of castle.  During the 12th century the great tower of stone succeeded the motte as the most favored type of donjon, it is sometimes equally notable by its absence. In a feudal age so dependent upon hierarchy, status and symbolism, it may be difficult to conceive of a castle with no donjon of any kind. Sometimes these castles would have an inner bailey containing the private apartments as an inner sanctum of lordship or regality, originally emphasized and embellished architecturally. 

Plan of Caernarvon Castle

Plan of Caernarvon Castle  

 


Previous Page Home Page Top Page Next Page

                                                                                                     
 
Member of the Castles of the World Network
Copyright 1995 - 2013 Castles of the World (www.castles.org)