Coursework: Bodium Castle

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GCSE History Coursework-Objectives Two and Three

History Around Us

Bodium Castle shows today more than any other document, the way in which castle buildings had developed in the 14th century.

Bodium castle was built in the 14th century by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a Sussex knight. He was given permission by King Richard II to do this and the castle was completed around 1388. Bodium castle was essentially a home but was later strengthened in fear of attack.

The Site

Bodium is built on a rectangular island set in a large moat. The entrance is across a wooden bridge. Originally, there were three portcullises, three drawbridges, two fortified bastions and three doors

Bodium had a good clear site of acres of land surrounding it and was situated near the coast. Close by was a river, Rother, in which water could be accessed from for house hold necessities The River, at that time, was about 60-70 feet wide but due to the rise in temperature over the centuries most of the water has evaporated and therefore the river is now smaller in size. The river was also useful for transportation communication and fishing purposes.

External Features

The moat was a source of defence for the castle as it meant that if the drawbridge had been raised there was no way a likely attacker could come near to the castle. The original position of the drawbridge is different to what is there at present. In 1388 the draw bridge was at a 45 degree angle to the entrance of the castle. This meant that if attackers arrived when the drawbridge was down the right angle would slow them down if they were charging.

On top of these were other defensive features to the castle.

After oncoming attackers had got across the drawbridge they had lost speed and were met with gunshots and arrows from men in the barberkin. If the attackers got past this stage they were the met with more gun shots and arrows from the main castle through arrow slits and gun loops. If the attackers got past this third stage they would try and enter the gates of the castle were three other defensive features lay hidden. Firstly there was the portcullis which was a heavy metal grid gate with sharp pointed ends and when they fell on top of an attacker could kill instantly. The second was murder holes. Through here boiling hot oils and other liquids were thrown on attackers from above.

Evidently it seems that written documents are more precise in the structure of Bodium castle as when I went to see it many elements of the castle have changed due to weathering without refurbishment over the centuries. Some of the original elements are no longer there and some of them remain merely as rubble, for example the ceilings and beams which hold floors above, the draw bridge and the barberkin. Therefore documentary sources contain more evidence.

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Internal Features

Bodium Castle was originally a home with about three to 4 floors. Evidence to support this is the beam holes in the walls left by original floorboards and fire place holes indented in the walls. There was a large kitchen on the lower floor with a large cooker. Below was a well were the garderobes were. Here food could be stored as this floor was cool and meant it would take longer for food to rot here.

Also on the lower floor were the lord and ladies quarters. From the height of the doors and other ...

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