This quote taken from the excavation notes shows that the walls were thick for defensive purposes, and that there was no need for them to be maintained after the Tudors because the fear of attack was not as great. The information taken from the excavation notes may not be completely reliable because
The outer walls were partly damaged. This could be because after the Civil War the castle was only restored in parts, which indicates that it was no longer required as a fortress. This shows that there was to be no more fighting, and that the people at the time were rebuilding the castle for the purposes of living and not defence. This quote from guidebook reiterates this point:
‘The shell wall of the medieval castle was repaired and restored and the interior dramatically remodelled.’
The information from the guidebook should be mostly reliable because it was written in 1996 – modern time. However the information may not be 100% correct because
The turrets of the castle were very tall. This was so that the defenders would have a clear view of the attackers, and also it would have been more difficult for the attackers to fire weapons at such height. It also shows a development in weaponry because the defenders would be starting to use longer-range weapons. The turrets are also portrayed as very tall in the 1737 engraving, but this source is not very reliable because it could have been trying to show a more impressive engraving, and not the true reflection.
Inside the keep there was a murder hole through which missiles could be dropped. These included sand, oil, stones etc. This feature of the castle shows that the defenders were thinking of ways to surprise potential attackers with different contraptions.
The well was only a third of its original depth because it had been filled up with chalk.
‘The well in the keep had not been mentioned since the latter part of the fourteenth century and the archaeological material would be consistent with it having been filled up in 1521.’
This quote is taken from the excavation notes. It suggests that it was no longer in use which means that the people at the time did not need to worry about their water supply because the fighting had stopped.
The garderobe was outside which indicates an advance in medical knowledge, because the people at the time were thinking about public health. The pipe rolls show that public health is evidently being addressed:
‘1231 – wage of the plumber’
This shows that people were addressing the issue of public health by employing a plumber to check that the garderobe was in a healthy state. The information contained in the pipe rolls is probably correct because it was written at the time, although it was written such a long time ago that there is still an element of doubt about whether it is true or not. Also the pipe rolls have been translated, which means that they could easily be misinterpreted.
The moat was no longer filled with water and is now a peaceful garden. At the time it would have been used as a barricade to stop enemies from reaching the castle, but it has clearly not been used in that way for a long time, so people have stopped worrying about the possibility of an attack.
The second floor was obviously a luxury element of the castle, intended for living purposes. There were fireplaces, large settees and a spiral staircase – the whole floor was generally very elaborate. There also must have been an addition to the wall because of the red brick. The excavation notes agree with what I have deduced, as shown from this quote:
‘The main work of Morley is to be seen inside, especially in the woodwork: the grand staircase, the fittings of the bishop’s chapel and the fireplace in the hall’.
I understand the limitations of the sources that I have studied, but I have come to the conclusion that they are generally quite reliable as many of them reflect what I saw when I went to visit the castle. To obtain a fuller view of life in the past at Farnham Castle I would need to study some other sources. These may include a guided tour of the castle or
