Firstly I will talk about the defensive features.
The keep is probably the best preserved part of the castle and its towers are over 100 feet above Richmond, with the walls an astounding eleven feet thick. It is very defensive, with watch towers, arrow slits and very steep stairs, it would have been easy to see attackers coming. Its sloping walls kept attackers back and there were turrets for look-out and firing on the enemy. The windows got wider the further off the ground they were. As you can see, this keep remains virtually intact.
The castle was built on a hill so that people could see their enemies approaching. When the enemies got there they would have to climb this hill before attacking. This would make them tired and easier to defeat. Therefore it is an entirely defensive feature. The castle is also built above the river Swale and has enormously high and thick stone walls.
Later on in 1855 a detention block of eight cells just inside the castles entrance were added, and conscientious objectors were locked in the cells.
There were also some comfort features. Robin Hood’s Tower contained St Nicholas’s Chapel which was small and cramped. It had a barrel vaulted roof, wall arcade of semi-circular arches and a flat sill which may have been the site of the altar.
On the ground floor level the castle had its own well. On the 1st floor, there were four small chambers and one large one with a huge pillar to support the floor above. The 2nd floor is a great hall, and was used for important guests.
As time went by, there was more comfort features built inside the castle’s walls. Two more chapels were built and also there was a cockpit garden, which is very scenic.
The gold Hole Tower contained the latrines (toilets) of the castle. The upper part of it was re-built in the 14th century and contains a room with a fireplace. Scolland’s hall was a lord’s residence of the late 11th century Richmond Castle.
In conclusion it seems that Richmond Castle was built for defensive purposes, and later on, once people had mastered the defensive features, comfort features were added to improve the castle on a whole for the people inside it. Therefore the statement is correct, Richmond Castle was built more for defence than comfort.
