Purpose of castles

Castles were built not only as a defensive measure and offensive weapon, but also as a home. They were used for the storage of food and the detention of prisoners. A castle would be also be a social place where a knight or lord could entertain his peers. Castles were expensive, and were built to look impressive, increasing the perceived power of the builder or occupier. Castles were made by their owners for specific purposes, but often evolved new purposes over time. Some of the larger castles would have the entire village within their battlements. Although castles were associated with nobility and most peasants lived outside the castle walls, in times when the lands were under invasion, all people were taken in the castle in order to provide their protection.

The main distinguishing features of castles, as opposed to other defensive structures, can be defined as follows:

• Firstly, castles were places of protection from an invading enemy, a place of retreat. This is the purpose behind such stereotypical castle features as portcullises, battlements, and drawbridges.
• Secondly, castles were offensive weapons, built in otherwise hostile territories from which to control surrounding lands, as forward camps. In particular, during the High Middle Ages, castles were often built for territorial expansion and regional control. A castle was a stronghold from which a lord could control surrounding territory.
• Lastly, castles were either built as, or evolved into, residences for the monarch or lord who built them.

These three purposes distinguish the castle from other fortresses — which are usually purely defensive (like citadels and city walls) or purely offensive (a military camp) — or edifices that are entirely residential in nature, like palaces. Castles such as the Tower of London served as prisons. Captured nobles could be held to ransom in a castle, and contrary to the popular image, they were usually kept in good condition.

Many later castles were not built primarily for defensive purposes. This can best be seen in castles such as Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, whose defensive appearance was probably built merely to impress; inside the castle is geared towards family living.

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