Windsor castle is in Berkshire. The oldest parts of Windsor castle were built by the Normans following the victory of William the conqueror in the battle of Hasting in 1066. The orignal castle was made of wood and built in the motte and bailey style. The location of the castle meant that it could watch over the river Thames and Windsor forest and was built to protect it's inhabitants from rebellions and uprisings it was also only a days march to the Tower of London. King Henry was the first monarch to use Windsor castle as a home and it is during his reign that the wooden kept walls were replaced with stone. In the 12th century, Henry ll upgraded the walls to Windsor castle and added a new stone to the upper, lower wards and the. round tower. Edward lll was born in Windsor castle in 1312 and he spent a vast amount of money adding to it and improving it during his reign for the knights of the round carter. Windsor was built in 1070 and 16 years later it was completed.

Attackers would dig a tunnel underground to the castle walls, they would then put an explosion under the walls set it alight and watch as the walls would crumble to the ground. If the army inside the castle walls were aware of the mining they would dig towards the attackers and there would be a sword fight to defend the castle.

Catapults were used to fire at the castle walls or onto the grounds itself. People attacking the castle would use fire bombs, stones, dead sheep or cattle, even plague victims to weaken the castles defences.

Ladders were used to climb over the castle walls, this left the men climbing the walls open for attack as the armies men would stand at the top of the castles wall pouring boiling oil or hot water, pushing the ladders away from the walls or subjected to the onslaught of firing arrows from the archers.

The battering ram was powered by several armies men pushing it at great force towards the castle walls or doors, this gave access to inside of the castle where the inhabitants of the castle would be under attack.

Fire was one of the best options as many castles were made from wood. This gave the archers the opportunity to force people out of the castle which led them to become captured and held as prisoners or killed. This is why the Motte and Bailey styled castles were soon replaced by concrete castles.

Knights were trained warriors that had to follow the baron to war or guard his castle for 40 days in a year and provide other soldiers to protect the castle from being attacked or invaded by other kings.

By Jordan

Roles of people defending and attacking the castle

Windsor Castle