Tamworth Castle and Gardens
Attack
Warfare was a fundamental part of Medieval life. Castles were an essential military tool. They provided safety for lords and gave refuge from armies too large to face in open battle.
The attacking army would camp outside the castle walls. There could be as many as 1,000 men in the camp, all of whom had to be fed and watered. The force would include carpenters and blacksmiths who would build the siege weapons.
The attackers would try to starve out those inside the castle. This didn’t always work. Castles were designed to be self-sufficient and often had a plentiful supply of water and food. Tamworth Castle had a well inside the castle walls.
Siege weapons such as catapults and battering rams, were massive machines that were used to pound the castle walls and doors. The invading army advancing on the castle would fight through a series of defences, whilst dending off a constant attach of arrows, stones and boiling liquids.
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The Trebuchet. This was a catapult. It had a duge arm with a sling which would throw stones and other items. Attackers would catapult diseased animals or human corpses over the walls in order to introduce disease inside. Can you see on this image the dead soldier about to be flung from the Trebuchet?
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Castle under siege, showing the use of crossbows for both attack and defence, and heavy stones raining doen on the invading soldiers.
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Medieval siege encampment. Armies camped outside castle walls makign ready for their attack.
Tamworth Castle and Gardens
Attack
Warfare was a fundamental part of Medieval life. Castles were an essential military tool. They provided safety for lords and gave refuge from armies too large to face in open battle.
The attacking army would camp outside the castle walls. There could be as many as 1,000 men in the camp, all of whom had to be fed and watered. The force would include carpenters and blacksmiths who would build the siege weapons.
The attackers would try to starve out those inside the castle. This didn’t always work. Castles were designed to be self-sufficient and often had a plentiful supply of water and food. Tamworth Castle had a well inside the castle walls.
Siege weapons such as catapults and battering rams, were massive machines that were used to pound the castle walls and doors. The invading army advancing on the castle would fight through a series of defences, whilst dending off a constant attach of arrows, stones and boiling liquids.
———————————————
The Trebuchet. This was a catapult. It had a duge arm with a sling which would throw stones and other items. Attackers would catapult diseased animals or human corpses over the walls in order to introduce disease inside. Can you see on this image the dead soldier about to be flung from the Trebuchet?
———————————————
Castle under siege, showing the use of crossbows for both attack and defence, and heavy stones raining doen on the invading soldiers.
———————————————
Medieval siege encampment. Armies camped outside castle walls makign ready for their attack.