Could A 13th Century Castle Be Built Today? | Secrets Of The Castle | Absolute History

Introduction

This tutorial explores the construction of a 13th-century castle, based on the archaeological project at Guédelon in France. The aim is to understand medieval building techniques, materials, and daily life through a hands-on experience. This guide provides a step-by-step overview of the processes involved in building a castle using historical methods.

Step 1: Understanding the Medieval Construction Process

• Start with a Wooden Model: Before construction, a wooden model was created to visualize the design. This model served as a guide for the workers.
• Gathering Materials: Key materials included:
  • Stone: Approximately 30,000 tons of stone needed to be quarried and shaped. The quarry provided sandstone, clay, and timber.
  • Timber: Used for scaffolding and roofing.

Step 2: Quarrying the Stone

• Extracting Stone: Workers used simple tools like hammers and chisels to cut large blocks of sandstone from the quarry.
  • Technique:
    • Create a hole for a wedge in the stone.
    • Strike the wedge to cause a fracture.
    • Use a sledgehammer for additional force.
• Grading Stone: Stones were categorized based on their hardness, which affected their use in construction.

Step 3: Building the Workforce Community

• Temporary Housing: Workers lived in basic cottages near the construction site, often evolving into permanent settlements.
• Daily Life: Each worker had specific roles, and the community supported various trades like carpentry, blacksmithing, and masonry.

Step 4: Construction of the Great Tower

• Begin with the Foundation: The great tower, crucial for defense, was built with walls four meters thick.
• Transportation of Materials: Use horse-drawn carts and simple pulleys to transport stone. Minimize travel distance from the quarry to the site.

Step 5: Creating Mortar

• Mixing Ingredients: Mortar was made from local sand, lime (produced by heating limestone), and water.
  • Mixing Process: A specific ratio was vital for strength, and recipes were closely guarded secrets among builders.

Step 6: Installing Key Features

• Constructing Doorways and Windows:
  • Use limestone for intricate features; this material is easier to carve than sandstone.
  • Employ a plumb line to ensure walls are straight and level.
• Using Basic Tools:
  • A lead weight on a string helps to maintain straight walls.

Step 7: Daily Life and Food Preparation

• Cooking: Workers utilized clay pots for cooking.
  • Food Storage: A grain ark was built to store staple foods like wheat and barley.
• Preparing Meals: Simple recipes included pottage made from available vegetables and grains.

Step 8: The Role of Craftspeople

• Specialized Skills: Various craftspeople are essential:
  • Masons: Shape stone for walls and decorative features.
  • Blacksmiths: Create tools and ironwork for construction.
  • Carpenters: Build structural elements like doors and scaffolding.

Step 9: Incorporating Advanced Techniques

• Using Treadwheel Cranes: These devices allowed for lifting heavy stones into place, demonstrating medieval engineering prowess.
• Rotary Mills: Employed for grinding grains, showcasing the labor-intensive process of food preparation in the era.

Conclusion

Building a 13th-century castle involves understanding and applying historical techniques that reflect the architecture and daily life of the time. From quarrying stone to creating mortar and establishing worker communities, each step reveals the complexity of medieval construction. For those interested in historical architecture, this project at Guédelon serves as a unique window into the past and offers valuable lessons for modern builders and historians alike. Consider exploring more about medieval life and construction techniques to deepen your understanding.