"PORTCULLIS. A grating suspended by chains, used to defend the entrance to a castle." -Hall, 1862

Portcullis

"PORTCULLIS. A grating suspended by chains, used to defend the entrance to a castle." -Hall, 1862

A princess atop her palace waves to her prince down below.

Princess Waving

A princess atop her palace waves to her prince down below.

A detached triangular work in fortification, with two embankments which form a projecting angle. In the figure B B is the ravelin with A its redout, and CC its ditch, DD being the main ditch of the fortress,and E the passage giving access from the fortress to the ravelin.

Ravelin

A detached triangular work in fortification, with two embankments which form a projecting angle. In…

A black redstart perched on a branch in front of a stone building. It greatly resembles the redstart.

Black Redstart

A black redstart perched on a branch in front of a stone building. It greatly resembles the redstart.

Rochester Castle and grounds

Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle and grounds

Illustration of the Norman-built Rochester castle. The architect of the castle was Gundulf, a Norman monk, and the castle protected England's southeast coast. It is a view of the castle from the northwest and two of its towers are visible. There is a road leading away from the castle. A woman and a child holding hands, walk down the road. Trees line the road.

Rochester Castle as Seen from the Northwest

Illustration of the Norman-built Rochester castle. The architect of the castle was Gundulf, a Norman…

The Lady and the Rooks is an engraving on a wood block that was created by Edward Calvert, an English printmaker during the 19th century. It depicts a lady standing near a castle.

The Lady and the Rooks

The Lady and the Rooks is an engraving on a wood block that was created by Edward Calvert, an English…

Members of the royal family take a walk outside with the castle in the background.

Royalty

Members of the royal family take a walk outside with the castle in the background.

An illustration of a pictorial banner with a ship near a castle on a cliff.

Ship Near Cliff with Castle Banner

An illustration of a pictorial banner with a ship near a castle on a cliff.

Sigmund, the son of Volsung, lived in a castle with a giant oak tree growing out of it. A disguised Odin thrusts a powerful sword in the oak and says that whoever can pull it out will be able to keep the mighty sword. No grown men could pull it out, but young Sigmund pulls it out with ease.

Sigmund and the Oak Tree

Sigmund, the son of Volsung, lived in a castle with a giant oak tree growing out of it. A disguised…

This 16th century stoup is found in a chapel of a castle in Mello, France. It is used to store holy water.

16th Century Stoup

This 16th century stoup is found in a chapel of a castle in Mello, France. It is used to store holy…

"Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, presenting a Book of Romances to Queen Margaret and Henry VI. About A.D. 1450." —D'Anvers, 1895

Talbot

"Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, presenting a Book of Romances to Queen Margaret and Henry VI. About A.D.…

An aerial view of the siege of Château Gaillard, also called the Saucy Castle. Construction of the castle was begun by Richard the Lionheart in 1196. The castle was besieged by the French who are pictured encamped  to the south of the castle with a siege tower and two catapults. The fortified town of Petit-Andely is pictured to the north in the background. The River Seine runs to the west.

The Siege of Château Gaillard, the Saucy Castle of Richard the Lionheart - Aerial View

An aerial view of the siege of Château Gaillard, also called the Saucy Castle. Construction of the…

Tower of London, with donjon in courtyard.

Tower of London

Tower of London, with donjon in courtyard.

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. The Tower of London is often identified with the White Tower, the original stark square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. The tower's primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners).

Procession to the Tower of London

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically…

The name Traitors' Gate has been used since the early seventeenth century, prisoners were brought by barge along the Thames, passing under London Bridge, where the heads of recently executed prisoners were displayed on pikes. Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More, Queen Catherine Howard, and Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth I, all entered the Tower by Traitors' Gate.

Traitor's Gate, Tower of London

The name Traitors' Gate has been used since the early seventeenth century, prisoners were brought by…

"They who are within this machine obtain first a view of the place from their high position, and then, by means of small bridges (<em>pontes</em>), descend upon the city walls." — Anthon, 1891

Mobile tower

"They who are within this machine obtain first a view of the place from their high position, and then,…

"Gules, three towers embattled argent. BATTLEMENTS. Divisions or apertures on the top of castle walls or towers." -Hall, 1862

Towers Embattled

"Gules, three towers embattled argent. BATTLEMENTS. Divisions or apertures on the top of castle walls…

"TURRETED. A wall or castle having small turrets. In the annexed example the square tower has circular turrets at the angles, and is therefore said to be turreted." -Hall, 1862

Turreted

"TURRETED. A wall or castle having small turrets. In the annexed example the square tower has circular…