Anatomy of a Castle: The Great Hall

Great Hall - Doune Castle, Scotland

Usually found within the castle keep is the Great Hall, a part of the castle you might be familiar with, from stories to film. The Great Hall was the large, main room of the castle. On one end there would likely be a raised platform from where the lord and lady of the house would dine, all else would dine below them on floor level (literally and metaphorically I suppose). Walls might be hung with tapestries (which kept the warm in as well), heraldic shields of armors, or trophies from The Hunt. There would be candles and torches about for light and often a large fireplace for heat. Long wooden tables would fill the great hall. The Great Hall was the heart of the castle, home of ceremonies, feasts and gatherings, where guests would be received, disputes resolved, and the locus of daily life in the castle.

Great Hall at Blackness Castle, Scotland

Where the Lord & Lady Dine - Stirling Castle, Scotland

Stirling Castle Great Hall, Scotland

Great Hall - Cahir Castle, Ireland

Anatomy of a Castle: The Castle Keep

Keep in the center of Blackness Castle, Scotland

Within the castle walls you will find the Castle Keep. The Keep is a heavily fortified central tower serving as the last defense of the castle. This might also be called a donjon, especially academically, though donjon is not to be confused with dungeon, they are different things altogether. If the enemies have breached the castle walls and gotten past the gatehouse to the inner bailey - everyone would be in the castle keep, and they would try as they may to defend it. It was the last stronghold. 

The Keep at Trim Castle, Ireland

View of Castle Keep at Chepstow Castle, Wales

Strategically situated on a Cliffside on the River Wye

Keep & Great Hall at Caerphilly Castle, Wales

Depending on the date of the castle, some keeps were central towers, giants rising from within the inner bailey. Later, some were built so that one side of the keep was part of the castle walls. Most often, the Great Hall would be found near the bottom of the keep and the living quarters at the top. 

Keep of Carrickfergus Castle, Ireland

Keep of Ross Castle, Ireland

Round Keep of Pembroke Castle, Wales

Interior (looking up) of Round Keep at Pemrboke

Though in its day, there would have been several floors to this tower 

and a staircase to reach them all. Now it is home to a million pigeons and doves

whose cooing was amplified magnificently.