The Belfry was a large structure on wheels that could be pushed up to the castle walls. To prevent this type of attack the Belfry or Siege Tower was developed. However, ladders had the disadvantage of leaving the man climbing the ladder subject to attack by arrow, boiling water or oil, or by being thrown to the ground if the ladder was pushed away from the wall. Ladders were used by those attacking a castle to climb over the walls and fight the castle inhabitants within the castle walls. This would make it a considerable force that could seriously weaken and possibly destroy doors or walls. The battering ram was particularly useful since the weight of several men would be put behind it. Although pickaxes could be used against castles with thinner walls, it would take a very long time to knock a hole through a castle with very thick walls.

The thick stone walls of the Stone Keep castles were difficult for men to knock down. Fire has little effect on a stone castle. This was one of the reasons why Motte and Bailey castles were soon replaced by Stone Keep castles. As the fire spread through the castle those living inside would be forced to leave allowing the attackers to take them prisoner or kill them. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle. The main methods of attacking a Medieval Castle were:įire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood.

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