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Plate 46: Constructing the Black Castle, Part 12: the curtain wall waits for the battlement
(This plate added MAR 2004)
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The accompanying photo shows the entrance arch of the curtain wall. On either side of the entrance arch are the bastions. We call the bastion at the left the right bastion, because it stands at the right of the arch from the viewpoint of a defender looking outward (toward the camera) from the wall-walk (see Plate 45 ). Similarly, we call the bastion at the right the left bastion.
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We must now plan the battlement. A battlement is a defensive structure that stands upon the top of the curtain wall. The battlement will stretch along the top of the entire curtain wall, including the tops of the bastions. The flat top of the curtain wall (known as the wall-walk ) is the floor of the battlement.
The purpose of a battlement is to provide protection for the castle's defenders. The three main defensive elements of a battlement are known as merlons, crenellations, and machicolations. Therefore, if we are going to design and build a battlement, we must understand the function of these three elements. Go to top of page |
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