A Plantagenet Castle, Edward III Style by Richard Brown

The next and most important change of architecture in England was that of the castle palace, a gorgeous style of composition in building which was introduced in the fourteenth century by William of Wyckham in the royal palace of Windsor during the reign of his patron Edward III. After the accession of William the Conqueror, the dwellings of princes and nobles as we have shown were regular fortresses then rendered necessary for their personal safety and for maintaining that system of tyranny and oppression which they exercised over their conquered subjects and enslaved vassals. The monarchs however, having afterwards obtained more permanent security on the throne and the nobles being safe in their landed possessions they now began to build for the arrangement of domestic luxury and splendid hospitality.

When defence became unnecessary a different form of plan was essential the mere fortress was abolished and the magnificent castle palace arose in its place. The architectural mode here observed was first that of dividing the edifice into two courts called the upper and lower quadrangles which were separated by the keep or round tower next in having all the habitable rooms placed about a quadrangle like our colleges the side buildings being connected together. The second was the introduction of square projecting towers and turrets dividing the elevations at regular distances but rising above them like so many watch towers with bold corbelled cornices within range of each other and the whole being embattled produced a most majestic effect. The windows now opened towards the country as well as towards the quadrangle and were of an increased size placed with regularity in the elevations having upright mullions and cross transoms and formed in the low pointed obtuse style of the Gothic arch instead of the previous circular headed Norman. The intermediate buildings between the towers formed three stories j that of the towers four. The outworks around the palace consisted of a wide raised terrace inclosed with a low inclined breast wall with bastions at the angles. The castle was however still surrounded by a moat and draw bridge at the portal or great gate of entrance which was defended by a portcullis and flanked on each side by strong square towers as in the more ancient castles of the middle period. In this style which was both sublime and majestic Edward III wholly remodelled the kingly palace at Windsor.1852/Britain