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In medieval times, served as the home and fortress of a monarch or noble. The earliest were built from earth and wood. By the 12th century, most were built from stone. The stones came from local mines or quarries if possible, but sometimes they had to be car ....

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.... called ashlar. (MacDonald, p.8) There was usually a walkway along the top of the walls so guards could keep watch. Some castle walls had spaces at the top called embrassures, which allowed archers to shoot with the protection of the wall. These openings also permitted stones or boiling water to be thrown down on the enemy. (Encyclopedia Americana, p.790). Towers were built along castle walls at regular intervals to strengthen them and provide area for castle workers or visitors. Moats often surrounded castles for protection. Some people built castles on banks of lakes or rivers and channeled water to the moat. A drawbridge laid across the m ....