keep

Cardiff CastleThe Norman keep of Cardiff Castle at Cardiff in South Glamorgan, Wales.
Castle types
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Castle typesThree main castle types: motte and bailey, stone keep, and concentric.
castle
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castleDiagram of a typical medieval castle, with various elements labeled.

keep, English term corresponding to the French donjon for the strongest portion of the fortification of a castle, the place of last resort in case of siege or attack.

Windsor Castle; keep
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Windsor Castle; keepWindsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England.
London, Tower of: White Tower
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London, Tower of: White TowerThe White Tower, the central keep of the Tower of London.
Arundel Castle
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Arundel CastleArundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, Eng.

The keep was either a single tower or a larger fortified enclosure. Approximately round keeps, such as those in Berkeley Castle or Windsor, were known as shell keeps, while Norman keeps tended to be massive square towers. The most famous of the Norman keeps of England is the White Tower of London of the 11th century, supposedly designed by Gundulf, bishop of Rochester. Other Norman keeps include those at Rochester, Arundel, and Newcastle.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.
Citation Information
Article Title: keep
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 02 October 2017
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/technology/donjon
Access Date: November 23, 2024