Garderobe
The term garderobe describes a place where clothes and other items are stored, and also a medieval toilet. In European public places, a garderobe denotes the cloakroom, wardrobe, alcove or an armoire. In Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, German and Spanish garderobe can mean a cloakroom. In Latvian it means checkroom. According to medieval architecture scholar Frank Bottomley, garderobes were:The term is also used for a medieval or Renaissance toilet and for a close stool. A description of the garderobe at Donegal Castle indicates that during the time the castle garderobe was in use it was believed that ammonia would protect visitors' coats and cloaks, particularly from fleas. In a medieval castle or other building, a garderobe was usually a simple hole discharging to the outside into a cesspit or the moat, depending on the structure of the building. Such toilets were often placed inside a small chamber, leading by association to the use of the term garderobe to describe the rooms. Many can still be seen in Norman and medieval castles and fortifications, for example at Bürresheim Castle in Germany, where three garderobes are still visible today. They became obsolete with the introduction of indoor plumbing.
The Castle Garderobe or Toilets in todays speak, with the sewer going directly into the Moat by Geordie 54 173 Goodrich Castle had been a Hill fort since 800BC and the present castle was built before. The garderobe was a small chamber with a platform over a hole in the floor. This is what remains of the garderobe at Ballyloughan castle in Co Carlow: The garderobe would not have been this grim. Portchester castle. Portus Adurni, Roman Saxon Shore fort. 12th century Monastic latrines garderobe chutes in the outer face of Roman wall ID: F2R5G7 (RM) The 12th Century Garderobe chutes from the Augustinian Priory on the external Roman walls of Portchester Castle.
By Stars Insider of StarsInsider
| Inside the genius architectural tricks medieval castles used as defense
Medieval castles today seem largely ornamental and charming, but they were actually very complex weapons in and of themselves, designed to defend against and debilitate all enemies. Builders in the Middle Ages fitted the impressive structures with cunning innovations that greatly distinguished them from passive buildings.
Garderobe Castle
Check out this gallery, based on information from Scribol, to see castle features you know, and many you don't, for their clever true purpose.