B
Bailey: Defended, open court of a castle, often separated from the castle mound by a ditch. Service buildings such as prisons and arms stores were often found in this area.
Ballista: A siege engine which consisted of a single central lever which when pulled back released a giant spear over the walls of a castle and onto the defenders
| Battering Ram: A large tree trunk which was placed on wheels. This would be driven at speed against the doors of the castle with the intention of breaking them down. Sometimes the end would be covered in tar and set on fire in order to do more damage to the wooden doors of the castle. | |
Belfry: A siege engine used by castle attackers. It consisted of a wooden tower that could be wheeled up to the castle walls allowing the attackers to throw objects over the high walls and down onto the castle defenders.
Berm: A level area separating a ditch from a bank.
Bordar: this was the lowest order of peasant at the time of the Domesday Survey, he would have worked directly for the lord.
Burgh: A Saxon stronghold; literally means ‘neighbourhood’. Comes from the Old English word 'burg'. In German the word 'bergen' means 'to protect'.
Buttress: Mass of brickwork or masonry projecting from or built against a wall to give additional strength.