Plan of Castle Rushen
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1.
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Keep |
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2.
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Inner
Gatehouse |
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3.
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South
Tower |
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4.
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East
Tower |
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5.
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West
Tower |
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6.
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Drawbridge |
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7.
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Site
of Chapel |
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8.
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Derby
House |
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9.
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Gatehouse |
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10.
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Barbican |
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11.
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Inner
Bailey |
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12.
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Curtain
Wall |
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13.
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Moat |
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14.
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Glacis
(formerly extended to Round Tower) |
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15.
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Round
Tower |
Entering
Castle Rushen. Castle Rushen's Keep can only be reached over
the bridge and through the formidable Inner Gatehouse entrance.
In the past, unwanted visitors could not simply walk over a fixed
bridge. There was only a drawbridge pivoting against the wall
with a drop below, and beyond this two portcullis with a "killing
ground" between.
 The
three "murder holes" in the vaulted ceiling are a reminder
of the likely fate of any intruder unlucky enough to be trapped
there - at the full mercy of defenders in the room above.
The Garrison Roll
of 1428 indicates that there were 25 officials and household officers
and 73 garrison soldiers at Peel Castle and Castle Rushen. By
1593 there were 55 soldiers at Castle Rushen alone who manned
the day and night watches.
 Bishop
Wilson's Cell. The ground floor guardrooms on either side
of the gatehouse entrance were in later times used as prison cells.
None was used in 1722 to imprison the Island's Bishop Wilson who
had been found guilty of contempt of a State Court.
The Guardrooms.
The guards on duty are wearing the badge of the Lords of Mann
on their livery jackets. Each guardroom contains a vaulted cellar,
possibly used as an "oubliette" for the detention of
troublesome prisoners.
We overhear the ill-treatment and confinement of
William Fisher by John Cote. Fisher died as a result and Cote
was later executed for his cruelty. An enquiry into the incident
is reported in the Garrison Roll.
 The
Garrison Captain's Lodgings. The gatehouses were the workplace
of the garrison who manned the Castle. Many of the soldiers came
from Lancashire and Cheshire, but a few were Manx. They had their
own living quarters in the town and only spent their time on duty
in the Castle, but officials such as the Captain of the Guard
had their lodgings in some of the sparsely furnished upper rooms
of the Inner Gatehouse - each main living area was en suite with
its own "garderobe" or toilet.
 The Portcullis Chamber. Through the "murder holes"
which pierce the floor, certain death by a variety of unpleasant means could be dealt any attackers trapped in the "killing ground" between the two portcullis below. A spiral staircase,
the only means of access all the way from ground level, leads
to the fighting platform at the top of the Inner Gatehouse, where
the view shows all of the southern part of the Island, as far
as the ridge of hills stretching from south-west to north-east.
Derbyhaven, with its sheltered bay and landing place,
lies within easy distance of the Castle. Castletown Bay, with
its rocky coast and exposure to the prevailing winds, is a much
more difficult haven to enter.
 The
Castle Chapel. At the top of the South Tower is the medieval
chapel which also houses the Castle clock mechanism. The outside
clock face on the South Tower is a well known Castletown landmark.
The Chapel has a piscina or shallow stone bowl for
holy water, and the stone ledges which supported the altar can
still be seen in the side walls of the east window.
 Medieval Furniture.
The importance of the Lord's presence on the "banker"
or bench seat at the
table is indicated by the cloth and canopy of state which is raised
above the fireplace. Most medieval tables consisted of solid planks
resting on trestles which enabled quick removal after the meal
to make room for entertainment or for the retainers to sleep.
The pieces of replica
medieval furniture on display have been carefully researched to
give an accurate impression of what would have been familiar to
Thomas, last King of Mann, at the time of his visit to the Island
in 1507.
Go to Kings &
Lords of Man |
Return to Building phases
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