Bodiam Castle The appearance of Bodiam Castle in Sussex is exactly how most people imagine a medieval castle should look like, with its square of walls, a round tower at each corner, and a square tower midway along each wall, entirely surrounded by a moat. Callums’ Castle design is based on Bodiam with the exception that the corner towers are square instead of round. Grandad George started building the wooden model castle on July 5th. 2008.

Callums’ Castle is built entirely from Pine, no nails or screws have been used during construction except for the fitting of doors. Here we can see a 2 metre length of wood being carefully cut up into small blocks using the bandsaw. The main building blocks measure 34mm x 34mm and are 18mm thick. These wooden blocks will be laid in similar fashion to stone blocks, but instead of using mortar, a PVA glue will be used. 300 Blocks

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Rows 1 and 2 Guard Room – RH Side Row 1 Outside Steps Wall Front Gate Rear Gate Guard Room – LH Side Row 1 Outside Steps Wall Rear Gate Front Gate Guard Room – LH Side Row 2 Guard Room – RH Side Row 2

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Rows 1 and 2 Designing the Arched Gates A finished Arch Guard Rooms and Arches in position Guard Room – LH Side Guard Room – RH Side Front Gate Close up of Arched Gates

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 3 Rear view Close up of Archer windows Front view Close up of external steps

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 4 Rear view Close up of external steps Close up of Archer windows Front view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 5 Close up of external steps & guardhouse window Front view Making the guardhouse windows – they were blocked up in error

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Changing the Rear Gate Making the vertical and horizontal cuts with a fine bladed saw The arched gateway removed New gate posts being fitted

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 6 Close up of external steps & guardhouse window Rear view Front view Rear view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 7 Close up of external steps & LH guardhouse Rear view Front Arched Gateway Front view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 8 Close up of LH external steps & guardhouse window Rear view Front view Close up of RH guardhouse

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 9 Close up of LH external steps & guardhouse window LH guardhouse from the rear – note that this row is built mainly from half blocks RH guardhouse being built with half blocks Guardhouse ceilings/walkways Each one is made from 3½” long blocks (34 in each)

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 9 Front view Rear view Rear view Guardhouse

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 9 Holding the guardhouse ceilings/walkways into position with books after glueing

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 9 After a session with the orbital sander

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 10 Rear view Front view Eight temporary spacers for Archer windows Temporary spacers for 2nd floor doorways Rear view of RH guardhouse

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 10

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 11 Rear view of RH guardhouse Rear view Front view Front RH Tower Archer Slits

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 12 Overhead view Rear view Front view Side view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 12 Slots for Drawbridge chains Rear LH view Front RH Tower Archer Slits Rear RH overhead view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 13 Archer Windows between the gates Front view Front RH Tower Archer Slits Rear view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 14 Archer Windows between the gates Front view Front RH Tower Archer Slits Rear view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 15 Archer Windows between the gates Front view LH side view Rear view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Drawbridge Winders Position of winder knobs Slits for chains The winder is operated by putting your hand through archway and turning knob Drilling out one of the knobs

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 16 Walkway above drawbridge winder Front view Rear view Left side view Right side view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 16 Winder knobs Rear view View from rear Right side view

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 17 Rear view Overhead Rear view Front view Overhead Front view

Rear tall windows Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 17 Walkway above drawbridge winder

In the workshop after sanding & varnishing Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 17 Second Level Floors In the den waiting for floor fitting Second level floors undersides sanded &varnished Second level floors fitted

Front view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 18 Rear view Rear view from the right Rear view from the left

Front view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 19 Rear view Front view from the left Rear view from the left

Rear view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 20 Rear view from the right Front view Rear view from the left

Rear view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 21 Side view from the left Front view Side view from the right

Rear view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 22 Side view from the left Front view Side view from the right

Rear view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 23 Side view from the left Front view Side view from the right

Rear view Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 24 Side view from the left Front view Side view from the right

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 25

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 25

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 26

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Row 27

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Rows 28 to 30

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Rows 28 to 30

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse In the workshop after 3 coats of Danish Oil

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Front Doors & Drawbridge The front doors and drawbridge are made from wooden strips that have been glued together and cut to size and shape. Testing doors for fit. Testing open drawbridge for fit. Testing closed drawbridge for fit.

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Front Doors & Drawbridge Adding wooden ‘planks’ for extra strength. Testing for fit again. The wooden ‘planks’ are on both sides of both doors. And again.

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Front Doors & Drawbridge Marking out the hinge positions. Testing for fit again. One hinge fitted. Two hinges fitted.

Then the doors and drawbridge are given 3 coats of Danish Oil. Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Front Doors & Drawbridge

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Front Doors & Drawbridge The drawbridge and doors are are now permanently fixed The drawbridge chains are screwed to the winder.

Drawbridge Up Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Does The Drawbridge Work?

Drawbridge Halfway Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Does The Drawbridge Work?

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Does The Drawbridge Work? Drawbridge Down

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Close up of Drawbridge & Front Doors

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Rear Doors First we mark up the correct size of the piece of wood Then we cut it in two and test fit in the door frame Adding ‘planks’ for strength A finished door

Callums Castle – Main Gatehouse Rear Doors Test fit of finished doors Test fit after hinges are fitted After varnishing – doors open! After varnishing – doors closed!

Callums Castle – Finished Lucas tries it out!