Question: Typical Siege equipment during Anarchy Period England

[LouieN]

Having seen a great video on the Anarchy period of English history I had a question of what would be the typical siege equipment used during all those numerous sieges.

There were A LOT of sieges. 

The crow got mentioned, but no towering towers like the siege of Jerusalem.  Was it mostly blockade?

[bluewillow]

For the castles of the period very few were stone and even then simple Aquitaine or Anjou rectangular pattern rectangular Donjon towers, with entry halfway up the donjon using a staircase being the most common,  the remainder were timber simple timber towers with a hall attached or stand alone on a motte with an outer bailey.

Good examples of the Aquitane-Anjou stone pattern type are the tower of London, Hedingham in England in Maine (Mayenne) chateau Sainte Suzanne,  Normandy chateau Chambois, Blois Château de Montrichard and Aquitaine chateau Montignac-Charente.


chateau saint suzanne, note the bands a common building trait of Anjou maine using bands of White washed stone and red brown natural stone.


Château chambois

The typical siege could on a wooden chateau be as simple as an escalade with ladders, a battering ram, not necessarily covered, arrows and oil to fire the gates. A good example of a partial stone and wooden reproduction is in Mayenne France. Incidentally chateau was sieged during the troubles, in France along with it neighbour Saint Suzanne.



Wooden reproduction of a motte and bailey on original site at Saint Slyvian d'anjou

The larger stone chateau needed Mangonel, Traction Trebuchet (non counterweighted) , Ballista (springald) and the use of mines to undermine the foundations.



12th cent Mangonel



12th century traction trebuchet

hope that helps

[LouieN]

A very helpful reply.  Thank you

Anyone know where to find this equipment in miniature form?

Scale 28mm and 15mm

[bluewillow]

There are a few options

Old glory, mangonel crow and ladders
https://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/products.asp?cat=25mm+Siege+Equipment

Irregular do some rams etc
https://irregularminiatures.co.uk/indexes/25mmindex.htm

Gripping beast
Battering ram
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Siege_Engines--category--162.html

Rafm in 25mm but quite nice
http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RAF&Category_Code=SE&offset=0

Esssex miniatures
https://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/collections/25mm-weapons-equipment-packs-war-machines-guns-all-periods?page=3

Iron gate scenery
https://irongatescenery.co.uk/product-category/collections/

Cheers
Matt