Bodiam's defenses scaled to raids

Bodiam can still be understood as a castle despite the book's emphasis on display and changing warfare. Its defenses suit a lesser noble's needs rather than the demands of a king conducting a war of conquest. In a tense period, the removable bridge could be lifted, the barbican manned, and extra personnel brought in to make the household unattractive to raiders. Resistance for even a few days could protect the family while Dallingridge served with a stronger local lord, giving that larger force time to relieve the castle. Bodiam offered useful protection on the scale its owner needed, although it could not survive a committed royal siege.