Medieval castles should not be imagined as permanently bare gray stone. Selected sandstone and painted surfaces made Conwy a display of royal status as well as a defensive structure. Whitewash or color advertised the resources spent on its appearance. Paint also had a practical value because it could blur the visual difference between stone and combustible timber at a distance. Fire threatened a castle much as it threatened a ship, so concealing wooden targets complicated an attacker's task. One architectural finish could therefore serve display and defense at the same time.
Notable Point · 19:44-21:39
Paint, royal status, and fire concealment
Painted and whitewashed castle surfaces projected royal power while also making vulnerable wooden elements harder for attackers to distinguish at a distance.