Window in the Keep at Dean Castle

The small windows in Castles from this period often have a widening recess on the inside. This not only keeps the outside wall very strong, but cuts down draughts and allows maximum light into the building. These are commonly confused with arrow slits, Scottish Castles in this area and period did not usually have arrow slits, partly due to the fact that yew trees, needed for the manufacture of longbows, were uncommon in the region. These castles were defended from 'warheads', wooden structures built around the battlements, where crossbowmen could operate efficiently. In many later scottish castles you may notice holes for muskets (gunloops) in the walls.