A merlon is the solid, upright part of a battlement (a parapet) at the top of a defensive wall, tower, or castle. The merlons stand in a row with gaps between them, creating a toothed edge. The row of merlons together with the gaps is called a battlement or crenellation; the open gap between two merlons is called a crenel or embrasure.
Function
Merlons are a medieval defensive element and served a double role:
- Cover — behind a solid merlon a defender could shelter from arrows and projectiles
- A clear field of fire — through the open gaps between them, he could shoot, throw, or look out for the enemy
In this way the toothed parapet gave alternating protection and the chance to fight back. The row of merlons was usually located above a wall-walk, the walkway along the top edge of the wall.
Application
Merlons appear on:
- Castles and strongholds — on the defensive walls and towers
- Town walls and fortifications — along the wall-walk
- Later (neo-)Gothic buildings — as a decorative motif, for example on churches, gates, and mansions that refer back to medieval architecture
In many cases the merlon on later buildings became purely decorative and no longer has a defensive function.
Related terms
- Battlement
- Wall-walk
- Fortification
- Castle
- Gothic
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.