The Great Hall was the most significant chamber of a castle. This is where the entire household sat to dine at tables set up for each meal. It was where feasts were held on important occasions or when visitors arrived. In such a hall, King Arthur's Pentecost Feast is held. The Great Hall had windows on two sides. Light came into this space from above and below, allowing it to be used throughout the year. There were also doors that led out to balconies or staircases. The Great Hall was the largest room in the castle. Here families gathered to eat, talk, celebrate events like births, marriages, and deaths. The size of the room depended on the type of castle being built. A king needed a large audience chamber for guests to come to him or her. A lord might have chosen to build his castle more privately, with less attention paid to size. However, even in small castles, the Great Hall usually had more space than other rooms in the building. This is because it served as the family's main living area, where meals were eaten, stories told, celebrations held. Great Halls were built with an open timber frame covered in plaster or stone. The roof was often made of wood, but sometimes it was also made of metal (usually iron) or tiles. The walls would often be painted red or white to make them look nicer when no war was going on outside the castle!