The word 'dungeon' is derived from the old French 'don-jon' which meant 'great tower', also from the word 'dominiumem' in Gallo-Roman. A don-jon was originally the strongest tower within the castle keep and the dungeon evolved into cramped and dark cells beneath the castle.

The 'oubliette' was the most horrific form of confinement, being no more than a hole in the ground where the hapless prisoner was lowered and didn't have room to change position or lie down. The word comes from the French and as it implies, once the trap door above was closed, often the occupant was simply forgotten about.

But medieval France wasn't the only nation to think of horrible ways to make prisoners suffer. The English adopted the concept with enthusiasm and the Spanish Inquisition turned torture into an artform, famously satirised by Monty Python.

Dungeons feature in Princess Vanora, Book 2 of Romances of The Chivalrous series. Poor Sir Nathan keeps getting locked up!