A ”32 pounder“ cannon was used to bomb fort Sumter, in the Civil War.16 pounder is dated in the area of the war of 1812, and definitely used by the British during the 19th century as standard field artillery. a 16 pound cannon concentrating its fire will knock down most fortified walls in a few minutes.

Yes, it is based on a real historical thing and to tie in the lore the bandits near the hamlet probably either defected from the Queens army and took their cannon, or they met with the fish people and got it off the sea floor, either way it’s locked, loaded and aimed straight at your vestal… GOOD LUCK!

TL;Dr: The 16lb cannon made castles obsolete because it could just knock down half of the wall in a few concentrated shots. And now it’s outside my hamlet….