Motte and Bailey Castles

What was the purpose of castles like in Norman times?

Castles were built as a way of keeping control in England.

How many castles did the Normans build?

It is estimated that William built as many as 1,000 castles.

What were motte and bailey castles like?

The earliest Norman castles were known as motte and bailey castles. The motte was a large mound of earth that was topped with a keep, a wooden tower. The motte was surrounded by a bailey that contained the stables, barracks and kitchens.

What type of castles did the Normans build?

The Normans initially built motte and bailey castles. As time went on these were gradually rebuilt in stone.

Where were Norman castles built?

Castles were built in strategic locations such as key transport routes. They were also located where there was more likely to be unrest, so there were many castles on the Welsh frontier, as well as in Exeter, York and Nottingham.

What were the features of a motte and bailey castle?

The Norman castles had 8 important features.

• ❖ The motte was a large mound of earth, about five to seven metres high.
• ❖ The keep was a strong wooden tower on top of the motte, that served as a lookout, an archers' stronghold, and the most secure defensive position in the castle.
• ❖ The keep was accessed by steps cut into the motte, or a bridge.
• ❖ The bailey surrounded the motte and contained the stables, barracks and kitchens.
• ❖ The bailey was protected by a strong wooden fence called a palisade.
• ❖ A deep ditch surrounded the bailey and the motte. Sometimes this was filled with water.
• ❖ Entry to the castle was controlled by a gatehouse.
• ❖ Sometimes a drawbridge was built over the ditch, which could be drawn up in case of an attack.

What were the advantages of Norman castles?

Motte and bailey castles had several advantages for the Normans.

• ❖ They were relatively quick and easy to build. With peasant labour, they could be constructed within weeks. Basic fortifications could even be completed within days, if necessary.
• ❖ They were new in England (although common in Normandy and other parts of Europe), which made them unfamiliar and intimidating to the Anglo-Saxons.
• ❖ They served as a symbol of Norman power.
• ❖ They provided a secure base for the lord and his soldiers.

What were the effects of Norman castles?

Castles had a huge effect on the surrounding areas.

• ❖ They dominated the skyline and intimidated the Anglo-Saxons living nearby.
• ❖ In troublesome areas, they were spaced 20 miles apart. Norman soldiers could march 20 miles in a day, so this allowed them to deal with unrest quickly.
• ❖ Tens or hundreds of Anglo-Saxon homes might be destroyed to build them - especially in towns - and local labour was used to build them.

How were Norman castles different to burhs?

Like the Anglo-Saxon burhs, castles were fortified against attack. However, there were some key differences between them.

• ❖ Burhs enclosed a whole town, but castles were smaller and therefore easier to defend.
• ❖ Burhs were public, and protected everyone in the area. Castles were private and only for the lord, his servants and soldiers.
• ❖ It was easier to set burhs on fire, as the houses had thatched roofs which burnt easily. Although castles were made of wood, they had earth fortifications and the additional height of the motte to protect them from fire.
• ❖ Burhs were for the protection of Anglo-Saxons, while castles were built to control them.