What are 3 features of a motte and bailey castle?
The castle is made up of two parts. The motte is a raised mound or earthwork which would have a stone or wooden keep on top. A keep is a kind fortified tower. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard that was protected by a ditch and a palisade – which is a wall made from wooden stakes.
What was the purpose of motte and bailey castles?
Motte and bailey castles were a form of castle structure that enabled the new Norman conquerors of England and Wales to secure areas of land quickly and cheaply. The Normans needed a castle design they could erect quickly to subdue the vanquished Britons.
How long did motte and bailey castles take to build?
The motte and bailey castle at Dover took just eight days to build – according to William of Poitiers who was William’s chaplain. Was such a feat possible? Building castles then was very labour intensive.
How many motte and bailey castles did William build?
700 motte and bailey castles
As a result, from 1066 to 1087 William and the Normans built nearly 700 motte and bailey castles across England and Wales. These castles, which were relatively quick to build, but difficult to capture, formed a key part of William’s strategy for controlling his new domain.
What was the problem with Motte and Bailey castles?
The major weakness of the motte and bailey castle was the likelihood of the keep rotting or burning down. The solution was to build stone keeps but these could not always be built on the same site since the weight of the stone would sink into the motte.
What is the most famous motte and bailey castle?
Examples of Motte & Bailey Castles
- Arundel Castle.
- Cardiff Castle.
- Walkworth Castle.
- Windsor Castle.
- Other types of Castle …
Why did the Normans build so many castles?
After their victory at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans settled in England. They constructed castles all over the country in order to control their newly-won territory, and to pacify the Anglo-Saxon population. These timber castles were quite cheap and very quick to build.
How old is Pevensey?
955c. 1066
Pevensey Castle/Age
What was inside the bailey?
Inside the bailey, lived the followers of the Lord who ran the castle. There were many buildings inside the bailey including stables, storehouses, bakeries, kitchens, houses, and quarters for soldiers. A strong wooden fence (palisade) surrounded the buildings. The bailey was surrounded by a ditch, called a fosse.
What activities happened in a bailey?
The bailey would contain a wide number of buildings, including a hall, kitchens, a chapel, barracks, stores, stables, forges or workshops, and was the centre of the castle’s economic activity.
Why was the motte and bailey castle built?
Motte and bailey castles were a form of castle structure that enabled the new Norman conquerors of England and Wales to secure areas of land quickly and cheaply. The Normans needed a castle design they could erect quickly to subdue the vanquished Britons. The name ‘motte and bailey’ describes the two parts of the structure.
Are there any castles with more than one Bailey?
In practice, no two motte and bailey castles were exactly the same, although most of them shared these three elements: the motte, the keep, and the bailey. Some castles had more than one bailey, and a good example of this is Windsor Castle in England, where several baileys flank the motte.
How did William keep control of England with castles?
Unlike Anglo-Saxon fortified towns, a Norman motte and bailey castle could be built very quickly, in some cases it only took a few days. William had 8000 men to try and consolidate his power in England. Building motte and bailey castles were an effective way of securing towns that had submitted to his power.
Where did the name bailey castle come from?
It is believed that over 1000 motte and bailey castles were built in England by the Normans. The word “motte” is the French version of the Latin “mota”, it was an early word for “turf” and by the 12th century it was used to refer to the castle design itself. The word “bailey” comes from the Norman-French “baille”, it refers to a low yard.