castles - normans (1071-1087)

describe the function of the palisade

• acted as a fence

• usually made of timber driven deep into the ground

• it was strong and quick to build

describe the function of the bailey

• enclosure below the motte

• protected the palisade and outer defences

  • this is where the stable and barracks would be situated

  • during attacks, local people and livestock would take shelter here

describe the function of the palisade

• acted as a fence

• usually made of timber driven deep into the ground

• it was strong and quick to build

describe the function of the bailey

• enclosure below the motte

• protected the palisade and outer defences

  • this is where the stable and barracks would be situated

  • during attacks, local people and livestock would take shelter here

describe access to the keep

• either steep steps cut into the motte

• or by bridge

describe the function of the keep

• strong wooden tower

• provided a lookout point or elevated position of attack for archers

• final point of defence

describe access to the castle

• controlled through the gatehouse

• sometimes included a drawbridge over a ditch or moat

  • this drawbridge could be pulled up to defend the gatehouse from attack

describe the function of the moat

• ditch filled with water surrounding the entire castle area

• acted as a natural barrier to protect the palisade

describe the function of the motte

• large mound of earth

  • typically 5-7m in height

  • it being made of earth made it fire proof

• quick to build using peasant labour

describe the continuity in castles between the Saxon and Norman periods in England

• both Normans and Anglo Saxons used palisade walls as a defence

• archaeological excavations show both used guardhouses

• 1050s - first 3 motte and bailey castles were built in Herefordshire

  • Anglo-Saxon chronicle details the first record of motte and bailey castles in 1051, by a monk visiting from Normandy

• when William landed in Pevensey, he used existing castle ruins to build his first castle

• Normans were quoted as building “whatever was easiest and most effective” so they weren’t concerned with change

describe the change in castles between the Saxon and Norman periods in England

• Anglo-Saxons usually built ‘burhs’ which were heavily walled towns instead of the Norman motte and bailey castles

• the word ‘castle’ was first used to describe Norman motte and bailey castles

• during William’s march to capture London, autumn 1066, he built several new castles, particularly one at Dover

• castles played a vital role in William the Conqueror’s imposition of his dominance over England

explain why castles were important

• they were located in important places, like river crossings, to make it easier to watch what was happening outside the castle

• they were used as a base or attacks and soldiers could ride out of the castle to stop any rebellions, but could also return to its defences for safety

• they were used to control areas, so nearby settlements felt dominated and watched; making them more likely to behave

describe how castles were different to Saxon burhs

• burhs protected Saxons; castles were built to control them

• burhs were large and designed to protect everyone; castles were designed to just protect those inside of them

• castles were part of Norman domination; meaning they were quick to construct

  • Saxon burhs took much longer to construct and were designed to defend attacks, not prevent them

describe the traditional interpretation of the utility of castles

• military strategy to dominate the surroundings and provide security to Norman troops

• castle at Hen Domen had very strong defences, like double ramparts and deep ditches, making it difficult to attack

describe the revisionist interpretation of the utility of castles

• many historians and archaeologists found castles were fundamentally quite weak

• they argued that the castles were used to promote the status of the owners

• castles were also found to have been built close to pre-existing Saxon burhs which were already defensive fortifications, making a castle placed here (for military purposes) redundant

• 1980s - researches found more than 80% of Norman castles were built in the countryside, which was notoriously not well-defended most of the time

• archaeologists making a study of Exeter castle found the gatehouse was facing into the city, which would have made it useless in helping fend off attacks

state the evidence of Norman castle structures

• examining remaining structures

• surveying earthworks

• examining known castle locations and their landscapes

• archaeological excavations of castle sites