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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
