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The distribution and design of Norman Castles in England to 1087

1068-71

  • William built new fortresses in Exeter, Warwick, Nottingham, York

  • motte and bailey castles built in York in between the River Ouse and River Foss

  • road to north protected by castles in Cambridge, Lincoln, Huntingdon → reminded local population of king’s right to rule and his power

Other castle-builders

  • William divided Sussex into 6 lordships → granted to different barons to build a castle and protect the routes to Normandy and London

  • king granted vast estates to his half-brother Robert of Mortain → built several fortresses e.g. at Montacute

  • William FitzOsbern was granted lands on England’s border with Wales- he built castles at Chepstow, Clifford, Berkeley, Wigmore

  • location chosen to control rivers and roads and built on top of Saxon sites to demonstrate power and control

Castle appearance

  • timber motte and bailey castles e.g. in York

  • up to a quarter of castles may have been ringworks (enclosures of earth and timber)

  • only a small number of castles were built with stone

1071-87

  • by 1071- English resistance had ended and around 35 castles were built

  • Domesday Book only mentions 50 castles → around 1000 Norman castles in England and Wales by 1150 (500 during William’s reign)

  • 1066-71 = 35 castles

  • 1071-87 = 500 castles

Castle builders

  • castles built between 1071-87 were owned by the barons and knights

  • nearly all castles built in the countryside

  • castles could have been used to show power and status and wealth

Castle features (e.g. at Goltho, Lincolnshire)

  • hall- possibly for steward who looked after the manor for the lord

  • palisade- 4m high

  • moat- contained water

  • tower- guarded the entrance to the bailey and dominated the village → sloping sides for strength

  • motte- sides covered with alternate layers of turf and stone

  • bridge

  • gatehouse

  • ramparts

  • bailey

The distribution and design of Norman Castles in England to 1087

1068-71

  • William built new fortresses in Exeter, Warwick, Nottingham, York

  • motte and bailey castles built in York in between the River Ouse and River Foss

  • road to north protected by castles in Cambridge, Lincoln, Huntingdon → reminded local population of king’s right to rule and his power

Other castle-builders

  • William divided Sussex into 6 lordships → granted to different barons to build a castle and protect the routes to Normandy and London

  • king granted vast estates to his half-brother Robert of Mortain → built several fortresses e.g. at Montacute

  • William FitzOsbern was granted lands on England’s border with Wales- he built castles at Chepstow, Clifford, Berkeley, Wigmore

  • location chosen to control rivers and roads and built on top of Saxon sites to demonstrate power and control

Castle appearance

  • timber motte and bailey castles e.g. in York

  • up to a quarter of castles may have been ringworks (enclosures of earth and timber)

  • only a small number of castles were built with stone

1071-87

  • by 1071- English resistance had ended and around 35 castles were built

  • Domesday Book only mentions 50 castles → around 1000 Norman castles in England and Wales by 1150 (500 during William’s reign)

  • 1066-71 = 35 castles

  • 1071-87 = 500 castles

Castle builders

  • castles built between 1071-87 were owned by the barons and knights

  • nearly all castles built in the countryside

  • castles could have been used to show power and status and wealth

Castle features (e.g. at Goltho, Lincolnshire)

  • hall- possibly for steward who looked after the manor for the lord

  • palisade- 4m high

  • moat- contained water

  • tower- guarded the entrance to the bailey and dominated the village → sloping sides for strength

  • motte- sides covered with alternate layers of turf and stone

  • bridge

  • gatehouse

  • ramparts

  • bailey

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