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
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