Table of Contents
What was bad about square keep castles?
Square keeps did have their weaknesses. It was possible to undermine the corners of a square keeps to make them collapse. Enemy minors would dig tunnels beneath the castle at the corner removing the foundations and replacing them with wooden props.
What were the disadvantages of a stone keep castle?
Although they seemed impenetrable at first, attackers quickly realized the weaknesses of many stone keep castles.
- They were expensive to build and to maintain and so only the wealthiest lords could afford to build very secure stone castles.
- Stone castles were built on a square or rectangular plan.
What were some of the disadvantages of wooden castles?
At a glance: disadvantages of Motte and Bailey castles
- Timber burns easily -and attackers quickly learned that firing flaming arrows could defeat the castle.
- Timber rots, to0 – castles quickly ran into disrepair, and often became abandoned by their owners.
- Mottes often had a broad base.
What are the main weaknesses of a Motte and Bailey castle?
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.
How were Norman castles built?
The castle, built in the motte-and-bailey style, was made of wood. Local peasants were forced to dig a deep circular ditch. The displaced earth was then thrown into the centre to create a high mound called a ‘motte’. By the time they finished, the motte was 18 metres (60 feet) high.
What were some drawbacks of using a castle for defense?
What were some of the drawbacks of using a castle for defense? People would not be able to leave the grounds, they could run out of food/water, many people living together at one time. Peasants would come onto the castle grounds for protection from war.
How did Norman castles keep control of England?
The first castles were called motte and bailey castles. The barons and their soldiers used the castle as a base to control the local area, trade and collect taxes. Wooden motte and bailey castles helped William to quickly control the English BUT they burned easily and they rotted. Later castles were built from stone.
How did Norman castles change over time?
During the 12th century many castles were improved and strengthened by using stone as the ain building material. The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone. Stone castles replaced the motte and bailey castles but the stone castles also changed over time.
What is a Norman castle called?
The term motte and bailey castle comes from Norman French words for mound and enclosed land. The Normans from France, introduced the Motte and Bailey castle to England, when they invaded the country in 1066. It is believed that as many as 1000 Motte and Bailey Castles were built in England by the Normans.
What are 5 features of Norman castles?
Key Features. Windows.