Why did the Normans use motte and bailey castles?

Why did the Normans use motte and bailey castles?

Norman castles were designed for a different purpose, they were not defensive structures like the burhs , they were designed to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons and remind them of Norman power. Building motte and bailey castles were an effective way of securing towns that had submitted to his power.

What was it like to live in a Motte and Bailey castle?

At the bottom of the motte was the bailey. The bailey varied in size from one to three acres. Inside the bailey, lived the followers of the Lord who ran the castle. There were many buildings inside the bailey including stables, storehouses, bakeries, kitchens, houses, and quarters for soldiers.

Did Normans live in castles?

The castle as we know it today was introduced into England in 1066 during the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror. After their victory at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans settled in England. These early castles were mainly of motte and bailey type.

What is a Norman Motte and Bailey castle?

The Normans brought with them new forms of military architecture, among the most important of which was the motte and bailey Castle. This consisted of two main components: the motte, an artificial mound atop which was built a fortified tower called a keep, and a bailey, which was an enclosure connected to the motte.

Who lived in Norman castles?

During the late Middle Ages, from the 10th to the 16th centuries, kings and lords lived in castles. As well as the lord, the lady (his wife), and their family there were lots of staff. Some were important officials, such as the constable who took care of the castle when the lord was away.

How were Motte and Bailey castles defended?

Motte & Bailey castles. A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle situated on a raised earthwork and surrounded by a ditch and protective fence. The bailey was an outer enclosure, which was also defended by a fence and sometimes a ditch, providing a first, outer line of defence for the motte.

How were motte and bailey castles built?

Originally, these castles were constructed from timber and earth alone; they were cheap and easy to build and didn’t require any special design. The fortification consisted of a wooden keep that was placed on a raised earthwork called a motte, overlooking an enclosed courtyard called the bailey.

What was the purpose of the bailey?

The bailey was the center of domestic life within the castle and could contain a variety of buildings, including halls, kitchens, stores, stables, a chapel, barracks, and workshops.

Who built Pevensey Castle?

Pevensey Castle was constructed by the Romans on a spur of sand and clay that stands about 10 metres (33 ft) above sea level. In Roman times this spur was a peninsula that projected into a tidal lagoon and marshes, making it a strong natural defensive position.

Why did the Normans build the motte and bailey castles?

Motte and bailey castles were to show that Norman soldiers were always nearby. After England’s population had been controlled, William focused on more grand castles and set about creating a stone castle building programme. Once England’s population seemed to have been tamed, William began a stone castle building programme.

How many men did it take to build motte and bailey?

William and his men were invaders and his army would have had to be on a constant guard especially in the immediate days after Hastings. Research on one of William’s motte and bailey castles at Hampstead Marshall shows that the motte contains 22,000 tons of soil. This motte took fifty men eighty days to build.

How many castles did the Normans build in England?

No-one is quite sure how many motte and bailey castles were built in England by the Normans. However, by counting the number of mottes that exist in England, archaeologists believe that the Normans built around 500 – one every two weeks between 1066 and 1086.

Why did the Normans build the castle at Pevensey?

When William landed at Pevensey in 1066, he immediately set about building a castle to protect himself and his most important men. William was a highly skilled and feared soldier who had learned his military skills in northern France. The Normans achieved great fame for their castle building.