Quick to Build

Motte and bailey castles could be built very quickly.

Some were completed in only a few weeks.

This was important because William needed to control England fast.

Easy to Defend

The castles were designed for defence.

Features included:

• High wooden walls
• Ditches
• Raised positions
• Narrow entrances

These made attacks difficult.

Fear and Intimidation

Castles frightened local people.

Many Anglo-Saxons had never seen large castles before.

The castles showed:

• Norman military strength
• Norman control
• The defeat of the English

Norman soldiers could also launch attacks from castles against rebels.