The First Norman Castles
The earliest Norman castles in England were usually motte and bailey castles.
They were made mainly from:
- Wood
- Earth
This made them much faster to build than stone castles.
The Motte
The motte was a large mound of earth.
On top of the mound stood a wooden tower called the keep.
Why Was the Motte Important?
The motte gave defenders:
- A good view of the surrounding area
- A strong defensive position
- Protection from attackers
Enemies found it difficult to attack uphill.
The Bailey
The bailey was an enclosed area next to the motte.
It was surrounded by:
- A wooden fence called a palisade
- A ditch for defence
Inside the bailey were buildings such as:
- Stables
- Kitchens
- Workshops
- Storage buildings
- Barracks for soldiers
The bailey was the working part of the castle.
The Keep
The keep was the strongest part of the castle.
It stood on top of the motte.
The keep acted as:
- A lookout tower
- A defensive stronghold
- A home for important Normans
If attackers entered the bailey, defenders could retreat into the keep.