Norman Castles still dot the British landscape, nearly 1000 years after many of them were built.

They were originally a Continental European innovation; fortified strongholds used by local rulers to maintain their grip on their land. These original castles weren’t like the large stone structures were associate with castles today – they tended to be made of wood, mud and other such materials – but still projected power over the local area.

The most common early type, the motte and bailey castle which we’ll talk about later, could be constructed quickly – a large earth mound and wooden keep and border fence / ditch would suffice.

They were therefore a great way for conquerors to consolidate their gains. Conquered peoples could be quickly subdued by such a castle thrown up quickly by invaders.

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

The castle was therefore the perfect tool for the William The Conqueror after his defeat of the English at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

He moved quickly to build castles in nearby places such as Dover, Hastings (at the town now known as Battle) and Pevensey (where the Normans originally landed).

As he expanded from his south coast base he built castles at Windsor and London and then at Norwich in East Anglia.

Often castles were built on the site of earlier Saxon, or even Roman, forts which were incorporated into the new fortress’s design.

Pevensey Castle, for example, was built on the site of a Roman garrison and used the latter’s Roman wall as the palisade for its perimeter.

Other sites were chosen due to natural obstacles, features or their strategic importance.

For example Windsor used the River Thames for protection. Dover Castle used the famous cliffs in a similar way.

MOTTE & BAILEY CASTLES

As we have already stated the first Norman Castles were so-called Motte & Bailey castles, a type of fortification that was popular in medieval Europe during the 11th and 12th centuries. They were built by lords and nobles as a way to defend their lands and assert their power.

A motte and bailey castle consists of two main parts: a motte, which is a large mound of earth, and a bailey, which is a courtyard surrounded by a wooden or stone wall. The motte was usually topped with a wooden or stone tower, which served as a lookout and a place of retreat in case of attack. The bailey was used for a variety of purposes, including housing, storage, and defence.

To build a motte and bailey castle, a lord or noble would first choose a suitable location, such as a hilltop or a riverbank. They would then dig a deep ditch around the base of the motte, and use the dirt to build up the motte itself. Once the motte was completed, they would build a wooden or stone tower on top of it. Next, they would build a wall around the bailey and fill it with buildings and other structures.

Motte and bailey castles were relatively quick and easy to build, which made them a popular choice for lords and nobles who needed to defend their lands in a hurry. They were also relatively inexpensive to construct, which made them a good choice for those who did not have a lot of resources.

Despite their many advantages, motte and bailey castles had some significant weaknesses. They were made of wood and earth, which made them vulnerable to fire and erosion. They were also relatively easy to attack, as the walls could be breached with a battering ram or climbed over with ladders.

STONE CASTLES

As a result of these weaknesses, many lords and nobles began to look for more secure alternatives to motte and bailey castles.

Stone castles began to appear in England in the late 11th century, and they quickly became the preferred choice for those who wanted to defend their lands. They were more expensive and time-consuming to build, but they offered much greater protection.

They were made of stone, which was much more resistant to fire and erosion than wood.

They also had thicker walls and more complex defences, such as moats, drawbridges, and arrow slits, which made them much more difficult to attack.

As stone castles became more common in England, many motte and bailey castles were abandoned or dismantled. Some were converted into stone castles, while others were left to fall into ruin. Many existing motte and bailey castles, such as Cardiff Castle, incorporated the motte and bailey design and now comprise stone walls and stone keeps on the original motte.

The transition from motte and bailey castles to stone castles in England & Wales was a significant turning point in the history of fortification.

It marked the beginning of a new era in which castles became much more complex and secure. Within a few hundred years massive stone fortresses such as those built by Edward I in Wales (Conwy, Caernarfon etc) were being constructed.

It also marked a shift in the balance of power between lords and nobles. Stone castles became a symbol of wealth and status, and they played a central role in the politics and society of medieval England. Thus castles became one of the defining features of the Norman era and, with many of these structures still dotting the British countryside, its more tangible legacy.