THE DEVELOPMENT OF CASTLES 1066-1550

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF CASTLES 1066-1550

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BEFORE CASTLES - HILL FORTRESSES
A huge hill-fort from 100 BC, used as protection
for families and animals
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BEFORE CASTLES? FORTS AND FORTRESSES
Chesters Roman Camp, Northumberland 2nd century
AD.
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PORTCHESTER ROMAN FORT, Portsmouth
A fort or fortress is used purely by and for
soldiers
4th century AD
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STAGES IN THE NORMAN CONQUEST OF ENGLAND 1066-1070
LOCATION OF MAIN CASTLES
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THE FIRST CASTLES MOTTE AND BAILEYS
Castle Wall
Defending troops
Motte
Attacking Troops
What are these soldiers doing?
The motte and bailey castle was first introduced
by the Normans around 1050 AD. This scene comes
from the Bayeux Tapestry.
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THE FIRST CASTLES MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLES
Helmsley Castle under construction, 1075 AD.
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BUILDING A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE
The Normans had invented a way of building
castles quickly. It was a bit like making
sandcastles but on a much bigger scale.
After digging a ditch, they raised a great mound
in the middle. This was called a motte which is
French for mound.
On top of the mound they built a tower and
surrounded it with a wooden fence. This was the
strongest point of the castle.
Below the motte there was another enclosure
surrounded by a fence. This was called the
bailey. The Normans built motte and bailey
castles all over England
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A TYPICAL MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE
STOCKADE
WATCH TOWER
BAILEY
MOTTE
DRAWBRIDGE
DITCH
BRIDGE
What were the advantages and disadvantages of
this type of castle?
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A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE SURROUNDED BY A MOAT
Berkhamsted Castle, one of the first to be
built by the Normans.
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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Could be built quickly, in a matter of 4 to 7
days.
Being made of wood of meant motte and baileys
could be burnt down.

Cheap to build. Used local resources eg, peasants
to do the work and trees for materials
The timbers of motte and baileys would have to be
replaced every ten years or so due to rotting.
Only needed a few soldiers to defend the castle.
A castle could be surrounded and their food
supply could be cut off.

A few soldiers in a motte and bailey could
dominate a large area
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PICKERING CASTLE 1075 AD
See how the motte dominates the bailey below
and the surrounding area
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HELMSLEY CASTLE TODAY
What changes have taken place since it was first
built?
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REPLACEMENT OF WOOD BY STONE
TOTNES CASTLE, DEVON
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THE SHELL KEEP
Restormel Castle in Cornwall. Some castles had
their mottes strengthened by replacing the wooden
stockade (wall) with a stone wall, known as a
shell keep.
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THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KEEP
Orford Castle in Suffolk, 12th century. The Keep
was introduced to replace the Motte. Why?
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HEDINGHAM CASTLE KEEP 12th century
Keeps were large powerful towers which also
served as home for the lord, his family and their
servants.
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A CROSS-SECTION OF SCARBOROUGH CASTLE KEEP
Why do you think the entrance was at first floor
level?
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ROCHESTER CASTLE IN KENT
See how the Keep dominates the rest of the castle.
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THE TOWER OF LONDON
The first stone Keep built in Britain. Built by
the Normans between 1078 and 1090.
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A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN CASTLE DESIGN SQUARE
TOWERS ALONG THE CURTAIN WALL.
Frangocastello Castle, Crete. Square towers were
introduced by the Turks. Crusaders brought the
idea back to Europe. What advantage did this new
development give to defenders?
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INTRODUCTION OF SQUARE TOWERS
The walls of Dover Castle. How did towers
strengthen the castle defences? Notice the
thickness of the base of the towers why?
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THE GATEHOUSE
GUARD TOWERS
ARROW SLITS
CRENELLATIONS
PORTCULLIS
DRAWBRIDGE
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CRENELLATION
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KRAK DES CHEVALIERS A CRUSADER CASTLE
How is this castle different from the previous
ones?
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BODIAM CASTLE, SUSSEX Curtain-wall and keep,
14th century.
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BEAUMARIS CASTLE, North Wales
An example of a concentric castle ie. they had a
central courtyard surrounded by more than one
wall. Notice the inner walls are higher than the
outer walls. Notice the towers are round. Why
are round towers better than square towers?
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PROJECTING WALL TOWERS BEAUMARIS CASTLE
What advantage did these give to the defenders?
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MOAT AND PROJECTING CORNER TOWERS AT BEAUMARIS
CASTLE
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TOWNS ALSO DEFENDED THEMSELVES
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BY THE 13OO AD MOST MAJOR TOWNS WERE DEFENDED BY
WALLS
THE TOWN WALLS OF AVILA IN SPAIN
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DEAL CASTLE IN KENT (1539)
Built by Henry VIII, one of a series to protect
the south-east coast. Notice that the castle is
almost all round walls why? On the top of the
castle are gun platforms. Is Deal more of a
fortress than a castle? Explain.
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CASTLES AND THE CANNON
How has the development of the cannon affected
the design of the castle?
GUNPORTS
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THE END OF THE AGE OF CASTLES 1550 The use of
gunpowder and the introduction of the cannon
from the 13th century AD onwards, spelt the end
for the age of castles. From the 14th century
onwards castles began to fall into disuse or were
converted into mansion houses for the lords.
Herstmonceux Castle was built around 1440.
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THE END