What was the purpose of Motte and Bailey castles?
Motte and bailey castles were a form of castle structure that enabled the new Norman conquerors of England and Wales to secure areas of land quickly and cheaply. The Normans needed a castle design they could erect quickly to subdue the vanquished Britons.
What was a Bailey used for?
A bailey is an enclosed courtyard, typically surrounded by a wooden palisade overlooked by the motte. It was used as a living area by vassals who served the lord of the castle, generally including a blacksmith, a miller and most of the necessary craftsmen of the age.
What are the main features of a Motte and Bailey castle?
A motte-and-bailey castle is a fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade.
What does a Motte and Bailey castle look like?
Motte and bailey castles contained a large, circular mound, usually up to 5m high, on which stood a wooden tower or keep. The mound was surrounded by a ditch and there would have been a bailey, or enclosed courtyard, attached.
What do you need for a Motte and Bailey castle?
Most motte and bailey castles had a circular wall made from sturdy tree trunks called a palisade. The easiest way to replicate this is to stick together rows of small wooden sticks (like popsicle sticks, coffee stirrers, or even dry twigs from outdoors). Tape or glue each piece of the wall in place carefully.
What does Motte mean?
mound, hill
What is a Motte and Bailey castle made out of?
wood
What are 5 features of Norman castles?
- Can’t findeverythingat your castle?
- So you’re ina Norman castle.
- The ‘Motte’ – the. mound where the castle was built. This hadsteep sides to make it tricky for the enemy to run up.
- Curved, arched. doorways – arches were in fashion back then. Small, narrow.
- Large, stone. building blocks. and thick walls.
- It’s dark.
How was the Motte and Bailey castle attacked?
Fire. Fire was the best way to attack the early Motte and Bailey castles since they were made entirely of wood. The fire might be started by building a bonfire against the outer wooden fence (palisade) or, more usually, by archers shooting fire-arrows into the castle.
What does Motte and Bailey mean?
: a medieval Norman castle consisting of two connecting ditched stockaded mounds with the higher mound surmounted by the keep and the lower one containing barracks and other buildings.
What is a dry moat called?
Dry moats cut across the narrow part of a spur or peninsula are called neck ditches. Moats separating different elements of a castle, such as the inner and outer wards are cross ditches.
What would a moat stop or make difficult?
When moats were filled with water, they were usually deep enough to make it difficult for attackers to wade across. In addition to being difficult to swim with weapons, attackers would be reluctant to try swimming across because they would be too vulnerable to attack from castle guards.
What it was like to live in a castle?
What was it like living in a castle? Even when it wasn’t under attack, living in a castle was hectic, noisy and they were often packed full of people. Castles were large, dark, draughty and cold. Windows were often small, with wooden shutters or (if the nobleman could afford it), leadlight glass-panes.