In this article we will give a brief introduction to the motte and bailey castle. These were the first true castles that appeared in Europe. They were easily constructed. The builders would find a hill or build up a hill by placing soil in a huge pile. Some of the soil would be gathered from the ditch that was dug around the perimeter of the fortification. This was a type of early moat. This mound or hill was called the motte. They would then add a wall to the top of the motte made from locally harvested trees. This was called a palisade wall. Below the motte structure would be an area enclosed by another palisade wall and would include structures for inhabitants of the fortifications. The keep or the main building of the complex would stand atop the motte. This building would be where the inhabitants or soldiers would take last refuge in an attack. This would be where they would make their last stand. From the lofty heights of the motte, they would command a great view and tactical advantage over any attacker or invader.
Many of these structures were built in the British Isles after the Norman Conquest of the 11th century AD. The Normans needed a structure that could be built quickly and provide protection from the hostile residents of the lands they had just conquered. The motte and bailey castle met these requirements as they could be constructed from locally available soil and timbers. They were very defensible with their hillside keep and view of the surrounding areas. These castles could be built, depending on their size, in a matter of days or weeks. Larger structures like this could be built in months time. A similar size stone structure could take years or decades to build.
As the Normans solidified their hold on Britain, they could focus on building the larger, stone fortified castles that took many years to build. Therefore, by the end of the 13th century the need for a quickly build motte and bailey castle was no longer there and their construction was no more. These castles did serve for many years and a very few are still standing today. These mostly have been restored by history buffs on the original earth mounds and hills. Many of these castles were upgraded to the larger and more secure stone fortifications we see in Europe today. Even though, many of the mottes still survive today and can be seen standing out from the countryside. For a list of these sites go to The British History Site. There is also a more detailed article about motte and bailey castles at their site. For more information about castles, please visit our Castle Shop Books page and make a selection from the many title available at Amazon.com.
We will be adding more articles soon. Check back often!!! If you have any suggestions for sites or categories, please email us at builderATUSACastleDOTcom
If you are currently planning to build a castle or are currently building a castle, please email us and we would like to include your progress in our website. We would like to see some pictures of your castle or look at you plans. We think that with the uncertainty of the current world, many people will be building more and more fortified structures in the coming years. We hope to help those considering such structures with their plans.
