What were the first castles called? Where were the first castles built? What were stone castles? What were Concentric castles? Castles in Britain Glossary Bibliography

Motte and Bailey Castles were the first ever castles to be built. They were built by the Normans (William the conqueror). They were made of wood and earth. The reason it was made of wood because it was a reasonable price and easy to get hold of. The reason it was built of Earth because you could find earth anywhere and everywhere> William the Conqueror introduced Motte and Bailey castles from France as he was originally from France. The only reason they got rid of Motte and Bailey castles because the wood was extremely flammable if there was a fire. So they got rid of Motte and Bailey castles and introduced Stone Castles. Motte is french

Castles were built on top of a hill and they were surrounded by a sea so enemies could travel by boat. They were normally surrounded by greenery to keep them hidden. Being high up on a hill they could see everything that was going on. Most castles were built in the countryside as they had to be surrounded by greenery. Mott and Bailey castles were built on hills because if the enemies tried to attack the castles they would have to walk all the way up the hill and it would tire them out so they couldn’t attack the castles. This was the second type of castle.

Stone castles were made of stone that’s why they are called stone castles. Stone castle have basement on the first floor, a guard room on the second floor, a great hall on the third floor and chamber on the fourth floor. Stone castle also had turrets so they could go in between them in battle. Arrow slits were also placed in stone castles. Arrow slits were just about big enough for arrows to fit through. Stone castles had high walls for defence. They used stone because it wasn’t as flammable as wood and because it was easy to get hold of. Stone can not wash away as well as earth and wood.

King Edward the first introduced Concentric Castles. The earliest example of a Concentric Castle is the crusader castle of Belvoir. All Concentric castles had glass windows. The builders of medieval Concentric castles used the most improved tools to build it. chisel, as opposed to axes and others. A Concentric Castle always had access to fresh water. When King Edward first introduced Concentric castles the artist decided to have a moat to surround the whole of the castle to stop enemies from entering the castle without permission. A drawbridge was used to get in and out of the castle without getting wet because of the moat.

Conway castle Windsor castle (Concentric castle.) Corfe castle Orford Castle

Internet;:Wikipedia Woodlands Books: Exploring Castles by Dr Brian Knapp Castles Pictures: Google images