1. Why were Normans castles so difficult to attack? Watch this clip from Horrible Histories for extra clues?  Why did they build a castle here?  starter activity

2. Why did castle design change over time? TBAT compare the differences between motte & bailey & stone keep castles TBAT explain why the Normans built castles after 1066  LOs  Key words: motte and bailey stone keep beseige

3. When the Normans arrived the first castles they built were wooden, motte & bailey castles (above.) Make a list of the advantages & disadvantages of this type of castle.  How could you improve this castle?

4. Strengths Quick to build Quick to build Resources easily available Resources easily available Provided living quarters for people & animals Provided living quarters for people & animals Easily defendable – motte, palisade, ditch, drawbridge Easily defendable – motte, palisade, ditch, drawbridge Portable – flat pack castles Portable – flat pack castles Motte and bailey castles built by William the Conqueror

5. Weaknesses Wooden – easily burned down, rot in wet weather Wooden – easily burned down, rot in wet weather Labour intensive Labour intensive Bailey difficult to defend Bailey difficult to defend

6. Make a list of all the advantages & disadvantages of building this type of this castle.  Why would these castles eventually become obsolete?

7. Strengths Impressive Impressive Safe base to rule local region Safe base to rule local region Special features – portcullis, murder holes, arrow slits, merlons & crenels Special features – portcullis, murder holes, arrow slits, merlons & crenels Difficult to attack – thick walls, hoardings, drawbridge & moat, round towers Difficult to attack – thick walls, hoardings, drawbridge & moat, round towers Recognise this castle? Why is it so impressive?

8. Weaknesses Expensive to produce Time-consuming to build Immovable Not impregnable – i.e. could break into them!

9.  Your task Imagine you have been asked to produce a makeover show about a family living in a motte & bailey castle who want to live somewhere a little more modern and easier to defend. Work in teams of 4/5 and show the changes the programme makes to their wooden castle to a state of the art stone keep.

10. Satisfactory job Getting there Wow factor Only mentions a few features of either motte and bailey or stone keep castles, e.g. ditch and wooden fence. Mentions a good range of features of both motte and bailey and stone keep castles. Evidence of good group work although some could contribute more. Has some features of a makeover show. Full range of features of both motte and bailey and stone keep castles. Full and convincing group participation. Has many of the key elements of a makeover show, e.g. pace, music, key roles portrayed

11.  Homework Produce an A4 estate agent’s brochure for a medieval stone keep castle. Include the following information: Produce an A4 estate agent’s brochure for a medieval stone keep castle. Include the following information: Dimensions Dimensions Floor plans Floor plans Types of rooms Types of rooms Defensive features Defensive features  You may wish to base it on a local castles such as Dover or Bodiam and conduct some independent research  You may wish to base it on a local castles such as Dover or Bodiam and conduct some independent research

12. Why did castle design change over time? TBAT to compare the differences between motte & bailey & stone keep castles TBAT explain why the Normans built castles after 1066  LOs  Key words: motte and bailey stone keep