1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CASTLES 1066-1550

2. BEFORE CASTLES - HILL FORTRESSES
A huge hill-fort from 100 BC, used as protection for families and animals

3. BEFORE CASTLES? FORTS AND FORTRESSES
Chesters Roman Camp, Northumberland 2nd century AD.

4. PORTCHESTER ROMAN FORT, Portsmouth
A fort or fortress is used purely by and for soldiers
4th century AD

5. STAGES IN THE NORMAN CONQUEST OF ENGLAND 1066-1070
LOCATION OF MAIN CASTLES

6. 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.

7. THE FIRST CASTLES: MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLES
Helmsley Castle under construction, 1075 AD.

8. 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

9. 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?

10. A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE SURROUNDED BY A MOAT Berkhamsted Castle, one of the first to be built by the Normans.

11. 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

12. PICKERING CASTLE AD
See how the motte dominates the bailey below and the surrounding area

13. HELMSLEY CASTLE TODAY:
What changes have taken place since it was first built?

14. REPLACEMENT OF WOOD BY STONE
TOTNES CASTLE, DEVON

15. 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.

16. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KEEP
Orford Castle in Suffolk, 12th century. The Keep was introduced to replace the Motte. Why?

17. HEDINGHAM CASTLE KEEP 12th century
Keeps were large powerful towers which also served as home for the lord, his family and their servants.

18. A CROSS-SECTION OF SCARBOROUGH CASTLE KEEP
Why do you think the entrance was at first floor level?

19. ROCHESTER CASTLE IN KENT
See how the Keep dominates the rest of the castle.

20. THE TOWER OF LONDON
The first stone Keep built in Britain. Built by the Normans between 1078 and 1090.

21. 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?

22. 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?

23. THE GATEHOUSE GUARD TOWERS ARROW SLITS CRENELLATIONS PORTCULLIS
DRAWBRIDGE

24. CRENELLATION

25. KRAK DES CHEVALIERS – A CRUSADER CASTLE
How is this castle different from the previous ones?

26. BODIAM CASTLE, SUSSEX : Curtain-wall and keep, [14th century].

27. 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?

28. PROJECTING WALL TOWERS BEAUMARIS CASTLE
What advantage did these give to the defenders?

29. MOAT AND PROJECTING CORNER TOWERS AT BEAUMARIS CASTLE

30. TOWNS ALSO DEFENDED THEMSELVES:

31. BY THE 13OO AD MOST MAJOR TOWNS WERE DEFENDED BY WALLS
THE TOWN WALLS OF AVILA IN SPAIN

32. 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.

33. CASTLES AND THE CANNON
How has the development of the cannon affected the design of the castle?
GUNPORTS

34. 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.

35. THE END