Why were Motte and Why were Motte and Bailey Castles Bailey Castles

Important?Important?

Learning objectiveLearning objective: to understand what a motte and to understand what a motte and bailey castle was and what their advantages and bailey castle was and what their advantages and disadvantages were.disadvantages were.

Starter - Wordsearch

The Normans built the first proper castles in England. They needed bases from which to control the countryside, and strongholds to protect them from Saxon attack.

The castles had to be built in a hurry, so they were originally built of timber on an earth mound (a motte).The bailey was the living area for the soldiers.

The motte and bailey castleThe motte and bailey castle

Remember, William’s troops were an invading force and not exactly secure in all parts of the country.

Especially as the English did not have many castles before the Normans came

along!

Why castles?Why castles?

When William invaded England he quickly set about building castles.The reason was simple – he knew he had nowhere near enough men to run England.

So William built castles at important places – hills, rivers, towns – so that if the English tried to control the country they’d be forced to attack a castle – a bad move!

Keep – the safest place in the castle

Motte – defensive mound of earth

Moat – this made it harder to reach the walls

Palisade – these were made of wood and formed a fence

Bailey – large walled area where the soldiers and animals lived

Bridge – from the motte to the bailey

Early castlesEarly castles

Drawbridge – to the entrance to the bailey

How much do you remember?How much do you remember?

Which do you think are the weakest parts of the castle? Why?

What would you do in William’s position?

Why the motte and bailey?Why the motte and bailey?

So why did William build motte and bailey castles? To answer this question you have to think about William’s problems – get inside his mind to understand what he needed.

A stone castle may be better for his soldiers but will it take time to build?

What is better, a wooden castle that is quick to build, or a stone castle that will take years?

Advantages of the motte and bailey castleAdvantages of the motte and bailey castle

1. The castles were quick to build. A motte and bailey castle could be up in a few weeks! This was a huge difference compared to the years it would take to build a stone castle.

2. They protected the soldiers that William used to control the country and were easy to defend. Small numbers of Norman soldiers could hold off rebellions or attacks by being in a castle.

Disadvantages of the motte and bailey Disadvantages of the motte and bailey castlecastle

1. The biggest weakness was the material they were made of – wood. Like the story of the Three Little Pigs, wooden buildings can be burnt down by fire. They can also be affected by rot.

2. Because the castles were not built to last, they were only a temporary solution.

TASKS.TASKS.

1.1. Cut out and stick in picture of Motte and Cut out and stick in picture of Motte and Bailey Castle.Bailey Castle.

2.2. Label the following:Label the following:

Motte, Bailey, Keep, Hall, Pallisades, Moat, Motte, Bailey, Keep, Hall, Pallisades, Moat, Drawbridge, Store Huts, Stables.Drawbridge, Store Huts, Stables.

3.3. Write strengths & weaknesses of each:Write strengths & weaknesses of each:

Quick to put upQuick to put up easy to repair easy to repair

wood is weakwood is weak wood can rot in rainwood can rot in rain

high up high up not big enough to house lots of troops not big enough to house lots of troops a motte is a man made hill a motte is a man made hill wood can burn wood can burn the motte could collapsethe motte could collapse can keep animals can keep animals

Extension.Extension.William needed to build castles q______. Many William needed to build castles q______. Many

English people continued to rebel against the English people continued to rebel against the k______.He needed to construct d______ along k______.He needed to construct d______ along the coast and across the c_______ in order to the coast and across the c_______ in order to protect him and his followers from the angry protect him and his followers from the angry locals. The first castles were built of wood locals. The first castles were built of wood and stone, as these building resources were and stone, as these building resources were easy to find in f_____areas.easy to find in f_____areas.

There were two main parts of the castle. The There were two main parts of the castle. The _______, which was an earth mound where a _______, which was an earth mound where a small w_______fort was situated. The other small w_______fort was situated. The other part was called a _________. Often, livestock, part was called a _________. Often, livestock, horses and soldiers families lived in this horses and soldiers families lived in this enclosure.enclosure.

BAILEYBAILEY QUICKLYQUICKLY WOODWOODFORESTFOREST WOODENWOODEN MOTTE MOTTE

KINGKING DEFENCESDEFENCESCOUNTRYSIDECOUNTRYSIDE

Plenary: Motte and bailey: multiple-choice Plenary: Motte and bailey: multiple-choice questionsquestions