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

Why did castle Why did castle design change design change

over time?over time?TBAT compare the TBAT compare the

differences between motte & differences between motte & bailey & stone keep castlesbailey & stone keep castles

TBAT explain why the TBAT explain why the Normans built castles after Normans built castles after

10661066

LOs

Key words: motte and bailey stone keep beseige

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?

StrengthsStrengths

Quick to buildQuick to build Resources easily Resources easily

availableavailable Provided living Provided living

quarters for people quarters for people & animals& animals

Easily defendable – Easily defendable – mottemotte, , palisadepalisade, , ditch, ditch, drawbridgedrawbridge

Portable – flat pack Portable – flat pack castlescastles

Motte and bailey castles built by William the

Conqueror

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Wooden – easily burned down, rot in wet Wooden – easily burned down, rot in wet weatherweather

Labour intensiveLabour intensive Bailey difficult to defendBailey difficult to defend

Make a list of all the advantages & disadvantages of building this type of this castle. Why would these castles eventually

become obsolete?

StrengthsStrengths ImpressiveImpressive Safe base to rule local Safe base to rule local

regionregion Special features – Special features –

portcullisportcullis, , murder murder holesholes, , arrow slitsarrow slits, , merlonsmerlons & & crenelscrenels

Difficult to attack – Difficult to attack – thick walls, thick walls, hoardingshoardings, , drawbridgedrawbridge & & moatmoat, , round towersround towers

Recognise this castle? Why is it so impressive?

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Expensive to Expensive to produceproduce

Time-consuming to Time-consuming to buildbuild

ImmovableImmovable Not Not impregnable impregnable – –

i.e. could break i.e. could break into them!into them!

Your taskYour task

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

Satisfactory Satisfactory jobjob

Getting thereGetting there Wow factorWow factor

Only Only mentions a mentions a few features few features of either of either motte and motte and bailey or bailey or stone keep stone keep castles, e.g. castles, e.g. ditch and ditch and wooden wooden fence.fence.

Mentions a Mentions a good range of good range of features of features of both motte both motte and bailey and bailey and stone and stone keep castles.keep castles.

Evidence of Evidence of good group good group work work although although some could some could contribute contribute more. Has more. Has some features some features of a makeover of a makeover show. show.

Full range of Full range of features of features of both motte both motte and bailey and bailey and stone and stone keep castles. keep castles. Full and Full and convincing convincing group group participation. participation. Has many of Has many of the key the key elements of a elements of a makeover makeover show, e.g. show, e.g. pace, music, pace, music, key roles key roles portrayedportrayed

HomeworkHomework Produce an A4 estate agent’s brochure for Produce an A4 estate agent’s brochure for

a medieval stone keep castle. Include the a medieval stone keep castle. Include the following information:following information:

DimensionsDimensions Floor plansFloor plans Types of roomsTypes of rooms Defensive featuresDefensive features You may wish to base it on a local castles You may wish to base it on a local castles

such as Dover or Bodiam and conduct some such as Dover or Bodiam and conduct some independent researchindependent research

Why did castle Why did castle design change design change

over time?over time?TBAT to compare the TBAT to compare the

differences between motte & differences between motte & bailey & stone keep castlesbailey & stone keep castles

TBAT explain why the TBAT explain why the Normans built castles after Normans built castles after

10661066

LOs

Key words: motte and bailey stone keep