Timeline of the 'life' of a castle. Download: Lesson pack What was their purpose and significance? Tasks Teachers' notes External links Connections to Curriculum The castle as we know it today was introduced into England in during the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror.
After their victory at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans settled in England. They constructed castles all over the country in order to control their newly-won territory, and to pacify the Anglo-Saxon population. These early castles were mainly of motte and bailey type. These timber castles were quite cheap and very quick to build.
However, the timber castles did have disadvantages. They were very vulnerable to attacks using fire and the wood would eventually start to rot. Due to these disadvantages, King William ordered that castles should be built in stone. Many of the original timber castles were replaced with stone castles.
Over time, stone castles were built in different architectural styles as builders experimented with castle-building techniques. In their infancy, castles were primarily military fortifications used to defend conquered territories from attack.
The strategic location of the castle was paramount. However, once the Normans began to consolidate their control over England, castles began to take on a variety of different roles. Castles could serve as a centre for local government, administration and justice. They were also used by powerful lords to display their wealth and power through lavish architectural styles and decoration.
Castles were not only built and used by the crown. In fact, the majority of castles were granted by the king to his loyal lords and nobles along with large areas of land. In return for these grants, the king expected his nobles to control and administer these lands on his behalf. The castle itself also represented a whole group of people who contributed to its function from constables, masons, blacksmiths and servants to name a few.
Use this lesson with original documents to find out more about the role of Framlingham, Portchester, Stokesay, Berwick, Alnwick, and Pevensey castles in medieval society.
The purpose of this enquiry is to allow students to explore documents relating to the general function of castles. Did some people find them intimidating? What are castles? Why were castles built? Where were castles built? What is the biggest castle in England? What is the biggest castle in the world? Follow me on Twitter mbarrow. This site uses cookies.
See our Cookie Policy for information. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from the author Mandy Barrow. A stone keep was the central feature, with thick walls and few windows. Entrance to the keep was by stone steps leading to the first floor. The kitchens were situated on the ground floor while living quarters were on the upper floors. The first keeps were rectangular in shape but later ones were often circular.
The Stone Keep would be surrounded by a thick stone wall containing turrets for lookouts. The Bailey was now the area outside the keep but within the outer walls and shelter for animals or craft workshops might be built against the walls.
The entire castle might be surrounded by a ditch or moat and entrance to the castle was by drawbridge. The Concentric castle was developed in the 12th and 13th Centuries and offered the best protection against attack. The main feature of the concentric medieval castle is its walls. An inner wall built of thick stone with turrets positioned at intervals is then surrounded by an equally thick but lower stone wall.
The walls are built at different levels so that archers on the inner walls can fire over the archers on the outer walls.
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