Motte and bailey castles were important defensive structures built by the Normans after their conquest of England in 1066. They consisted of a raised motte with a wooden fort and a larger bailey area below where soldiers and their families would live. Motte and bailey castles provided strong defensive positions that could be built quickly, allowing the Normans to establish control over the English countryside. Though made of wood so they were temporary, their speed of construction let the Normans assert dominance despite being outnumbered by the English inhabitants.

1. Why were Motte andWhy were Motte and
Bailey Castles Important?Bailey Castles Important?
Learning objectiveLearning objective: to understand what a motte andto understand what a motte and
bailey castle was and what their advantages andbailey castle was and what their advantages and
disadvantages were.disadvantages were.
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2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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

5. How much do you remember?How much do you remember?
Which do you think are the weakest parts of the castle?
Why?

6. 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?

8. 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.

9. Disadvantages of the motte and baileyDisadvantages 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.

10. TASKS.TASKS.
1.1. Cut out and stick in picture of Motte and BaileyCut out and stick in picture of Motte and Bailey
Castle.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 repaireasy to repair
wood is weakwood is weak wood can rot in rainwood can rot in rain
high uphigh up not big enough to house lots of troops anot big enough to house lots of troops a
motte is a man made hillmotte is a man made hill wood can burn the mottewood can burn the motte
could collapsecould collapse can keep animalscan keep animals

11. Extension.Extension.
William needed to build castles q______. ManyWilliam needed to build castles q______. Many
English people continued to rebel against theEnglish people continued to rebel against the
k______.He needed to construct d______ alongk______.He needed to construct d______ along
the coast and across the c_______ in order tothe coast and across the c_______ in order to
protect him and his followers from the angryprotect him and his followers from the angry
locals. The first castles were built of wood andlocals. The first castles were built of wood and
stone, as these building resources were easy tostone, as these building resources were easy to
find in f_____areas.find in f_____areas.
There were two main parts of the castle. TheThere 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 partsmall w_______fort was situated. The other part
was called a _________. Often, livestock, horseswas called a _________. Often, livestock, horses
and soldiers families lived in this enclosure.and soldiers families lived in this enclosure.
BAILEYBAILEY QUICKLYQUICKLY WOODWOOD
FORESTFOREST WOODENWOODEN MOTTEMOTTE
KINGKING DEFENCESDEFENCES

12. Plenary: Motte and bailey: multiple-choicePlenary: Motte and bailey: multiple-choice
questionsquestions