Castles

Question 1

Between 1066-86, how many motte and Bailey castles did the Normans build?

Answer 1

500

Question 2

What was the first Norman castle?

Answer 2

Pevensey on the south coast

Question 3

By 1086, how many large castles were built?

Answer 3

48

Question 4

Who were castles built to protect?

Answer 4

Norman nobles and Lords

Question 5

Who did castles defend against?

Answer 5

Angry locals

Question 6

What were castles symbols of?

Answer 6

Norman oppression, control and power

Question 7

How were castles visual symbols of the feudal system?

Answer 7

Norman rulers lived at the top of hills in castles and Anglo Saxon subjects lived at the bottom

Question 8

Why were castles a constant reminder of Norman takeover and control?

Answer 8

Dominated the area and were huge compared to the surrounding Saxon villages

Question 9

What was the outer bailey?

Answer 9

The area within the outer wall

Houses and buildings that needed to be kept safe

Question 10

What was the outer bailey wall?

Answer 10

Very high walls with lookout posts

Question 11

What were moats?

Answer 11

Dry or water ditches

Question 12

What was the inner bailey?

Answer 12

Area within inner wall to protect the keep- last line of defence

Question 13

What was the motte?

Answer 13

Mound of earth with keep on top

Question 14

What were the gateways and gatehouses?

Answer 14

Entrances into the outer and inner baileys

Soldiers positioned here to offer protection

Question 15

How long to build a motte and bailey castle?

Answer 15

2 weeks

Question 16

What were motte and bailey castles made of?

Answer 16

Wood

Question 17

When were stone keeps built?

Answer 17

After 1070

Question 18

After when were castles made solely of stone?

Answer 18

1100

Question 19

Where were castles built?

Answer 19

Areas of strategic importance such as old Roman roads or river crossings
Near towns, high ground, close to water/ resources like wood and natural defences

Question 20

Where where many castles built along?

Answer 20

Welsh border

Question 21

What was the Welsh border called?

Answer 21

The marchlands or the Welsh Marches

Question 22

Examples of significant castles

Answer 22

Colchester, the Tower of London, Hastings, Windsor, Warwick

Question 23

What natural defences were castles near?

Answer 23

Bends in a coast or river

Question 24

Why was the keep the most secure part of the castle?

Answer 24

High, straight walls made it difficult to climb
Soldiers positioned here
Steep, narrow staircase
Crenellations (battlements)