pevensey case study

Question 1

why was a castle built at pevensey?

Answer 1

• Originally a Roman fort In 290
• was on a peninsular that was only joined to the mainland by narrow neck of land-area around the castle was marshland and sea
• William landed at Pevensey because it had a natural harbour and shallow beach so his ships would stay there and not blow out to sea
• used a ‘flatpack castle’ in preassembled pieces that took less than a day to put up
• dug a ditch across the peninsular and reconstructed an old Roman tower
• Landing at Pevensey meant Harold and his troops had to walk 200 miles from York in 4-5 days when theyd just fought a battle

Question 2

why were castles built + how does the study of Pevensey support this

Answer 2

• TO DEFEND NORMANS + THEIR TERRITORY- Robert of Mortain strengthened it in 1080, siege of Pevensey in 1088 (William versus Mortain) and castles built in areas after rebellions e.g. Exeter
• TO EXERT SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTROL-in 1086 Pevensey made Robert of Mortain £4 in tolls and £5 from saltworks per year. castles attracted tradesmen-> Pevensey had 100 small burgesses by 1086 but they existed pre-conquest as they made edward the confessor £1 a year
• TO EXERT POLITICAL CONTROL- castles had propaganda value and show the Normans were here to stay- At lincoln 1/7 of the town was flattened for the castle. castles were built on previous ruins as the Normans like to compare themselves to the Romans