Cast your mind back. We all remember the name from somewhere in primary school… but a bit like oxbow lakes, the details are hazy. But motte and bailey castles are more than just something that once popped up in history class. These fast-built wooden fortresses were a symbol of conquest, control, and they provided the foundations of many of Britain’s most iconic castles.
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What is a motte and bailey castle?
Motte and bailey castles were a prominent feature of Norman England, designed to intimidate the recently conquered Anglo-Saxons and consolidate the power of the Normans and their leader, William the Conqueror, following the Battle of Hastings.
The motte and bailey castle consisted of two main components: the motte, an artificial mound, which housed a fortified tower – called a keep; and a bailey, a connected enclosure. Many motte and bailey castles would have also had a ditch around the bailey.
The wooden structures of motte and bailey castles meant that they could be built quickly, to give the Normans time to build more permanent stone structures. The downside was that the structures were likely to rot or burn down.
It is thought that as many as 1,000 motte and bailey castles were constructed by the Normans in England – while none of the existing wooden structures are still standing, many castles were rebuilt on the original footprint, with the structure providing the foundation for later stone fortifications.
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Motte and bailey castles in the UK
Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire is among the best-preserved motte and bailey castles in England – but needs major structural repairs to survive, and was therefore included on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024.
Perched above the town, Totnes Castle in Devon is a Norman castle with a motte and bailey.
Warkworth Castle in Northumberland began life as a motte and bailey, and while the castle has been expanded and rebuilt, the original design remains an integral part of its foundations and structure.
While Dover Castle did originate as a motte and bailey castle, built under the instruction of William the Conqueror, the original structures have long been replaced by a stone fortress. Sitting atop the White Cliffs, Dover Castle held a key military position in the Feudal era. Similarly, William the Conquerer built Dorset’s Corfe Castle in the traditional motte and bailey style.
Durham Castle was built in the 11th century on a steep peninsula, with a motte and bailey as part of its defensive set-up. The nearby Barnard Castle – now in ruins – was another motte and bailey castle.
The original structure of Arundel Castle in Sussex had a motte and bailey, and the design remains in the modern structure – with an artificial mound (the motte) over 100 feet high from the dry moat. Arundel Castle is one of the oldest castles in Britain.
Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire originated as a motte and bailey castle, but over time has been expanded and developed into a more elaborate castle with stone fortifications.
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