What is the difference between a motte-and-bailey castle and a stone keep?

What is the difference between a motte-and-bailey castle and a stone keep?

A motte-and-bailey castle consisted of two parts: a lookout tower and a place for people to live. A stone keep castle was a single dwelling built of rocks, making it harder to burn or attack, and surrounded by a moat.

Why did castles change from Motte and Bailey to stone keep?

The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone. Stone is more durable and resistant than wood and so it became the preferred building materials for castles. Stone castles were built taller and gave better protection against attack, fire and cold rainy weather.

What is a stone keep castle?

A Stone Keep Castle is a type of castle built in the 11th and 12th Centuries by the Normans who originally came from France. The people who built them and lived in them were typically rich noblemen and their families who wanted to show their power and status.

What were the 3 types of castles?

The three main types of castles are the motte and bailey castle, the stone keep castle, and the concentric castle.

What are the disadvantages of a stone keep castle?

Although they seemed impenetrable at first, attackers quickly realized the weaknesses of many stone keep castles.

• They were expensive to build and to maintain and so only the wealthiest lords could afford to build very secure stone castles.
• Stone castles were built on a square or rectangular plan.

What are the 4 types of castles?

Use the links below to read through the information on each of the four different types of Medieval castles; Motte and Bailey, Concentric, Shell Keep and Square Keep.

What was wrong with Motte and Bailey castles?

The major weakness of the motte and bailey castle was the likelihood of the keep rotting or burning down. The solution was to build stone keeps but these could not always be built on the same site since the weight of the stone would sink into the motte.

What is the purpose of Motte and Bailey castles?

Motte and bailey castles were a form of castle structure that enabled the new Norman conquerors of England and Wales to secure areas of land quickly and cheaply. The Normans needed a castle design they could erect quickly to subdue the vanquished Britons.

What is the Motte in a castle?

The castle is made up of two parts. The motte is a raised mound or earthwork which would have a stone or wooden keep on top. A keep is a kind fortified tower. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard that was protected by a ditch and a palisade – which is a wall made from wooden stakes.

Why are concentric castles better than motte and bailey?

A concentric castle is a much larger construction than Motte and bailey or Stone keep castles. Concentric Castles, such as Beaumaris and Caerphilly Castles, make best use of angles in a castles design, providing the defender with more opportunity to hurt any attacking force.

What is the motte in a castle?

What is the difference between a fortress and a castle?

There is little difference between a fortress and a castle. Fortresses normally have thick stone walls, thicker but less tall than in castles so artillery cannot break them. There were very small windows, without glass, so that soldiers inside could fire out through them. Fortresses were not designed for comfort.

What is the difference between a motte and bailey castle?

Stone keep castles were first built during the reign of William I as a natural extension to the more traditional motte and bailey castles. The main difference between the two was that motte and bailey castles were designed to be temporary (although lots survive to this day) while stone keep castles were designed to last as long as possible.

When did motte and bailey become less popular?

The Motte-and-bailey design became less popular in the mid-medieval period, and from the end of the 12th century, a new scientific approach in castle design had emerged. And with this new approach, the great era of stone castles had begun.

How many baileys are there in a castle?

For example, a castle could have had more than one bailey and a good example is Windsor Castle where several baileys flank the motte. Alternatively, some castles were designed with a single bailey and two mottes, such as Lincoln Castle.

Who built the first stone keep castle?

Stone or square keep castles were first built in Medieval England by William the Conqueror. Stone keep castles were the natural extension of motte and bailey castles. Motte and bailey castles were only temporary features (though many mottes exist to this day) while stone keep castles were built to last.