Admin How many people lived in a Motte and Bailey?
A rough estimate of the total number of people who lived in motte-and-bailey castles would be, on average, 100-200 people.
What is the oldest castle in UK?
Berkhamsted Castle
Built in 1067 by Robert of Mortain, the Berkhamsted Castle is the oldest castle in England.
Why were stone keep castles built?
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. Stone castles replaced the motte and bailey castles but the stone castles also changed over time.
What is a stone keep castle?
Stone Keep Castles. This type of stone keep castl soon replaced the Motte and Bailey castles as it offered a better form of defense. A stone keep was the central feature, with thick walls and few windows. Entrance to the keep was by stone steps leading to the first floor.
How hard was it to build a castle with stone walls?
However, it was significantly harder to do the same with a stone keep castle, which had stone walls instead of wood. They also had their main door on the first floor, reached by wooden steps, which meant that the steps could be knocked down to block off the entrance should an enemy appear.
What happened to the motte-and-bailey castles?
Very slowly, wooden motte-and-bailey castles were increasingly abandoned in favour of stone keep castles, or else they were converted to stone, although it is important to note that this process was uneven and affected different regions at different times.
How would you describe a keep in medieval times?
Entrance to the keep was by stone steps leading to the first floor. The kitchens were situated on the ground floor while living quarters were on the upper floors. The first keeps were rectangular in shape but later ones were often circular. The Stone Keep would be surrounded by a thick stone wall containing turrets for lookouts.