Castles of William the Conqueror
At Pevensey, where he first landed, William spotted an existing but run-down Fort/castle/building built by the Romans was quickly strengthened to provide a secure first base. At Hastings a motte and bailey castle was possibly constructed and again at Dover the existing Roman fort was refortified.
William took his army around the lower/south coast of England --> Dover to Canterbury (they surrendered to him). He then attempted to conquer London but was rejected and forced back. He then encircled London, by taking control of the urban area around it. At Wallingford, a crossing point of the Thames, he built another castle. William built another at Berkhampstead before London eventually surrendered. After becoming King William led his army across the south of England building castles and taking control. At Exeter he had to lay siege (a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender) to the town until an agreement was reached. He then built a castle there.
As the Normans spread out to conquer their new lands, they chose to build their motte and bailey castles in locations where they could be on hand to put down revolts. They built inside or near existing towns, usually on high ground or where there was a good water supply. In the early years the Normans heavy handedly cleared whatever was in their way to build where they wanted, knocking down housing and striping local areas of building materials. Later on when their position was more secure, land was bought or swapped for other areas.
When looking at a map of Norman castles, it can be seen that there is a concentration of sites on the Welsh borders. This probably shows that the Normans had problems controlling their Welsh neighbours and had to keep a watchful eye on them.
Records do not exist showing the exact number of castles that were built by the Normans after they invaded but there must have been hundreds.
Castles ordered by WilliamWilliam the Conqueror ordered the construction of several castles himself.
Colchester Corfe Exeter Hastings Huntingdon Lincoln Nottingham Stafford Tower of London Wallingford Warwick Windsor Castles mentioned in the Domesday BookThe Domesday book lists around 48 or 49 castles at the time of it's compilation. The list was probably incomplete. (List taken from 'The English Castles' E.B.D'Auvergne)
Arundel Berkeley Bramber Burton Caerleon Cambridge Canterbury Carisbrooke Chepstow Clifford Clitheroe Corfe Dudley Dunster Ewyas Eye Gloucester Hastings Huntingdon Launceston Lewes Lincoln Monmouth Montacute Montgomery Norwich Okehampton Oswestry Peak Penwortham Pontefract Raleigh Rhuddlan Richard's Castle Richmond Rochester Rockingham Shrewsbury Stafford Stamford Stanton Trematon Tutbury Wallingford Warwick Wigmore Windsor York (2 castles)
Why build and live in castles?
Definition of a castle: A castle is a fortified building or set of buildings used to provide permanent or temporary protection and accomodation for kings and queens or important noblemen and their families. The term castle usually refers to stone buildings constructed during the Medieval period. The castle provided the centre for political and administrative power for the region.
From our definition of a castle we say that a castle is a well fortified and defendable place to live. But why did kings, barons and their families and supporters feel the need to live in castles during the medieval period? Because a castle is a defendable place it means that the person living in it must have been concerned that they could be attacked. There are three main reasons why a king or baron may have wanted to live in castle: -
Danger of invasion by enemies from another country.Of the three dangers listed here the threat from civil war or the need to control the population were the main reasons that the majority of castles were built in Europe. Although foreign invasions did occur not many castles can be said to have built because of the fear of foreign invasion. Those that were are on the south and east coast of England such as Dover and Portchester.
During the early years of the tenth century (900-925), the threat from Viking invasion was great and so Edward the Elder and his sister Ethelflead, Lady of the Mercians, organised the fortification of many towns , including Shrewsbury, Bridgenorth, Tamworth and Warwick. What form the fortifications took is not known as no records survive. Stone may have been used where it was available, but most likely it would have been ditches and wooden palisades that surrounded the towns.
Much later on, in the first half of the sixteenth century, Henry VIII built several strongholds along the south coast of England to defend against an invasion from France. But these fortifications can be described as forts rather than castles as they were not designed to be lived in by the royal family or the barons.
Danger from rival groups within the country during a civil war.Castles became extremely important as a place of safety during the conflicts between rival groups: -
During the period of civil war, known as the Anarchy between King Stephen of England and Matilda the daughter of Henry I, castles were held by loyal supporters of one or the other side. Castles were besieged and captured.
The castle became such a powerful place that barons who controlled one or more castles were a serious threat to the King. After the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, Henry II ordered the destruction of many castles and confiscated many more so that the barons could not oppose his rule.
Danger from an uprising of the ordinary population of the country.After the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066 the Normans constructed a large number of motte and bailey castles across the country. William the Conqueror and his trusted barons built these castles to control the country's newly subdued inhabitants. William feared an uprising by an unhappy population who outnumbered their Norman conquerors. The castles were required so that the Normans could remain safe and in control.
Major castles were built in or near large centres of population. On the edge of London William the Conqueror had a massive square keep constructed as a reminder to the Londoners that he was their king. Similarly castles were built in Exeter, York and at other important medieval cities. William also built castles at strategic locations such as important river crossings and crossroads.
- - Repairs to existing Roman fortifications
- - Prefabricated Castles
- - Motte and Bailey Castles
- As soon as William the Conqueror arrived in England in 1066 he started building castles. At first they were simply temporary constructions to offer some protection and a roof for the army that he had brought with him from Normandy. William may have also brought over 'pop-up' castles from Normandy that could be assembled where needed.
At Pevensey, where he first landed, William spotted an existing but run-down Fort/castle/building built by the Romans was quickly strengthened to provide a secure first base. At Hastings a motte and bailey castle was possibly constructed and again at Dover the existing Roman fort was refortified.
William took his army around the lower/south coast of England --> Dover to Canterbury (they surrendered to him). He then attempted to conquer London but was rejected and forced back. He then encircled London, by taking control of the urban area around it. At Wallingford, a crossing point of the Thames, he built another castle. William built another at Berkhampstead before London eventually surrendered. After becoming King William led his army across the south of England building castles and taking control. At Exeter he had to lay siege (a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender) to the town until an agreement was reached. He then built a castle there.
As the Normans spread out to conquer their new lands, they chose to build their motte and bailey castles in locations where they could be on hand to put down revolts. They built inside or near existing towns, usually on high ground or where there was a good water supply. In the early years the Normans heavy handedly cleared whatever was in their way to build where they wanted, knocking down housing and striping local areas of building materials. Later on when their position was more secure, land was bought or swapped for other areas.
When looking at a map of Norman castles, it can be seen that there is a concentration of sites on the Welsh borders. This probably shows that the Normans had problems controlling their Welsh neighbours and had to keep a watchful eye on them.
Records do not exist showing the exact number of castles that were built by the Normans after they invaded but there must have been hundreds.
Castles ordered by WilliamWilliam the Conqueror ordered the construction of several castles himself.
Colchester Corfe Exeter Hastings Huntingdon Lincoln Nottingham Stafford Tower of London Wallingford Warwick Windsor Castles mentioned in the Domesday BookThe Domesday book lists around 48 or 49 castles at the time of it's compilation. The list was probably incomplete. (List taken from 'The English Castles' E.B.D'Auvergne)
Arundel Berkeley Bramber Burton Caerleon Cambridge Canterbury Carisbrooke Chepstow Clifford Clitheroe Corfe Dudley Dunster Ewyas Eye Gloucester Hastings Huntingdon Launceston Lewes Lincoln Monmouth Montacute Montgomery Norwich Okehampton Oswestry Peak Penwortham Pontefract Raleigh Rhuddlan Richard's Castle Richmond Rochester Rockingham Shrewsbury Stafford Stamford Stanton Trematon Tutbury Wallingford Warwick Wigmore Windsor York (2 castles)
Why build and live in castles?
Definition of a castle: A castle is a fortified building or set of buildings used to provide permanent or temporary protection and accomodation for kings and queens or important noblemen and their families. The term castle usually refers to stone buildings constructed during the Medieval period. The castle provided the centre for political and administrative power for the region.
From our definition of a castle we say that a castle is a well fortified and defendable place to live. But why did kings, barons and their families and supporters feel the need to live in castles during the medieval period? Because a castle is a defendable place it means that the person living in it must have been concerned that they could be attacked. There are three main reasons why a king or baron may have wanted to live in castle: -
Danger of invasion by enemies from another country.Of the three dangers listed here the threat from civil war or the need to control the population were the main reasons that the majority of castles were built in Europe. Although foreign invasions did occur not many castles can be said to have built because of the fear of foreign invasion. Those that were are on the south and east coast of England such as Dover and Portchester.
During the early years of the tenth century (900-925), the threat from Viking invasion was great and so Edward the Elder and his sister Ethelflead, Lady of the Mercians, organised the fortification of many towns , including Shrewsbury, Bridgenorth, Tamworth and Warwick. What form the fortifications took is not known as no records survive. Stone may have been used where it was available, but most likely it would have been ditches and wooden palisades that surrounded the towns.
Much later on, in the first half of the sixteenth century, Henry VIII built several strongholds along the south coast of England to defend against an invasion from France. But these fortifications can be described as forts rather than castles as they were not designed to be lived in by the royal family or the barons.
Danger from rival groups within the country during a civil war.Castles became extremely important as a place of safety during the conflicts between rival groups: -
- The king and barons who were upset by his rule.
- Opposing branches of the same royal family.
- Rival barons.
During the period of civil war, known as the Anarchy between King Stephen of England and Matilda the daughter of Henry I, castles were held by loyal supporters of one or the other side. Castles were besieged and captured.
The castle became such a powerful place that barons who controlled one or more castles were a serious threat to the King. After the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, Henry II ordered the destruction of many castles and confiscated many more so that the barons could not oppose his rule.
Danger from an uprising of the ordinary population of the country.After the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066 the Normans constructed a large number of motte and bailey castles across the country. William the Conqueror and his trusted barons built these castles to control the country's newly subdued inhabitants. William feared an uprising by an unhappy population who outnumbered their Norman conquerors. The castles were required so that the Normans could remain safe and in control.
Major castles were built in or near large centres of population. On the edge of London William the Conqueror had a massive square keep constructed as a reminder to the Londoners that he was their king. Similarly castles were built in Exeter, York and at other important medieval cities. William also built castles at strategic locations such as important river crossings and crossroads.