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 are the advantages and disadvantages of motte & Bailey caste?
| Advantages quick to build protected by the soldiers Disadvantages made of wood temporary | Evaluation A motte and bailey castle was a way that William the Conqueror could control his land that he had just won. This was only temporary solution though so that is why stone castles started to be built |
What are the bad things about motte and Bailey castles?
Another negative thing was that
the stone keep castle was square
, so the corners could easily be undermined. The enemy would usually send men down a hole, make them tunnel until they reached a corner of the castle, which would cave in due to the weight of the stone castle and make it crumble away.
What are the disadvantages of a Bailey?
- Timber burns easily -and attackers quickly learned that firing flaming arrows could defeat the castle.
- Timber rots, to0 – castles quickly ran into disrepair, and often became abandoned by their owners.
- Mottes often had a broad base.
What are the disadvantages of a castle?
- 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 makes a motte and bailey castle strong?
The sides of the motte were very steep
.
It would have almost impossible to run up the sides of the motte, making it an excellence defence, A deep ditch was dug around the bottom of the motte for extra protection.
What are the disadvantages of concentric castles?
- They were phenomenally expensive to build – this can’t be overstated!
- They took significant time to build – they needed years, rather than just weeks for basic motte-and-bailey castle.
How long would it take to build a motte and bailey castle?
The motte and bailey castle at Dover took just
eight days
to build – according to William of Poitiers who was William’s chaplain. Was such a feat possible? Building castles then was very labour intensive.
How could a motte and bailey castle be improved?
During the 12th century many castles were improved and strengthened by
using stone as
the ain building material. The wooden defences of motte and bailey castles were replaced by walls and towers of stone.
What was life like in Motte and Bailey castles?
At the bottom of the motte was the bailey. The bailey varied in size from one to three acres. Inside the bailey,
lived the followers of the Lord who ran the castle
. There were many buildings inside the bailey including stables, storehouses, bakeries, kitchens, houses, and quarters for soldiers.
What was the bailey used for in a castle?
The bailey was
the center of domestic life within the castle
and could contain a variety of buildings, including halls, kitchens, stores, stables, a chapel, barracks, and workshops.
Why did the Normans build so many castles?
After their victory at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans settled in England. They constructed
castles all over the country in order to control their newly-won territory
, and to pacify the Anglo-Saxon population. … These timber castles were quite cheap and very quick to build.
What did the bailey consist of?
The bailey was often kidney-shaped to fit against a circular motte, but could be made in other shapes according to the terrain. The bailey would contain a wide number of buildings, including
a hall, kitchens, a chapel, barracks, stores, stables, forges or workshops
, and was the centre of the castle’s economic activity.
What was the weakest part of a castle?
The entrance to the castle
was always its weakest point. Drawbridges could be pulled up, preventing access across moats. Tall gate towers meant that defenders could shoot down in safety at attacks below. The main gate or door to the castle was usually a thick, iron-studded wooden door, that was hard to break through.
What were some of the drawbacks of using a castle for defense?
What were some of the drawbacks of using a castle for defense?
People would not be able to leave the grounds, they could run out of food/water, many people living together at one time
. Peasants would come onto the castle grounds for protection from war.
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in a castle?
- Pro: Beautiful View. When you move into the schloß, the first thing you notice is the beauty of the castle. …
- Con: Wack Wifi. …
- Pro: So. …
- Con: s t a i r s. …
- Pro: Places to Walk/ Run. …
- Con: No Shower Curtains/ Mirrors. …
- Pro: It’s a Castle. …
- Pro/ Con: Bread.
