What Are The Disadvantages Of Motte And Bailey Castles?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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 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 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 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.

What were Motte and Bailey castles used for?

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 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.

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 do you need for a Motte and Bailey castle?

Most motte and bailey castles had a circular wall made from sturdy tree trunks called a palisade. The easiest way to replicate this is to stick together rows of small wooden sticks (like popsicle sticks, coffee stirrers, or even dry twigs from outdoors). Tape or glue each piece of the wall in place carefully.

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 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.
David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.