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You are here: Home / Glossary

Glossary

Motte and Bailey

The first castles built by the Normans often consisted of a simple motte with a tower built on it. A motte is a large earth mound. This mound would often be surrounded by a larger outer, enclosure, known as a bailey. This might contain storerooms, stables and houses. Although castles continued to be built throughout the medieval period, mottes fell out of use by the 12th century.

Diagram of a motte and bialey castle. Copyright Peter Ryder 2003.

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