Motte And Bailey - GCSE History Definition

The term 'Motte and Bailey' refers to a type of castle design that was common in medieval Europe, especially in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It consists of two main parts: the motte and the bailey. The motte is a large, raised earth mound with a wooden or stone keep (tower) on top, which served as a lookout and a last line of defence. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard, usually protected by a wooden fence, or pallisade, where people lived and worked. These castles were built quickly and provided strong defence against enemies but were vulnerable to being burnt down. They are important in history because they show how the Normans established control over England and changed the landscape with these new structures.