Medieval Architecture: What Is a Motte-and-Bailey Castle?
Motte-and-Bailey castles were used throughout Europe, particularly during the early medieval period. Here’s everything about them!
Medieval architecture includes religious, civil, and military buildings. There are many styles such as pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, and Gothic. The majority of Anglo-Saxon buildings were constructed in wood, so few are left standing. But we have some evidence of how they were built and several examples of stone buildings.
Motte-and-Bailey castles were used throughout Europe, particularly during the early medieval period. Here’s everything about them!
In this article, we go through the most impressive medieval cathedrals of Great Britain, architectural marvels that stood the test of time.
English buildings, churches and castles have seen the evolution of many architectural styles through the middle ages.
Learn more about medieval houses. All the common parts of a house of the Middle ages, townhouse vs farmhouse and more.
Learn more about how medieval architects used natural defences such as cliffs, rivers, ditches, and ravines to fortify castles.
Quick jump to: Battlements – Chapel – Keep – Ward – Barbican – Arrow Loops – Turret – Tower – Portcullis – Moat – Gatehouse – Curtain Wall – Drawbridge
A castle’s Turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall.
A castle’s Chapel was built inside the walls and sometimes served as a burial site.
A castle’s Arrowslit or Arrow Loops were narrow vertical apertures in a fortification.
A castle’s Curtain Wall was a defensive wall between two towers or bastions.
A castle’s Ward or Bailey is a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall.
A castle’s Drawbridge lead to the gateway and could be raised to prevent entry into the fortification.
A castle’s Keep is the strongest portion of the fortification and the last resort in case of a siege or attack.
A castle’s Gatehouse was a fortified gateway, enclosing or entry control point to a building.
A castle’s tower was a fortified structure that provided flanking fire to a fortification.
A castle’s Battlement consisted of a parapet with gaps or indentations used for defence.
A castle’s moat was a deep and broad ditch, sometimes filled with water, that provides a line of defence.
A castle’s portcullis is a fortified grilled entrance made of strong wood and held vertically.
A castle’s barbican is a fortified outpost or gateway that works as an outer defense perimeter.
