Early Style Castle Development

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Early Style Castle Development

The early style castle developed into that, that stood in 1480 because

of multiple reasons but the main reason is that the castle needed to

become stronger, if it was ever to be needed in a battle or war.

[IMAGE]Middleham started off as a motte and baily (to the left),

basically meaning mound and middle. The motte was usually an

artificial hill with the keep placed on top of it. The baily was a

smaller hill with everyday buildings on it, mainly though residential

buildings. After the Norman Conquest in 1066 a string of Motte and

bailys were constructed to keep a eye on certain areas so rebellions

against William duke of Normandy were known before they struck, also

the castles were quick and cheap to build and since there was more

Normans then Britons, this was a good think, Middleham was one of

these and this was its first purpose. Alan the red was in charge of

Middleham as he was rewarded it after the battle of Hastings in 1066.

The castle was then passed down through Alan's family.

[IMAGE]In 1170 Middleham passed to Robert Fits Randelf, who in 1170

converted Middleham into a square keep (to the left), which is a large

stone thick keep more impregnable then a motte and baily. In the dark

(500 A.D to 1000A.D) and middle (500 A.D to 1400 A.D) ages infinite

war was taking place and getting worse so stronger bigger castles were

needed to stand up to new siege weaponry. The first castle was built

to the west of the square keep on a hill. This castle would of being

better defensively if it was on the hill, put still no historians know

why the castle was moved.

[IMAGE]The Nevill family were the next to inherit Middleham in 1270,

through marriages Ralf Nevill was the next to add to Middleham in

1355. He added the curtain wall (to the left) which is a stone wall

which surrounded the castle. This was added to also increase defence.

Ralf 4th Nevill lord added the most to Middleham in the fifteenth

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