Bury Castle, Brompton Regis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bury Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Brompton Regis, Somerset, England | |
.jpg)
The site of Bury Castle (to the right of the road)
|
|
 Bury Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 51°01′52″N 3°30′53″W / 51.0311°N 3.5147°W |
| Type | Hillfort and later motte and bailey castle |
Bury Castle is an ancient site near Brompton Regis in Somerset, England. It started as a strong hillfort built during the Iron Age. Later, after the Normans arrived, it was reused as a motte and bailey castle. Today, it is protected as an ancient monument, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Bury Castle: A Fort from the Iron Age
Bury Castle is an oval-shaped area located just above where the River Haddeo and River Exe meet. It is about 110 meters (120 yards) long and 73 meters (80 yards) wide.
What is an Iron Age Hillfort?
An Iron Age hillfort was a large, fortified settlement. People built them on high ground, like hills, to give them a good view and make them easier to defend. They often had big ditches and earth walls around them. These forts were used by communities for protection, living, and sometimes for important ceremonies.
Bury Castle in the Middle Ages
In the late 1130s, England faced a difficult time known as the Anarchy. This was a civil war between supporters of King Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda. During this period, a new type of castle was built at Bury Castle.
The Motte and Bailey Castle
A motte and bailey castle was a common type of castle built after the Norman Conquest. It had two main parts:
- A motte was a large earth mound, often with a wooden tower on top.
- A bailey was a walled courtyard next to the motte, where people lived and worked.
At Bury Castle, a motte was built on the southern tip of the site. It measured about 23 meters (75 feet) across. The bailey, or courtyard, was next to it and was about 60 meters (200 feet) wide. It is thought that a person named William de Say probably built this castle.
Royal Connections
Years later, in 1198, King Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart) officially confirmed that Brompton, where Bury Castle is located, should be part of Empress Matilda's family inheritance. This shows how important the area was even after the civil war ended.
