Hampstead Norris Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hampstead Norris Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Hampstead Norris, Berkshire, England | |
The motte of Hampstead Norris Castle
|
|
 Hampstead Norris Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 51°28′50″N 1°14′23″W / 51.4806°N 1.2398°W |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks |
Hampstead Norris Castle was a Norman castle located in the small village of Hampstead Norris, which is in Berkshire, England. It was an important type of castle built a long time ago.
What is a Motte and Bailey Castle?
Hampstead Norris Castle is known as a motte and bailey castle. This was a popular type of castle built by the Normans after they conquered England in 1066.
A motte and bailey castle has two main parts:
- The motte is a large, tall mound of earth. A wooden tower or a strong building would have stood on top of this mound. This gave defenders a great view and made it hard for enemies to attack.
- The bailey is a large, flat area next to the motte. It was usually surrounded by a wooden fence called a palisade and a ditch. This area held buildings like homes, stables, and workshops for the people living in the castle.
The Castle's History
Hampstead Norris Castle was built overlooking the village of Hampstead Norris. The motte, or earth mound, is quite big. It is about 25 meters (82 feet) wide and 4.2 meters (14 feet) high. It was made from chalk, a type of soft white rock.
Experts can tell that a timber (wooden) tower or another strong building once stood on top of the motte. This would have been the main defensive spot. For a while, people thought this mound might have been a tumulus. A tumulus is an ancient burial mound, much older than Norman castles. However, later studies confirmed it was indeed a Norman castle.
A local historian named David Ford thinks the castle might have been built after the Norman conquest of England. The Norman conquest was when William the Conqueror and his Norman army took control of England in 1066. David Ford believes a person named Theodoric the Goldsmith might have built this castle.
What Remains Today?
Today, Hampstead Norris Castle is no longer a complete castle. What you can see are the earthworks, which are the remains of the motte and the ditches. The site is now surrounded by peaceful woodland.
Because of its historical importance, the castle site is protected. It is a "scheduled monument." This means it's a nationally important archaeological site or historic building. It is protected by law so that it can be preserved for future generations to learn from.
