Peterborough Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peterborough Castle |
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| Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England | |
 Peterborough Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°34′23″N 0°14′23″W / 52.5730°N 0.2396°W |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks only survive |
Peterborough Castle, also known as Mount Thorold and Touthill, was a medieval motte and bailey castle in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. This type of castle was very common in England after the Norman Conquest.
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Peterborough Castle: A Medieval Stronghold
Peterborough Castle was a special kind of early castle. It was built during the Middle Ages in the town of Peterborough. Today, you can still see parts of where it once stood.
What is a Motte and Bailey Castle?
A motte and bailey castle was a simple but strong design. It had two main parts:
- A motte was a large, artificial mound of earth. A wooden tower or keep was built on top of this mound. This gave defenders a high, safe place to look out from.
- A bailey was a courtyard area. It was usually surrounded by a wooden fence called a palisade and a ditch. People lived and worked inside the bailey.
These castles were quick to build. They were often the first castles put up after an invasion.
Who Built Peterborough Castle?
Peterborough Castle was built by a man named Abbot Thorold. An abbot was the head of a monastery, a place where monks lived. Thorold was a Norman, meaning he came from Normandy in France. He was given his job by William the Conqueror. William was the Duke of Normandy who invaded and took over England in 1066.
Abbot Thorold built the castle near the cathedral in Peterborough. Today, this area is known as the Dean's garden. He built it to protect himself. This was a time of change and some trouble after William the Conqueror took control of England.
What Happened to the Castle?
Peterborough Castle did not last forever. It was destroyed in the 12th century. This happened under another abbot named Martin de Bec. We don't know exactly why he destroyed it. Perhaps it was no longer needed, or he wanted to build something else.
What Remains Today?
Today, only the motte, or the earth mound, of Peterborough Castle survives. It stands about ten to twelve metres high. This mound is an important historical site. It is protected by law as a "scheduled monument." This means it's a nationally important archaeological site. It helps us understand what life was like in medieval England.
