Wormegay Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wormegay Castle |
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| Norfolk, England | |
Motte of Wormegay Castle
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 Wormegay Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°40′40″N 0°27′08″E / 52.6779°N 0.4522°E |
| Type | Motte-and-bailey |
Wormegay Castle is an old castle site in Norfolk, England. It's a special type of castle called a motte and bailey. This means it had a big mound (the motte) and a walled area (the bailey). You can still see the earthworks today near the village of Wormegay.
What is Wormegay Castle?
Wormegay Castle was likely built by a person named Hermer de Ferrers. This happened after the Normans took over England in 1066. The de Ferrers family owned the castle until 1166.
How Was the Castle Built?
The castle was made of earth. It had two main parts:
- The motte was a tall, round hill. It was about 5 metres (16 feet) high. At its base, it measured 77 metres (253 feet) by 62 metres (203 feet) wide.
- A deep ditch surrounded the motte on three sides. This ditch was up to 15 metres (49 feet) wide and 2 metres (6.5 feet) deep. It made it harder for enemies to attack.
- The bailey was a large, flat area next to the motte. It was about 150 metres (492 feet) long and 88 metres (289 feet) wide. This area was raised about 1 metre (3 feet) off the ground.
Why Was the Castle Important?
In olden times, Wormegay Castle was very easy to see. It stood out as a major landmark in the area. It also helped control a path across the Fens, which were marshy lands.
The castle was the main centre for a large area of land called an honour. This honour included many properties across East Anglia. Because it was so important, Wormegay Castle also helped protect Norwich Castle by providing soldiers for its defence.
