Maple Class
Welcome to Maple Class!
Welcome to our class page! This first half of the Summer term, we are diving into a brilliant history topic that asks the question: 'Why were Norman castles certainly not bouncy?'
We'll be exploring who the Normans were, why they built castles, and what these incredible stone structures tell us about power, control and life in medieval England. Spoiler: they were built to be strong, solid and very, very scary!
Who Were the Normans?
In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy (in modern-day France) and defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. After his victory, William needed to control a large country full of people who didn't want to be ruled by him — and that's exactly why he started building castles.
Historians believe the Normans built around 500 motte and bailey castles in England — roughly one every two weeks in the two years following 1066!
Types of Norman Castle
We will be comparing two key types of Norman castle and discovering why they changed over time:
Motte & Bailey
Built quickly from wood and earth. A raised mound (motte) with a courtyard (bailey) surrounded by a ditch and wooden fence (palisade).
Stone Keep
As Norman rule became more settled, wooden structures were replaced with thick stone walls — much harder to attack and burn down!
The Keep
The tall, strong tower at the heart of a castle — used as a lookout point, a home for the lord, and the last point of defence.
Why Did the Normans Build Castles?
Castles were an almost completely new idea in England before the Normans arrived. We will explore their three key purposes:
Military: Castles were bases for Norman soldiers to control the surrounding area and crush any rebellions by local people.
Psychological: Towering over towns and villages, castles were designed to be intimidating — a constant reminder of who was in charge.
Administrative: Castles were centres of Norman power where nobles could govern their area and collect taxes from the local population.
Key Vocabulary
Here are some important words we'll be using this term. Can you learn them all?
Motte Bailey Keep Palisade Moat Conquest Fortification Norman Siege Drawbridge Battlements Garrison
Across the Curriculum
Our Norman castles topic links to learning right across the curriculum:
History
The Norman Conquest, 1066 and the feudal system
English
Non-chronological reports and persuasive writing
Geography
Why castles were built in strategic locations across England
Art & DT
Designing and building model castles
Maths
Measurements, scale drawings and 3D shapes
Oracy
Debates, discussions and historical enquiry
How You Can Help at Home
Visit a local Norman castle if you can — there are fantastic examples all over the UK, including Nottingham Castle, Lincoln Castle and Newark Castle, all close to us!
Watch a documentary or Horrible Histories episode about the Normans together — a great and fun way to pick up extra knowledge!
Ask your child the key vocabulary words above — can they explain what a motte, a bailey and a palisade are?