"William crossed the sea from Normandy and landed
at Pevensey, where he built a strongly defended
castle.

"Leaving a group of knights there, he rode to
Hastings where he quickly built another castle."

WRITTEN BY WILLIAM OF JUMIEGES, 
A NORMAN MONK.


"It is the custom of the Norman nobles, so that
they can be safe when they are fighting, to make
a big mound of earth as high as they can.

Round this mound they dig a ditch as deep and
wide as they can afford.

Round the top edge of the mound they put up a
stockade made of logs.

In the middle of this they build a tower or home.

The only entrance is across a bridge."


WRITTEN BY WALTER THE ARCHDEACON IN 1100. 


"The first castles were called Motte and Bailey
castles.

The Motte was a large mound of earth, with a
stockade round the top of it and a tower or keep
in the middle.

The Motte was connected to the Bailey by a bridge.

The Bailey had a stockade round it.

The Bailey was used for keeping animals; there might
be farm buildings there and places for the
soldiers to sleep.

Duke William may have built parts of these castles
in Normandy before he invaded."


A MODERN HISTORIAN. 1994.