What was the keep used for in a motte-and-bailey castle?

What was the keep used for in a motte-and-bailey castle? The keep on top of the motte was the castle's primary defensive element. It was surrounded by a protective wall, originally made of wood. Small mottes could only support a simple tower but larger mottes could support more complex structures that often contained multiple rooms.

What was the purpose of the keep in a castle?

Traditionally keeps were built as a type of fortified tower built by European nobility. Keep's were built within castles during the Middle Ages and they were used as a refuge or last resort should the rest of the castle fall to enemies.

Why were stone keep castles better than motte and bailey?

The Stone Keep Castle also had positive points, which made it better than the Motte and Bailey castle. Firstly they were not made from wood, so they could not easily be burnt down. Also, because they were made of stone, they could not rot.

What were the key features of the keep castle?

The stone keepwas a central feature of the castle, a stone tower built on the highest point. It was typically very tall with thick stone walls and is where the owners would have lived. Not all keeps were the same, but there would have typically been: Battlements- on the top of the keep to provide defence.

What was the safest place in a motte-and-bailey castle?

The keep was the building where the owners of the castle would live. It was the safest place in the castle. The bailey was open, flat ground surrounded by a tall, wooden fence, often topped with spikes.

Why is a keep called a keep?

Since the 16th century, the English word keep has commonly referred to large towers in castles. The word originates from around 1375 to 1376, coming from the Middle English term kype, meaning basket or cask, and was a term applied to the shell keep at Guînes, said to resemble a barrel.

Who built the first castle?

The Normans were the first group of people to build castles in England, although the Romans before them had built forts that the Normans then expanded and improved. Initially, castles were built out of wood, but eventually, people made castles from stone because they were stronger and lasted longer.

What is the largest castle in the world?

The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (Polish: Zamek w Malborku; German: Ordensburg Marienburg) is a 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located in the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.