Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

Although the motte and bailey castle is correctly considered typical of Norman fortification, it is not the only form they used. Any attempt to erect a more substantial structure than a wooden palisade and primitive wooden tower on top of an earthen motte was likely to lead to the collapse of the mound as can be seen at Farnham Castle in Surrey (English Heritage; tel. 01252 713393). The motte has had to be reinforced in stone to stand the pressure. Where the lay of the land was favourable, forming a natural defensive position such as a promontory, a stone tower or donjon could be built on it with no need for an artificial mound. Chepstow Castle (CADW; tel. 01291 624065) is an example, and a more sophisticated form of the same concept is the White Tower in the Tower of London (tel. 020 7600 3699). Other interesting towers that were built quite soon after include Clifford's Tower in York, Hedingham (01787 460261), Norham (English Heritage; 01289 382329), Orford (English Heritage; 01394 450472) and Rochester (English Heritage; 01634 402276).

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