The Normans started building Motte and Bailey castles in England soon after their victory at the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror built the first one at Hastings.

Motte and Bailey castles were built from wood and earth. These materials were readily available in England and Wales so they were quick and easy to build. The Normans usually ordered the English to dig a circular ditch and in the middle they placed a huge mound of earth that was called a motte. They placed a wooden castle on top, called a keep, and around the bottom a wooden fence called a palisade.

They also ordered a smaller mound to be built where they placed another palisade. This was called the bailey and in it soldiers were stationed and animals kept. A drawbridge was used to cross the ditch to give easy access to the bailey.

All of this could usually be achieved in about a week. If there were houses where the Normans wanted to build a castle they often just built the motte straight on top.

Many of these castles were built along the border between England and Wales. This was because for a long period after the Norman invasion much of Wales remained under the control of Welsh princes. The Norman knights, who had been given land close to the Welsh border, were encouraged to expand into Wales. They became known as marcher lords. They built castles to protect land they had taken and defend against any Welsh rebellions from those who did not want to live under Norman rule.