From early times, people have built protection around them:

• Stone Age people lived in caves and made defences to keep out wild animals.
• The first cities built had high stone walls to keep out invaders.
• Kings and nobles fortified their large large homes to protect themselves.

The First Castles

The first castles were built by the Normans
The great age of castles began almost 1,000 years ago and lasted for nearly 500 years. The first proper castles built in England were built after the Norman Conquest in 1066. They were introduced by William the Conqueror, when he invaded England from his homeland in France. William needed to show his authority and protect his new kingdom. The early years of Norman occupation saw a frenzy of castle building.

The first castles buit were the Motte and Bailey style castles.

An of a late 12th-century castle

What were the first castles buit like? | Castle Timeline

What are castles? | Why were castles built? | Where were castles built?

What is the biggest castle in England? | What is the biggest castle in the world?