New
New
Year 10
AQA
The construction of Pevensey Castle
I can explain how and why Pevensey Castle was constructed as it was.
New
New
Year 10
AQA
The construction of Pevensey Castle
I can explain how and why Pevensey Castle was constructed as it was.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Pevensey Castle was originally a Roman fort.
- Pevensey Castle was a motte-and-bailey castle.
- Pevensey Castle was initially built from wood and a mound of earth.
- Pevensey was strengthened further after the Norman Conquest.
Keywords
Fort - a defensive structure
Castle - a defensive structure which is also designed to be a place of permanent residence
Motte-and-bailey - a type of castle built by the Normans, with a high earthen mound (motte) and a courtyard (bailey) protected by a strong timber palisade (fence)
Common misconception
Motte-and-bailey castles took years to build.
Stone castles could take several years to build; however, the Normans could erect the main defences of a motte-and-bailey castle in as little as a week, usually using large amounts of local labour.
As part of their revision, encourage students to write model paragraphs for different aspects of Pevensey Castle that questions could be asked about; for instance, a model paragraph explaining how the architecture of Pevensey Castle helped the Normans to maintain control.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word means the exchange of goods?
Q2.
Which word means a powerful English landholder?
Q3.
How many mints did Sussex have?
two
four
eight
Q4.
Where have coins minted in Sussex been found?
Japan
America
Germany
Q5.
Which of the follow industries did Sussex have?
sugar
iron
Q6.
How many churches were there in Sussex on the eve of the Norman Conquest?
25 or so
75 or so
100 or so
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word describes a defensive structure which is also designed to be a place of permanent residence?
Q2.
Which word describes a defensive structure?
Q3.
What happened to ‘Anderitum’ after the Romans left Britain?
it was occupied by soldiers
its walls were rebuilt in 461 CE
Q4.
What was one of William the Conqueror’s initial actions upon landing at Pevensey in 1066?
He disbanded his army to avoid conflict.
He immediately launched an attack on London.
He established a naval blockade of the English Channel.
Q5.
How did William the Conqueror manage to complete the castle so quickly at Pevensey?
He employed a team of English architects to design the castle on site.
He used an existing mound in Pevensey as the base for the castle.
He built the entire castle from scratch using local materials.
Q6.
What were some of the improvements made to Pevensey Castle by Robert, Count of Mortain?
He dismantled the Roman walls to make way for new fortifications.
He turned the castle into a luxurious palace for Norman nobility.
He relocated the castle to a different site for better defence.
Additional material
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