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Year 10
AQA

The function of the White Tower

I can describe the different functions of the White Tower.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

The function of the White Tower

I can describe the different functions of the White Tower.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Norman castles in England were primarily military buildings.
  2. The White Tower was designed to defend a garrison against attack.
  3. Norman castles were centres of government administration and had economic functions.
  4. The White Tower was also built to be a royal residence.

Keywords

  • Garrison - troops stationed in a building to guard it

  • Function - what something is designed to do

Common misconception

That early medieval kings ruled from a royal palace.

In fact, early medieval kings and their courts travelled from one location to another.


To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The function of the White Tower, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students could sketch a diagram of the White Tower and label its defences.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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 describes somebody who constructs things from stone?
Correct Answer: mason, masons
Q2.
Which word describes the design and construction of buildings?
Correct Answer: architecture
Q3.
Which of the following are examples of the White Tower's Romanesque style?
its small, slim columns and pointed arches
Correct answer: its thick walls and tall tower
Correct answer: its huge stone columns and rounded arches
its thin walls and short tower
Q4.
Which building materials were used by Gundulf in the construction of the White Tower?
marble from Greece
Correct answer: red Roman bricks
Correct answer: ragstone from Kent
Correct answer: Caen stone from Normandy
chalk from Pevensey
Q5.
In which century did stone keeps and walls begin to replace wooden castle buildings?
11th century
Correct answer: 12th century
13th century
14th century
Q6.
Which pattern were the Normans fond of using in their building projects?
gingham
plaid
floral
Correct answer: chevron

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes troops stationed in a building to guard it?
Correct Answer: garrison
Q2.
Which word describes what something is designed to do?
Correct Answer: function, purpose, functions, purposes
Q3.
Which of the following are examples of the White Tower's defences?
Correct answer: immensely thick stone walls
fireplaces in a sloped style
Correct answer: entrance was on the first floor via a wooden staircase
inclusion of St John’s Chapel
Correct answer: had arrow loops for windows
Q4.
Which of the following show that the White Tower was designed to survive besiegement?
numerous fireplaces to suggest there were more soldiers inside than reality
Correct answer: a well was dug in the basement to get fresh water
the design of the walls suggested the tower had at least three floors
Correct answer: the enormous basement had storerooms filled with supplies
Correct answer: its location next to the River Thames meant it could be supplied by boat
Q5.
Which of the following show the White Tower's administrative role?
Correct answer: inclusion of fireplaces and garderobes
Correct answer: riverside location meant that trade on the river came under its control
inclusion of kitchens and rooms for servants
a metre-wide passageway was built into the thick outer wall
Q6.
What was located on the second floor of the White Tower?
well and storerooms
kitchens and rooms for servants
Correct answer: the king’s royal chambers and private chapel
meeting hall and castellan chamber

Additional material

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