Bailey

This is the main enclosure, or Bailey. It would have contained houses, kitchens, stables and animal enclosures. Imagine how busy and built up it would have been. The impression would be of a small village squeezed into the space! The combination of workers, their families and animals would mean that the castle was always full of activity and probably quite smelly!

Recent digs have uncovered evidence of wooden structures from the early 12th century, as well as late 12th century masonry, part of which is thought to be the Great Hall. The masonry remains revealed evidence of burning and demolition, along with two gaming boards and counters for the popular ancient strategy game ‘Nine Men’s Morris’.