Starter quiz
- Which word describes having the right to hold power?
- 'legitimacy' ✓
- Complete the sentence: The site chosen for the White Tower was a ______ important one: the castle guarded important points of access into London.
- 'strategically' ✓
- Which London landmark was only 500 metres from the White Tower?
- Westminster Cathedral
- Montfichet's Tower
- London Bridge ✓
- Baynard's Castle
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- Which of the following evidence suggests that the White Tower's location was symbolic?
- The White Tower was constructed inside the London Wall. ✓
- The White Tower was constructed on elevated ground.
- The White Tower was constructed on a bend in the River Thames.
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- Which of the following evidence suggests that the White Tower's location was economically motivated?
- The White Tower was constructed inside the London Wall.
- The White Tower was constructed on elevated ground.
- The White Tower was constructed on a bend in the River Thames. ✓
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- Put the following events in chronological order.
- 1⇔The Romans erected fortifications in the south-western corner of the London Wall
- 2⇔An Anglo-Saxon fort was built.
- 3⇔Ralph Baynard made the Earl of Essex.
- 4⇔Baynard’s Castle was built.
- 5⇔The site was demolished to make way for Blackfriars Priory.
Exit quiz
- Which word describes the style of building that was fashionable in Western Europe which recalled the power of the Roman Empire?
- 'Romanesque' ✓
- Which word describes a fortified tower in a castle?
- 'keep' ✓
- Who was the architect of the White Tower?
- Henry III
- William FitzOsbern
- Gundulf ✓
- Ralf of Mantes
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- What type of castle were the early Norman castles?
- 'motte-and-bailey castle' ✓
- What name did the White Tower have in William the Conqueror's time?
- the Tower of London
- the Great Tower ✓
- the Conquest Tower
- the First Tower
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- Match the floor level to the White Tower's feature.
- first floor⇔Access to the tower was on this floor via a wooden staircase. ✓
- second floor⇔The Chapel of St John the Evangelist was on this floor. ✓
- third floor⇔This did not exist in Norman times. ✓
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The Normans loved an architectural style known now as Romanesque which looked back to features of Roman architecture.
- Castles changed the landscape of Norman England.
- Stone keeps and walls began to replace the wooden castle buildings and fortifications in the 12th century.
- The architect of the White Tower was a monk from Normandy, called Gundulf.
- The White Tower was built as a massive rectangular structure, with four corner turrets.
Common misconception
All Norman castles were built to the same design.
In fact, although we learn about the classic motte-and-bailey castle (and maybe even make models of them in school), there was a very wide variety of castle designs in England and in Normandy.
Keywords
Romanesque - the style of building that was fashionable in Western Europe which recalled the power of the Roman Empire
Architecture - the design and construction of buildings
Motte-and-bailey - a type of fortification built by the Normans
Keep - a fortified tower in a castle
Mason - somebody who constructs things from stone
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