The Normans built a huge number of castles to assert control over the Anglo-Saxon population after the Battle of Hastings. These ranged from motte-and-bailey castles of earth and wood to more permanent stone edifices.
Here are eight of the finest examples of Norman architecture.
Best Norman castles
Berkhamsted Castle, Hertfordshire
It was at Berkhamsted that the leading English nobles made their final submission to William the Conqueror a few weeks after the Battle of Hastings. An early Norman motte survives within the site.
Dover Castle, Kent
William moved to secure Dover as “the key to England” immediately after his victory at Hastings. The imposing stone keep dates from a century later and is one of the oldest castles in Britain.
Durham Cathedral
Built in the reigns of William’s successors, Durham Cathedral stands today as perhaps the purest embodiment of Norman architecture, both in its Romanesque style and highly defensive positioning.
Kempley Church, Gloucestershire
Norman features in this delightful church include the oldest roof timbers in England; and its glory is the outstanding set of Romanesque paintings that cover the chancel walls.
Pevensey Castle, Kent
William’s army landed in Pevensey, and here the first Norman castle was constructed, a temporary wooden structure built within the surviving walls of a Roman shore fort.
St Alban’s Cathedral, Hertfordshire
St Alban's Cathedral is a fine example of the surge in Romanesque church building unleashed by William’s Norman bishops from the 1070s. It remains less altered by later generations than many other Norman cathedrals.
Totnes Castle, Devon
Perched above its surroundings, Totnes Castle survives as a quintessential motte and bailey castle founded by a Norman baron to dominate the local English town.
Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire
Built by one of William’s barons, the dramatic ruins of Richmond Castle preserve more original 11th-century stonework than any other English castle.
