The Medieval Ward Or Bailey: An Essential Part of Fortification : A Courtyard for Safety and Protection

The Medieval Ward Or Bailey

A Castle bailey or ward in a fortification is a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a motte-and-bailey.

Castles can have more than one bailey. Their layout depends both on the local topography and the level of fortification technology employed during construction.

Castle Ward | Bailey Definition

A castle’s Ward or Bailey is a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. They come in different shapes, sizes, and levels of fortification depending on the type of castle.

In essence, a medieval ward is one part of the medieval bailey, which is another word for courtyard.

A castle’s bailey can have more than one ward, but it typically has three wards. Lower or outer baileys are often closed off to make them easier to defend if they come under attack.

History

Château Gaillard is a castle in France. It was one of the most important buildings in the middle ages!

Château Gaillard

When designing the castle, Richard the Lionheart of England, wanted to make sure it was impregnable. He had two baileys built with a central bailey in between them.

Richard The Lionheart

In order to defend Château Gaillard from attack, Richard built a concentric castle with an inner bailey surrounded by walls that were over 20 feet high. The inner bailey of this medieval fortification was where all the most important buildings were located such as the keep and great hall.

Layout

A ward/bailey is a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a motte-and-bailey. Castles can have more than one bailey. Their layout depends both on the local topography and the level of fortification technology employed.

There are commonly three types of baileys found in castles

Upper Bailey
Middle Bailey
Lower Bailey

List of Famous English Castles with Several Baileys

1. Alnwick Castle (12th century)
2. Château Gaillard (late 13th century)
3. Framlingham Castle (14th century)
4. Goodrich Castle (12th century)
5. Old Sarum Castle (11th-13th centuries)
6. Raglan Castle (1421-22)
7. Pembroke Castle (1390s, 1405-07, 1420s, 1430s, late 15th century)

: Alnwick Castle

: Framlington Castle

: Goodrich Castle

: Pembroke Castle was among the earliest Norman castles built in Wales.

List of Famous European Castles with more than One Bailey

Some of the more famous European castles with more than one bailey include Château Gaillard, a spur castle in France. Some German castles also had more than one bailey, such as Paderborn Castle. Finally, Upper Baileys were common at Irish Castles.

Medieval Castle Parts