Shell keep

Shell keep

A shell keep is a style of medieval fortification, best described as a stone structure circling the top of a motte.

In English castle morphology, shell keeps are perceived as the successors to motte-and-bailey castles, with the traditional wooden structure replaced by stone, in an effort to be fire-proof.

In c1100, rather than build massive stone keeps, some lords chose to replace the wooden fence with a stone wall which was called a curtain. All the buildings stood against the curtain. This type of castle was called a shell keep.

External links

* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3618036 examples of www.geograph.org.uk photos of shell keeps on various castles in the United Kingdom]


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