Probus Club of Meltham

Today’s speaker was Dave Weldrake on Medieval Castles of West Yorkshire.
Dave began by listing twenty known castles from Almondbury to Wakefield. He then added
another 10 possibilities. These were areas whose landscape suggested a castle or old
maps, area or road names hinted at the possible presence, e.g. Round Hill, Bailey Street.
He asked if there were any millionaires present as there are a couple of sites he is really
interested in investigating.
Dave showed an image of a typical early Norman castle, the motte and bailey we know from
school. The bailey was the living quarters and the tower on top of the motte was a last
refuge defensive position. Built of wood and the reverse of later stone-built castles. The 
 
castles were originally built as defensive sites – one entrance into the bailey, internal ditches
between the bailey and the motte, the entrance to the motte and tower was not lined up with
that to the bailey. All to make attack difficult, and costly. Until the introduction of gunpowder.
Dave then detailed the choice of sites on which to build a castle. Near a river, preferably on
a bluff at the side of the river providing one defence. Strangely, most of the West Yorkshire
castles had a dry moat, basically a steep-sided ditch. Other factors included a prominent
position visible from far and wide, making a statement of power – this is my land. One castle
site had such good sight lines it was re-used by the Royal Observer Corp.
Dave also explained how a panel on the Bayeux Tapestry gave a clue as to how the motte
was built. The slopes are too steep for just soil. The tapestry showed that it was built in
alternating layers of soil and brushwood. Excavations have confirmed this.
Dave proceeded to detail the many castles in the area. Some were overgrown, many had
been built on, some demolished. Mirfield castle had a church and churchyard covering it.
Not much chance of excavating that.