Fotheringhay Castle - Layout

Layout

Fotheringhay was a large motte and bailey castle. A large motte, which was surrounded by large water-filled moat, was topped with a polygonal stone keep. The inner enclosure, known as a bailey, was protected by ramparts and a ditch. This enclosed a great hall and other domestic buildings. The outer bailey had curtain walls and a gatehouse; a lake was crossed by way of a bridge. Little is known about the structural history of the castle while Langley was the owner in the 14th century,; however, it is thought that he was responsible for building the outer bailey and partially filling the eastern part of the ditch surrounding the motte. The motte is 70 m (230 ft) in diameter at the base and 30 m (98 ft) across the flat top, some 7 m (23 ft) above ground level. The inner bailey is broadly rectangular and measures approximately 50 by 65 m (160 by 213 ft).

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