Castles in Shropshire

Further clues of the Norman origins of castle building can be found in historical documents. Archaeologists and Historians compile information by comparing and evaluating a range of these sources. By doing this, a more reliable picture can be drawn regarding the descriptions and events contained within the documents. This process is particularly important when information is gathered from documents written by two opposing sides, such as the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons. By comparing the information contained in historical documents with archaeological remains we can arrive at a more accurate impression of the past. However, this picture is never complete, and can be compared to a jigsaw with many missing pieces.

Ordericus Vitalis is one of the most important chroniclers of the Normans. The reliability of this source does, however, need to be questioned, as the information in a Chronicle is only the individuals own views and may therefore contain certain prejudices. 

In this extract Ordericus Vitalis comments on the lack of castles in England before the Norman Conquest saying:   

The fortifications called castles by the Normans were scarcely known in the English provinces, and so the English - in spite of their courage and love of fighting - could put up only weak resistance to their enemies

Similarly, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle details the effects of the Norman Conquest and castle building on the English people, saying how Odo of Bayeux, William the Conquerors half brother, and William Fitz Osbern:   

built castles far and wide throughout the land, oppressing the unhappy people: and things went from bad to worse. 

Pictorial evidence for Norman castle building in England also comes from the famous Bayeux Tapestry. This depicts the events of the Norman Conquest of England and the building of castles by the Normans. Interestingly, the Bayeux Tapestry is not actually a tapestry, but rather a piece of embroidery measuring over 230 feet in length. It dates from about 1070s, and was probably made on the instructions of Bishop Odo of Bayeux.

Sections of the Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry can be viewed at http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk