21. What did the Normans do to make themselves safe in the new lands?

As the Anglo-Saxons felt great hatred towards their new masters, the Normans did not feel safe in the conquered country for they could be attacked at any time. They were compelled to build large thick stone-walled castles for defense, where they lived with their families and vassals.

Before the Norman Conquest the Anglo-Saxon lords lived in timber houses. Sometimes the lord’s house was built on a hill with a strong wooden fence and with a ditch outside. After the Norman Conquest strong castles began to appear in each county. At first they were built of wood and later of stone. The Norman castle was often built on a hill or rock so that it could not easily be attacked. The castle was as a rule a square stone tower with very thick walls and it was surrounded by a thick stone wall wide enough for the archers to walk along. The outer wall was strengthened with towers built on each corner. Outside the wall was a deep ditch, or moat, filled with water. The moat could be crossed by a drawbridge. At night and during the enemy attacks the drawbridge was drawn up by chains. . Inside, there were generally a great hall, a kitchen, a chapel, private rooms for the nobles, storehouses, barracks and rooms for soldiers, a grain store, a blacksmith’s shop and the stables. Most castles had their own prisons. 2,000 castles were built in England, Wales and Scotland between the 11th and the 17th centuries, while another 3,000 were put up in Ireland.

The first of stone castle was the Tower of London. The Conqueror ordered it to be built on the north bank of the Thames to protect London. The great castle of Durham was built to protect northern England from the raids of the Scots. Another fortress was built on the river Tyne and was called Newcastle. Among the otherearliest and most famous castles Windsor Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Dover Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Warwick Castle.

Some of the massive strong towers built by the Normans can be seen in England today, like the White Tower of London Tower or the keep of the castle at Colchester which was the largest Norman castle in England. Some, such as Windsor Castle, are still used as residences. But most of the old Norman castles are ruins which can still be seen in various parts of England.

22. What are some famous castles in Britain? What do you know about them?

Warwick Castle.

Warwick Castle is situatedon a cliff overlooking a bend in the River Avon (in Warwick, Warwickshire). William the Conqueror built it in 1068. From 1088, the castle traditionally belonged to the Earl of Warwick, and it served as a symbol of his power. The castle was taken in 1153 by Henry of Anjou, later Henry II. It has been used to hold prisoners. Under the ownership of Richard Neville, Warwick Castle was used in the 15th century to imprison the English king, Edward IV. Warwick Castle has been compared with Windsor Castle in terms of scale, cost, and status. The castle was used as a stronghold until the early 17th century, when James I granted it to Sir FulkeGreville in 1604. Greville converted it to acountry house and it was owned by his family. Today it's a tourist attraction. Various interactive attractions,events, shows and exhibitions are held there. Besides, tourists can dine at one of the castle’s restaurants, or eat picnic in the grounds and browse there for gifts, souvenirs,etc.

Edinburgh Castle.

It is situatedon the Castle Rockin Edinburgh, Scotland. The castle was built during the 12th century by David I, son of Saint Margaret of Scotland. The castle itself has been used as a place of royal residence, a prison and a military garrison. In 1927, part of the castle was turned into the Scottish National War Memorial. The Edinburgh Castle is one of the most important castles in Scotland. It has been attacked numerous times and it was the center of many wars. These days however, it serves as a national monument (an important one at that), a museum and a tourist attraction. More than one million people who visit the castle each year witness military ceremonies, historical re-enactments, and can visit sites such as St. Margaret’s Chapel and the Great Hall of King James IV. Other highlights are The Royal Palace,The Stone of Destiny, Crown Jewels, Mons Meg,One o'clock Gun ,Half Moon Battery ,National War Museum, Regimental Museums, Prisons of War, Scottish National War Memorial.

The Tower of London.

The Tower is situated on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It was built in 1066 by William the Conqueror and was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952,although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history served as a royal residence.The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous fortresses. It has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England, the prison and the place for executions. Today the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. There are many tours in:

-The White Tower which contains the impressive Royal Armouries collections and even an 11th century Romanesque chapel;

-The Royal Mint where people explore the Coins & Kings exhibition, learn about what life was like through outdoor installations and interactive displays; and many other.

Other famous castles are Dover Castle in Kent, Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, CarisbrookeCastle on Isle of Wight, Windsor Castle, Caernarfon Castle.