Stonework Castles

The motte and bailey remained the normal type of castle design for about a century after the Norman conquest but was very vulnerable to destruction by fire, and building with stone began to be introduced.

The gateway, being the point most exposed to attack, was usually the first stonework to be added, the remainder of the fortifications and outbuildings still consisting of wood. an example of an early gateway can be found at Carew, where it is now incorporated into the castle walls.

At this time, the shell keep was being developed. This was a round or polygonal stone wall that replaced the palisade on the motte. Few such keeps survive, but the remains of one can be seen at Wiston.

In the reign of Henry II the rectangular keep or Great Tower, was introduced, and at the same time, stone curtain walls began to replace the wooden palisades. The Great Hall at Manorbier was probably originally designed as a great tower, and there was another at Haverfordwest, of which only the outer walls remain.

However, the rectangular stone keep was susceptible to mining by enemy sappers, and so the round keep was introduced in the 13th century and became the generally adopted form of construction. The round keep at Pembroke, is considered to be the finest of its type in the country.

Later on, the emphasis shifted to a dynamic defence with the construction of semi-circular, or D-shaped towers projecting beyond the curtain wall and so providing a field of fire. Entrance to the towers was on the first floor level and they were joined by wall-walks. Each became a seperate stronghold where resistance could continue even if its neighbour were taken. pembroke adapted to this model, as well as Manorbier, Cilgerran, Newport, Narberth and Carew.

By the late 13th century the need for such fortresses had diminished as the Welsh by now had been conquered, or at least were much less of a threat. The wealth created by the growth of trade centered in the port towns and required that the town itself became a form of fortress.