Medieval Prudhoe

• Context behind Prudhoe Castle

  -William of Normandy/the Conqueror wins the Battle of Hastings in 1066 against Harold Godwinson

  -William only had control of South England (the rest of the English did not want a Norman/French king)

  -The Feudal system is introduced to reward loyalty with land

  -Internal rebellion was so strong, William II performed the 'Harrying of the North' in 1080
• Location of Prudhoe castle


  -Southbank of the River Tyne (controlled a crossing)

  -High vantage point/already built on a hill

  -A part of a chain of castles built along the Tyne to defend from the Scots
• Features of the Early Wooden castle

  -Originally motte and bailey

  -Established by the Umfravilles

  -Timber buildings/bailey protected by a wooden palisade (defensive, 10 metre tall walls made of wooden stakes)

  -Wood was cheap and plentiful but was flammable and not durable

  -Had a deep, dry moat (a ditch)

  -Only took 90 days to build
• Prudhoe castle under Siege warfare

  
  

  -Defences constantly improved by the Umfravilles as weapons developed

  -Use of Trebuchets (catapult that fired a rock at the castle walls), Cut off resources, Battering rams (charge at gate door of the castle)
• How the original motte and bailey was good for defence

  -Hard to run up a steep hill (slowed them down)

  -People often got stuck in the ditch

  -Arrows were able to be fired down at attackers (height advantage)

  -Difficult to climb over 10 metre high palisade wall

  -Only stone part was the Gatehouse (entrance) and the Chapel (very religious)
• In 1066, the Pope blessed the Norman invasion and gave his flag to William to carry into battle
• Physical changes to the Castle over time

  -Rebuilt in stone 1150 to 1180

  -3 metre thick curtain walls (to defend against Trebuchets)

  -Barbican (8 metre high wall built on both sides of the road, could drop boiling oil from here) added to gatehouse (to defend against battering rams)

  -Mill built (soldiers had the facilities to produce wheat and flour to outlast any siege, especially during 1173 and 74)

  -Pele yard added to garrison troops

  -Arrow loops added to walls

  -1200s two D shaped towers added to gatehouse

  -Aisled great hall added
• Causes of Conflict

  -Henry II reclaimed the earldoms in Northumberland which had been given to Scottish nobles to keep the peace (sparked 11 years of war)

  -William the Lion's sieges from Scotland 1173 till 1174 (Odinel II Umfraville refused to support him)
• Percy family took ownership shortly after 1381
•  The Percys regained ownership of the Prudhoe estates in 1440 after a prolonged legal battle
• War of the Roses 1455-1487


  -During the War of the Roses, Henry Percy (3rd Earl of Northumberland) fought on the Lancastrian side 

  -Killed in the Battle of Towton 1461
• In 1462, Edward IV granted Prudhoe Castle to his younger brother, George, Duke of Clarence
• Uses of Prudhoe castle

  -Both a fortress and home

  -Also an administrative centre (collection of taxes, rents, fees and dispensing of justice)

  -Source of income through the mill (served the local community)
• Daily life in Prudhoe castle


  -Huge class divide between lords and peasants

  -Hive of activity in the Bailey

  -Servants would sleep on the floor of the Great Hall

  -Everyone used the chapels

  -Villagers would come and use the mill

  -Knights would train in the Pele yard

  -Umfraville family would use the Great Keep and Hall to entertain other noble families
• What the current remains reveal about beliefs and attitudes


  -Presence of two chapels reveals the centrality of religion

  -Chantry chapel reflects the Catholic practices before the Protestant reformation

  -Oriel window in the chapel shows the importance of displays of wealth to maintain status and prestige

  -Stark class divide
• Most active period
• Feudal System

  God

  King

  Lords

  Stonemasons, Miller (skilled tradesmen, free men/had social mobility)

  Peasants
• The lord had power over their tenants and could demand labour or money from them
• Feudalism was based around land ownership and control over people who lived there
• Tenants were expected to work on the lord's lands for several days per week without pay
• Role of the Woman


  -Very sexist

  -Look after children and home

  -Lady Umfraville lived in the Castle keep (comfortable life other than organising banquets)

  -Peasant women lived in a thatched houses, working in the castle's kitchen
• Life for the soldiers


  -Higher status than peasants

  -Practiced in the Pele yard

  -Lived inside the castle in the Barracks

  -Took orders from the Lord

  -Essential to the castle