From 1048 to 1052, King Edward of England allowed his Norman associates to build three castles along the Welsh border: Richard’s Castle, Hereford Castle, and Ewyas Harold. They built timber towers on high ground, or an earthwork mound called a motte. A large inner area called a bailey sat below the motte and tower. The bailey had outbuildings such as kitchens, a hall or chapel, armory, stables, etc. Timber walls surrounded the entire compound, and a defense ditch or moat ran around the hill or earthworks.
In 1066, the Normans anticipated an English attack as soon as they landed. They transported pre-built timber castles with the invasion fleet. Days before the Battle of Hastings, they erected the pre-built structures in Pevensey and Hastings. Normans built about 80 motte and bailey castles all over England between 1066 and 1087. Some of these were rebuilt later in stone.
![Norman earthwork mound against a blue cloudy sky.](https://alkucherenko.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FullRes-2-TreeTower-The_motte_of_Ewyas_Harold_Castle_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_3070510.jpeg)
You can read how I found the castle at Ewyas Harold. In my books, I eliminated the appendage to forestall confusion over the numerous Harolds of the time. The name, Harold, may honor the son of Ralph the Timid, earl of Herefordshire, great-grandson of Æthelred the Unready, and step-son of Count Eustace de Boulogne II, one of the historical actors appearing in my books.