The Motte and Bailey

A Full English Breakfast, including to-mah-to.

Up bright and early, we are the first customers of the day at Launceston Castle. This motte and bailey was first built in the mid-9th century, but was substantially re-built in the 13th century. More recently (1650's) it served as a prison for the quaker leader George Fox, and other religious rebels, like catholics.

The motte is a big hill, and the bailey is a stone keep on the top. Now in ruins, it still has a stair along the outer wall to the top, but all the interior construction is gone. It looks isolated in the photos, but the castle is smack in the middle of Launceston, a busy, working-class town.


You can really see the idea in this photo. A natural hill was built up to get a better view. The tower is built on top of the hill.

The stairs inside the keep

They're about to open the gate! We can't wait.

Maggie and Karma look down through the center of the keep.


From the top of the tower, you can see for many miles...this was ideal when trying to protect the rest of England from pirates and other invaders who came up through Cornwall.

Tenzin on top of Launceston Castle


Maggie and Karma look down through the center of the keep.


Maggie and Karma explore the castle.


The motte and bailey are only part of the fortress. The whole town was inside the wall, parts of which are still found around the village. Here you can see the old moat and bridge. People from the region would have come to this grassy area, which at one time had buildings for paying taxes or seeking justice from the Duke's assistants.

We could go on and on, but we'll stop there. But we kind of wish we could stay here forever.

Kobi thinks the stone walls of the entry gate are perfect for climbing.
Get down from there Kobi!