The first stone castles were built in the 11th century, soon after the Norman Conquest (1066), and they continued to be built, re-built and extended over the following centuries.

The transition from wood to stone in European castle architecture primarily began in the late 11th century and flourished during the 12th century. The earliest castles—the "Motte-and-Bailey" style popularized by the Normans—were built of earth and timber because they were fast and cheap to construct. However, wood was highly vulnerable to fire and rot. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror began the shift by commissioning the White Tower at the Tower of London in stone. By the mid-1100s, "Keep" castles made of thick stone masonry became the standard for the nobility to demonstrate permanent power and resist improved siege weaponry. By the 13th century, almost all high-status defensive structures were built of stone, featuring thick curtain walls and rounded towers. This "Stone Revolution" allowed for the massive, iconic fortresses we see today, as stone could support the weight and height that wooden palisades simply could not achieve.