Motte and bailey was the name given to the first real castles built in England. This unusual name comes from France. Motte means 'mound' and bailey means 'closed/fenced-in' land. They have a French name because the Normans first built them after they had won the Battle of Hastings in AD 1066.

The name "Motte and Bailey" describes the two distinct components of this early medieval defensive structure introduced to Britain by the Normans. The "Motte" is an Old French word meaning a mound or clod of earth; it refers to the large, man-made earthen hill that was constructed to provide a high vantage point for a wooden or stone keep. This elevated position allowed defenders to see approaching enemies from a distance and made the keep much harder to storm. The "Bailey" refers to the enclosed courtyard or ward at the foot of the motte. The bailey was typically surrounded by a wooden palisade and a ditch (fossa), and it housed the castle's essential domestic buildings, such as the kitchens, stables, workshops, and living quarters for soldiers and servants. During an attack, the inhabitants of the bailey would retreat up the steep path of the motte into the keep for safety. This design was popular in the 11th and 12th centuries because it could be built quickly and relatively cheaply using local earth and timber, allowing the Norman conquerors to rapidly establish military control over their newly acquired territories in England and Wales.