Why were castles built in Kent?

Answer 1

The reasons for castle-building changed over time, just as every aspect of life changed over the very long medieval period.

The Norman invaders realised that Dover was the nearest port to the Continent of Europe and that it held a key position in defending the newly-conquered territory from other potential invaders. King William I quickly had three castles built in Kent to defend the important road from the port of Dover to London, the seat of government.

These were simple motte-and-bailey castles constructed of earth and timber; they were at Dover (overlooking the port), at Canterbury and at Rochester. Their reason for being built was entirely defensive.

All three were later re-built in stone in the early 1100s, when the threat from any other invaders had completely disappeared; the emphasis was now on demonstrating Norman authority, power and control of the local populations. The word "donjon" (meaning the central stone tower or "keep") comes from Latin Dominium - a place of authority or lordship. These castles became centres for tax-collection, for dispensing justice and for local government as much as being symbols of authority. Other castles were built throughout Kent for exactly the same reason.

At Canterbury, the new stone castle built by Henry I was placed some distance west of the original motte-and-bailey, which remained unused for a very long period before being landscaped in 1790. Today the motte still stands - it is known as the Dane John, a corrupted form of donjon - so Canterbury has the remains of two castles, not one.

The links take you to images of Canterbury's castles: