What type of castle is hedingham castle?

Answer 1

Hedingham is typical of English castles since it was really two (perhaps three) different castles built on the same site.

The original, first castle was a simple motte-and-bailey built by Sir Aubrey de Vere in about 1100. This included no stone in its construction, simply ditches, earth banks and timber palisades and towers. It had two baileys and a large earth mound (the motte).

In about 1130 the central donjon or tower was rebuilt in stone and a stone gatehouse, hall and towers were added (only the central tower survives today).

The link below shows a modern reconstruction of how the second castle looked in about 1130 - 1140. Notice that anyone approaching the gatehouse had to pass within bowshot of the walls of the inner bailey.