Landscapes of lordship : Norman castles and the countryside in medieval Norfolk
This study examines the landscape context of the castles raised in rural Norfolk in the period 1066-1200. The processes that shaped the overall number and distribution of castles in the county are examined first. The low number of castles is explained with reference to the limited number of incoming Norman lords with a significant landed base in the county. The pronounced bias in the distribution of castles to the west of the county is related to patterns of tenurial structure already in place before the Conquest. Secondly, the landscape context of each castle is examined and it is argued that the most important castles in rural Norfolk stood at the heart of landscapes that had been elaborately contrived for the purposes of social display. These are termed ~landscapes of lordship~; areas that proclaimed the lordly power of its creator, and in which the flamboyant display of lordly power was of prime significance. At its most advanced this consisted of a religious house, deer park, rabbit warren, planned settlement, dovecote and fishponds all in close proximity to the seigneurial seat. The desire to create such landscapes often compromised any defensive considerations on the part of the builder, emphasised
Liddiard, Robert
History
Landscapes of lordship : Norman castles and the countryside in medieval Norfolk. This study examines the landscape context of the castles raised in rural Norfolk in the period 1066-1200. The processes that shaped the overall number and distribution of castles in the county are examined first. The low number of castles is explained with reference to the limited number of incoming Norman lords with a significant landed base in the county. The pronounced bias in the distribution of castles to the west of the county is related to patterns of tenurial structure already in place before the Conquest. Secondly, the landscape context of each castle is examined and it is argued that the most important castles in rural Norfolk stood at the heart of landscapes that had been elaborately contrived for the purposes of social display. These are termed ~landscapes of lordship~; areas that proclaimed the lordly power of its creator, and in which the flamboyant display of lordly power was of prime significance. At its most advanced this consisted of a religious house, deer park, rabbit warren, planned settlement, dovecote and fishponds all in close proximity to the seigneurial seat. The desire to create such landscapes often compromised any defensive considerations on the part of the builder, emphasised
landscapes lordship norman castle countryside medieval norfolk study_examines landscape_context castle raise rural norfolk process shape overall_number distribution castle county examine first low number castle explain reference limited_number incoming norman lord significant land base county pronounce bias distribution castle west county relate pattern tenurial structure already place conquest secondly landscape_context castle examine argue important castle rural norfolk stand heart landscape elaborately purpose social_display term landscapes lordship area proclaim power creator display power prime significance advanced consist religious house deer park rabbit plan settlement close_proximity seigneurial seat desire create landscape often compromise defensive consideration part builder emphasise