Motte and bailey castles. Designed by Norman conquerors to secure areas of land quickly and cheaply The Normans needed a castle design they could erect quickly to subdue the vanquished Britons. The name 'motte and bailey' describes the two parts of the structure. A motte was an earth mound, forming a defensible raised platform on which a tower - a keep - could be built. The earth for the motte would be taken from around its own base, forming a deep ditch, aiding the builders' ability to defend. The first castles were built by the Normans and were called motte and bailey castles Some of the first castles were made from wood before they were built from stone. Stone is a longer-lasting material, and more difficult for attackers to break down Warwick Castle. Warwick Castle, built in 1068, is located in Warwickshire, England.