Nottingham Castle Baileys

Nottingham Castle Baileys. . , Outer Bailey , A castle "bailey" is a compound surrounded by walls. A medieval castle could have several and by 1200, Nottingham Castle had three. You are standing in the castle's Outer Bailey. It was well fortified to protect the castle's inhabitants. It was here that archery may have been practised. In 1252, all Englishmen aged between 15 and 60 years were required by law to have a bow and arrows., Originally, the Outer Bailey extended northwards beyond the current curtain wall, containing wooden buildings (although no evidence of these survives)., King Henry III ordered substantial upgrades to the castle. From 1251 he had the Outer Bailey walls reconstructed to strengthen defences., Middle Bailey Bridge , This bridge was the fortified entrance to the Middle Bailey, controlling access across the dry ditch to the inner castle and the monarch's chambers. Believed to have originally made of timber, it was rebuilt in stone by the 12th century. It was reconstructed again on the orders of Henry VIII, and by 1537 was decorated with beasts and giants to intimidate intruders. The addition of a portcullis (a strong iron grating) made the castle impenetrable., Tudor King Henry VIII was most famous for his six wives and separating the Church of England from the Catholic faith., Upper Bailey , This is the highest point of the Castle Rock The most important buildings of the medieval Castle were once located here in the Upper Bailey. In 1651, following the Civil War, John Hutchinson, Governor of Nottingham, arranged for the medieval Castle to be demolished, to prevent it from being used in a conflict again. The mansion you see now was constructed between 1674 and 1679 as a residence for the Dukes of Newcastle., Lucy Hutchinson, Civil War diarist and wife of Governor John Hucthinson, wrote that it was John's "duty" to ensure the Castle was demolished, so it could not be used in war again.,