The inner bailey, which lay inside the castle walls, could easily be defended, but the outer bailey, outside the walls, was prone to attack and harder to defend.
The Bailey in a Medieval Castle
The earliest form of bailey in a castle was the that which formed part of the Motte and Bailey castle, an early Norman castle. These type of castles featured a motte, which was a large hill that could be easily defended, on which was built a tower and a bailey, the domestic area of the castle where animals could be kept and people could conduct their everyday business, such as trading and visiting.
Once stone castles developed, both inner and outer baileys were built, with the outer bailey usually holding animals and the workshops of craftsmen, such as blacksmiths and carpenters, as well as stables. If the castle was under threat of attack or a siege, the animals could be herded into the inner bailey and people could retreat into the keep.
What Was in the Bailey of a Medieval Castle?
The buildings and facilities contained within the bailey of a castle varied depended upon the resources and preferences of the castle owner. However, as the Middle Ages progressed and a castle became less of a defence structure and more of a home, more permanent buildings were built within both inner and outer baileys.
From this time, domestic structures such as a chapel, kitchen, storehouses, workshops and accommodation for servants and retainers could be contained within a castle’s bailey with less fear of attack.
The Importance of the Bailey in a Castle During the Middle Ages
Although the bailey had a domestic, rather than defensive function, it was an essential means of keeping life running smoothly within a medieval castle. The craftspeople and soldiers who lived and worked here were important within castle life. Tradespeople such as blacksmiths and carpenters carried out building work and repairs within the castle and also helped to create and maintain weapons.
Stable workers were essential for keeping the castle’s horses in fighting condition, ready to help the soldiers defend the castle should they need to do so. And of course, the kitchen workers kept everyone fed, from the humblest serf, to the castle lord, fed.
Food from the harvest and animals which were being fattened up before being slaughtered could also be kept inside the castle walls, to prevent theft by outsiders.
Source:
Kaufmann J, Jurga, Robert The Medieval Fortresses: Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages[Da Capo Press, 2004]
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