Anglo-Saxon Grounds During the Norman Conquest

The arrival of the Normans in the 2nd half of the 11th century irreparably improved The Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. The talent of the Normans exceeded the Anglo-Saxons' in architecture and agriculture at the time of the conquest. Nonetheless the Normans had to pacify the entire territory before they could concentrate on home life, domestic architecture, and decoration. Because of this, castles were cruder constructions than monasteries: Monasteries were often significant stone buildings located in the biggest and most fertile valleys, while castles were erected on windy crests where their inhabitants dedicated time and space to click this site tasks for offense and defense. The bare fortresses did not provide for the quiet avocation of gardening. The early Anglo-Norman style of architecture is represented in Berkeley Castle, which is perhaps the most unscathed illustration we have. The keep is said to date from William the Conqueror's time period. A significant terrace serves as a discouraging factor to invaders who would attempt to mine the walls of the building. One of these terraces, a charming bowling green, is covered grass and flanked by an ancient yew hedge cut into the figure of crude battlements.