Note 1205 — Chapter XII · STONE CASTLES OF THE NORMAN PERIOD

The document which calls itself Leges Henrici Primi, x., 1, declares the “castellatio trium scannorum” to be a right of the king. Scannorum is clearly scamnorum, banks. It is noteworthy that a motte-and-bailey castle is actually a fortification with three banks: one round the top of the motte, one round the edge of the bailey, one on the counterscarp of the ditch.