Secure Fortress or Impressive Home

The Bigods’ Framlingham castle: a secure fortress or an
impressive home? Use physical features of the site as well

as your knowledge to support your answer. (20 marks)
1 What is the question? What exactly is the question asking you to do? What are the key
trigger words that you must focus on?
Bigods
Secure fortress
Impressive home
Physical features
Framlingham
2 How am I going to structure my answer? What will be your plan for answering the
specific question asked of you?
Paragraph 1: Introduction - introduce Framlingham and make an initial judgement in
answer to the question.
I believe that Framlingham was both a secure fortress and an impressive home
At the start of my essay I will be talking about how Framlingham was a secure fortress then I
will be contradicting this answer with information that backs up the idea that Framlingham
was an impressive home.
Paragraphs 2/3: Secure fortress -show how the Bigods used Framlingham as a secure
fortress (lots of evidence)
Evidence = strong defences and an overlooking commanding position surveying the castle
Evidence = the castle had arrow slits and a draw bridge, which shows that the Bigod family
are almost waiting for an attack because they are hated by a lot of people after the failed
rebellion in 1173
Evidence = Roger Bigod II added ditches to the castles, they weren’t filled with water so that
tunnelling could be prevented and any breach of security from inside the castle
The castle is on a natural spur (hill) so it provides views over the local area
Paragraphs 4/5: Impressive home -show how the Bigods used Framlingham as a home
(lots of evidence)
Evidence = home to successive generations of Bigods
Evidence = Framlingham stands for homestead and a village of followers, this could give
evidence to why the Bigods chose it as their home.
Evidence = the 30m deep well made sure that fresh water was always accessible, this was
because Sanitation was essential to the Bigod family. This could show that the family care
about their health – sign of wealth
Evidence = the Great hall was built to entertain and hosting guests at dinner parties
Paragraph 6: Conclusion – make an overall judgement based on your evidence. What

do you think?
Overall I think that Framlingham castle was a secure fortress as well as an impressive home
Started as a home – used by successive generations of bigods over the years; but was adapted
to become a fortress – with adaptations and structural changes at key intervals.
3 What information will I use in my answer? Now you know what you are being asked
and what your plan is, what information do you need to include in your answer?
Mainly given in the paragraph plan on top
– Physical features of the castle during the Bigod era that show it was a fortress:
- Events that show the castle was used as a fortress during the Bigod era:
In 1154 it was the first stone building to be built in Framlingham
In 1600 it becomes a prison, means that it had the resources and forms of defense
In 1157 Framlingham is confiscated which could mean that people saw it as a threat
- Physical features of the castle during the Bigod era that show it was an impressive
home:
- Events that show the castle was used as an impressive home during the Bigod era:
In 1233 Roger entertains king Henry III
Before becoming a castle it was a Manor that was passed down between generations, this
shows that it is a family home
4 What are the key events or people relevant to the question? Since you cannot cover
everything in the history of the castle, what are the key events or people that you must
focus on? Clues from the timeline that you could use to show the castle was a fortress
and / or a home for the Bigods:
1101-1107: family are Earls meaning that the family is highly respected (impressive home)
1154: first stone building ( fortress)
1173: Famlingham’s defences are torn down ( fortress)
1189: rebuilds the walls of Framlingham (both)
1216: John attacks Framlingham and the castle is surrendered ( fortress)
1233: King is entertained at Framlingham ( impressive home)
1270: expensive renovations are carried out ( both, unsure)
1277: Edward I visits Framlingham (impressive home)
In 1157 Framlingham is confiscated which could mean that people saw it as a threat
5 What are the key turning points relevant to the question? What events on the timeline
of the castle’s history are key to explaining your answer to this question? Note down the
absolutely key things you are definitely going to want to include in your answer. I will
give you a BIG CLUE and say that if you don’t mention things like the arrow slits,
drawbridge, well and great hall you are doing it wrong!
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The Bigods’ Framlingham castle: a secure fortress or an

impressive home? Use physical features of the site as well

Paragraph 6: Conclusion – make an overall judgement based on your evidence. What

Mainly given in the paragraph plan on top

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