Who built the great Medieval Concentric Castles?
The number of men working on a concentric castle building site could number over 2000. Transport to the concentric castles building sites were by boat, as all of the concentric castles built by King Edward I had direct access to rivers and the sea. King Edward I had legal powers to enlist the workers under Fyrd service. This meant he could expand his workforce without having to hire labour. Sheriffs from all of the shires were requested to administer the supply of specific numbers of workmen. Failure to perform this feudal obligation was subject to royal jurisdiction, complete with a fine. Fyrd service was directly related to the amount of land held. The more land the more workers had to be supplied. The men were paid a variety of wages – a master mason might receive 7d per day whereas labourers might receive just 3d per week. These workers included the skills of Engineers, Architects, Stone masons, Stone cutters, Water carriers, Hodmen, Mortar Makers and Layers, Quarrymen, Diggers, Wa
