Feel the weight of history beneath your feet. This is Oxford Castle Motte. For centuries this imposing mound has witnessed the ebb and flow of power. It stands as a silent testament to Oxford’s turbulent past.
Built sometime between 1071 and 1073 by Robert D’Oyly the elder a Norman baron loyal to William the Conqueror Oxford Castle was strategically positioned to the west of the town. D’Oyly cleverly used the natural protection of a stream the Castle Mill Stream to create a moat. The original structure was likely a wooden motte and bailey castle. This was a common design during that era.
The castle’s role in the Anarchy a civil war in the 1140s is legendary. Empress Matilda used Oxford Castle as a base during her campaign against King Stephen. Stephen besieged the castle. Matilda famously escaped under cover of a snowy night. She fled across the frozen Castle Mill Stream disguised in white. This daring escape cemented Oxford Castle’s place in history.
Over the centuries Oxford Castle transformed. The wooden keep was replaced with a stone shell keep. St George’s Tower a formidable structure of coral rag stone was added. This tower may have covered the approach to the city’s old west gate. A crypt chapel was also built inside its walls.
By the 14th century the castle’s military importance waned. It shifted to county administration and prison use. The Black Assize in 1577 a devastating plague outbreak. It tragically wiped out many of the court officials and jurors. This event ended assizes held at Oxford Castle.
The English Civil War brought further destruction. Parliamentary forces demolished much of the medieval stonework. The keep was eventually demolished in the 18th century. The top of the motte was landscaped to its present form.
Oxford Castle’s history as a prison spanned many years. The castle was leased to wardens who charged prisoners for their upkeep. The prison held many unfortunate souls. It even housed children the youngest being a seven year old girl sentenced for stealing a pram.
Today the remains of Oxford Castle stand as a captivating heritage site. The motte St George’s Tower and the crypt are Grade I listed buildings. This site is a Scheduled Monument. The former prison complex has been transformed. Now it is a hotel and visitor attraction. You can feel the weight of history as you explore these grounds. Oxford Castle’s story is truly unforgettable.