Oxford Castle

Oxford Castle was built in 1071 AD

Oxford

OX11AY

The remains of Oxford Castle once lay within the walls of Oxford Gaol and therefore were hidden from visitors, despite sitting in the very heart of a city which is one of England's top tourist attractions.

All that changed in 1996 with the closing of the prison and it's transformation into a pleasure and recreation quarter.

Take the opportunity to visit the castle which was founded by a norman knight Robert D'Oilly in 1071 close to the already thriving Saxon settlement. The square tower is architecturally unique for the period of it's construction.

The old motte lost its keep many years ago and one side of the mound is currently out of bounds while they attempt to stop the whole thing from collapsing in an almighty mudslide, but the newer parts are still worth visiting.

A siege in 1136 is remembered for the story of Empress maud fleeing across the frozen river in her nightdress. You can learn all about it at the new museum 'experience'.

By the 1500s the Medieval Castle was largely in a poor state of repair and was sold to Kings College in 1611.

During the Civil war the defences were reenforced by a garrison of Royalist forces but were then further destroyed by the victorious Cromwellian Army.

However the castle continued to be used as a gaol and remained a prison till 1996.

A lot of money has been spent on restroation and a good proportion has been used to tell the story of the castle to visitors in imaginative ways.

One of the great medieval castles of England.

 

 

 

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