Past Talks
Oxfordshire Castles
Date: 20th March 2017
Speaker: Trevor Rowley
Few substantial remnants of
castles remain in Oxfordshire
compared with surrounding
counties. Most castle sites are
centred along the Thames Valley
but their pattern of distribution
reflects land ownership during the
Middle Ages rather than defensive
considerations. Castles tended to be
built for private rather than public
protection i.e. the safety of the
Lord, his family and followers. Some
initially used existing Roman walls or
Saxon defensive sites as their strong
points.
William I established castles
in the shire capitals, like Oxford,
where taxes could be collected and
justice dispensed. The fortifications
protected the new Norman Lords
who had replaced Saxon nobility
and were used to intimidate the local
population.
Wallingford Castle, the best
preserved castle site in Oxfordshire,
developed from a Saxon Burh site
and was where William negotiated
the surrender of south east England,
including Winchester, where the
Treasury was located at that time.
The castle was much smaller than at
present but still covered a quarter of
the town’s area.
Deddington Castle was extensive
and contained a large bailey.
Originally owned by William’s half
brother, Odo, its size suggests that
it might well have been used as an
assembly point for troops when
required. Situated on the outskirts
of the village it is well away from the
central core of the settlement. The
castle was destroyed in C13th.
Chipping Norton Castle has an
impressive raised enclosure. It was
probably fairly important in its time.
Banbury Castle was excavated
when the town centre was
redeveloped in the 1970’s and lies to
the north of the Market area.
Witney possesses a fortified palace
that was owned by the Bishops of
Winchester. Close at hand is the site
of Cogges which is a moated site once
owned by Rabbard who appears on
the Bayeux Tapestry.
Many Oxfordshire castles were
redundant by the end of the C12th.
Their upkeep was expensive. Moated
Manor Houses, like Broughton
Castle, later developed, more as a
fashion statement rather than for
defensive requirements.