Name: Deddington Castle
Rating: 5.0

Deddington Castle

Castle Street, Deddington, Banbury, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Deddington Castle, this castle was the Oxfordshire base of Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conqueror and a powerful man in England after the Norman Conquest. Extensive earthworks mark the site of the 11th century motte-and-bailey castle, with ramparts up to 15 metres high.

No stonework is visible above ground today, but the site is nevertheless a striking one owing to the scale of the earthworks – the rampart is 15 metres (49 feet) high in places – and the size of the enclosed area.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Deddington Castle: The earthworks forming Deddington Castle lie in a rural location to the south-east of the village of Deddington. No stonework is visible above ground today, but the site is nevertheless a striking one owing to the scale of the earthworks – the rampart is 15 metres (49 feet) high in places – and the size of the enclosed area.
At the time of the Domesday survey in 1087 the site was held by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux (who is thought to have commissioned the famous tapestry). The half-brother of William the Conqueror, Odo held substantial power in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, where he was ruthless in his suppression of native rebellion.
As Odo’s Oxfordshire base, Deddington would have played a significant role in the Norman domination of the region.
Archaeological excavations have revealed that the site was already occupied before the castle was built there. Fragmentary buildings and artefacts from the late Saxon period have been found in the western bailey and beneath the castle ramparts.
The entrance to the site opens onto an enclosure approximately 200 metres (219 yards) wide. This large, flat area was enclosed in the late 11th century by a bank and a ditch, to create a bailey. A motte (or mound) was built up on the eastern edge of this enclosure.
Excavations have revealed that an earlier timber building was replaced in about 1160 by a stone-built structure to the west of the mound.
An inner bailey was then constructed around this building, and by the end of the 12th century the motte had been levelled and a curtain wall erected, with stone towers and a gatehouse that led to the outer bailey.
The remains of a 13th-century chapel have been discovered, with those of a slightly earlier one buried beneath them. From the end of the 13th century the castle fell into disrepair, and became a quarry for local building stone.
A second enclosure to the east of the site contained a complex of four fish ponds.

Facilities

Food & Drinks: Pubs and restaurants can be found in the small town of Deddington.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Free Entry.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/deddington-castle/opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Castle Street, Deddington, Banbury, UK

Post Code: OX15 0TP

Council: Oxford

County: Oxfordshire

Road Access: South of B4031 on East side of Deddington; 17 miles North of Oxford.
Bus Access: Heyfordian 81 (Thu, Fri, Sat only) – passes site; Stagecoach in Oxfordshire S4 & Oxfordshire CC 90 to within 1⁄2 mile.
Train Access: King’s Sutton 5 miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.