Deddington Castle, Oxfordshire

Deddington Castle was built on a Saxon site as a motte and bailey castle in the 11th century by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the half brother of William the Conqueror.

William de Chesney, Lord of Deddington, held the castle in the mid 12th century but in the late 12th century it was seized by the Crown during a struggle between King Richard and his brother Prince John. At this time the outer bailey was defended by a gatehouse and curtain wall and the Norman motte had been levelled to make room for a range of buildings.

Descendants of the Chesneys, the Dive family, regained possession of the castle in the 13th century but by the end of that century it was partially demolished and by there early 14th century there seems to have been little left. The site of the castle, together with its park and meadows, was sold to the canons of Windsor in 1364.

No stonework is visible above ground today, but the site is still interesting owing to the scale of the earthworks – the rampart is 15 metres high in places – and the size of the enclosed area.

Opening Times

Any reasonable time in daylight houre.

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Ticket Prices

Admission is free.

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Disabled Facilities

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More Information

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