medieval fortification village built wealthy anglo saxon estate following norman conquest england constructed large castle central intending castle administer property region provide substantial military base event anglo saxon revolt estates england seized following failed rebellion taken royal control anglo norman lord acquired castle 12th century rebuilt stone raising stone curtain wall new inner bailey complete defensive tower gatehouse domestic buildings death descendants fought control castle royal courts temporarily seized times king john start 13th century confirmed ownership family held century half castle stormed group men broke doors royal favourite captured castle enemies shortly execution 13th century onward fell disrepair contemporaries soon described demolished weak bought began sell stonework remains castle reportedly royalist parliamentary forces english civil war 17th century 19th century adapted use sporting facility local gentry sold parish council attempted build tennis courts inner bailey following discovery medieval remains subsequent archaeological investigation plans abandoned western half castle local park 21st century english_heritage manage inner bailey eastern half remaining use farming site protected law scheduled monument history 11th century built village shortly norman conquest england largest settlements county site castle previously occupied location administer landed estates half brother granted bishop vast lands england invasion spread different counties richest new centre estates castle probably built act administrative centre lands region intended quarter large military force event anglo saxon revolt castle positioned east main settlement time opposite end village church spur overlooking nearby stream erected earthworks large hectares acres large raised positioned western bailey metres metres protected bank earth metres tall base metres wide ditch earthworks formed metres western bailey entrance west north east corner eastern bailey stretched hill stream held called stream south east castle probably linked castle site time stone hall constructed near western bailey castle layout unusual region period fortifications built typically smaller designs highlighted strategic importance location power builder scale design similar initial version major fortification built england unsuccessfully rebelled aftermath stripped lands taken royal control broken granted sub tenants unclear initially granted possible powerful anglo norman baron earl leicester controlled early 12th century additional earthworks thrown divide western half castle outer bailey hectares acres inner bailey east end comprising hectares acres earthworks pushed older hall partially buried western walls uncertain exactly new earthworks constructed strengthen fortification response threatened invasion alternatively sinking subsequent crisis castle owned anglo norman lord supported king stephen region civil war anarchy henry_ii peace william rebuilt castle constructing strong stone curtain wall inner bailey metres thick rubble wall cut inner mound dug away room wall william began reconstruct inside inner bailey programme work continued descendants decades work included chapel hall solar service buildings open backed square tower built stone wall tower later rebuilt possibly pressure earthworks form pathways stone gatehouse built west wall leading outer bailey william died castle granted crown william nephew favoured supporter henry_ii unpopular henry successor richard relatives took opportunity sue royal courts claiming william estate lands castle granted guy renamed remained family line century king john took throne seized manor returned guy furthermore excluded agreement retained royal control following year guy death john took castle royal control remained king death following year 18th century village castle fell decline 13th century village grown borough new planned streets spreading westwards away castle eclipsed economically nearby newer centre castles thames valley region lacked substantial defences abandoned period exception contemporaries described old demolished castle robert group men able break doors castle enter castle considered weak report repairs carried property time royal favourite captured close friend enemies major barons surrendered promise unharmed taken south imprisoned june left visit wife stated kept alternatively lodged house village earl particular dislike morning took opportunity seize subsequently tried killed enemies 14th century interior castle continued inhabited manner archaeologist upper levels tower abandoned wood burnt inside walls crude fireplace bought castle park rented retained right operate profit castle court tower demolished time possibly linked sale stonework castle walls 16th century visiting antiquarian noted castle village extensively involved english civil war owing location route oxford late 19th century historian recorded castle temporary fortress royalist parliamentary forces conflict royalist garrison besieged parliamentary troops 17th 18th centuries castle site grazing animals timber farming 19th 21st centuries 19th century castle site club local gentry recreation including cricket small lodge built entrance house professional coach pavilion building combination ballroom cafe built grounds ownership site passed ecclesiastical commissioners church_of_england pavilion demolished start 20th century stonework continued taken remains castle 1940s use local buildings castle site sold commissioners parish council parish council intended build tennis courts inner bailey castle work began medieval pottery roof tiles began unearthed builders construction work halted oxford sponsored archaeological investigation continued plans tennis courts dropped light findings site instead park phase archaeological investigation castle carried sponsored led 21st century earthworks castle remain western bailey managed parish council inner bailey english_heritage eastern bailey remains cultivation site protected law scheduled monument
Deddington Castle