large partly ruined norman medieval castle western central oxford england original wooden bailey castle replaced stone 11th century played important role conflict anarchy 14th century military value castle diminished site primarily county administration prison castle destroyed english civil war 18th century remaining buildings oxford local prison new prison complex built site onwards expanded prison oxford prison closed redeveloped hotel medieval remains castle including grade listed buildings scheduled monument history construction according built norman baron elder arrived england william england granted extensive lands oxford stormed invasion considerable damage william directed build castle dominate town course foremost landowner confirmed hereditary royal recorded book castle existence time recorded survey positioned castle west town natural protection stream river_thames far castle called stream produce moat debate earlier english fortification site whilst archaeological evidence earlier anglo saxon conclusive evidence fortification clearly urban castle remains uncertain local buildings demolished room book record demolition land damage caused norman seizure town alternatively castle imposed existing street required demolition houses initial castle probably large bailey copying plan castle built miles away originally feet high feet wide constructed like bailey layers gravel strengthened clay facing debate bailey suggested bailey built initial castle design bailey century significantly extended stone work built coral stone feet base tapering significantly stability tallest castle towers possibly covered approach old west gate city inside walls tower included chapel site previous church chapel originally nave chancel sanctuary typical early norman design solid pillars arches close friend roger endowed chapel college priests early stage acquired dedication early 13th century wooden replaced sided stone shell feet closely resembling enclosed number buildings leaving inner courtyard feet stairs led feet underground feet wide stone chamber early english vault feet deep providing water event siege role anarchy barons war younger elder nephew inherited castle time civil war anarchy initially supporting declared support stephen cousin rival throne empress marched oxford base campaign castle stephen responded marching unexpectedly bristol december attacking seizing town oxford besieging castle stephen set siege castle called jew mount mount placed siege engines largely proceeded wait supplies run low months stephen difficulty supplying men winter period decision shows apparent strength time responded escaping castle popular version empress waiting frozen dressed white camouflage snow lowered walls knights escaping stephen lines night king tried raise alarm chronicler william suggests descend walls instead escaped gates safely reached surrendered stephen day robert died final weeks siege castle granted remainder war end war granted reclaimed younger son barons war castle attacked prompting improvements defences controlled royal castles middle england demolished south east castle built defend main gate remaining wooden buildings replaced stone including new round tower built king turned castle prison specifically holding troublesome university improved castle chapel replacing older barred windows stained glass presence palace north oxford castle royal residence 14th 17th centuries fortification particularly castle gates poor condition estimated required repairs onwards castle little military use increasingly allowed fall disrepair castle centre administration county oxford jail criminal court held plague broke known black lord lieutenant knights eighty gentlemen entire grand jury session died including sir relative founder castle ceased held castle 16th century demolished way houses moat begun occupied housing moat entirely houses built edge bailey wall king james sold turn sold christ college leased number local families coming years time weakened state large crack running english civil war broke oxford capital parliamentary forces successfully besieged oxford city occupied colonel improved fortification castle surrounding town demolished medieval stonework replacing modern earth reinforcing earth works form probable gun platform english civil war parliamentary garrison responded proximity charles_ii forces pulling defences retreating instead causing great damage college process event oxford saw fresh fighting early 18th century demolished current form role prison civil war served primarily local prison prisons time owners case christ leased castle profit charging prisoners board lodging prison execute prisoners 18th century castle prison run local wisdom families increasing disrepair prison reformer visited castle times criticised size quality including extent infested prison partly result criticism decided county authorities rebuild castle bought justices rebuilding began london architect wider castle site begun change late 18th century new road built bailey parts castle moat filled allow building new terminus building new prison included old college attached chapel work completed harris gained reasonable salary new governor convict labour prison conduct early archaeological excavations castle help antiquarian 19th century site continued developed new buildings built including new county hall prison extended growing occupy remaining space national prison reforms led renaming county prison prison oxford today oldest parts castle grade listed buildings 11th century 13th century chamber 11th century tower chapel 18th century wing site protected scheduled monument prison closed site reverted oxford prison buildings redeveloped restaurant heritage complex guided tours historic buildings open markets theatrical performances complex includes hotel chain occupying large prison blocks cells converted guest rooms parts prison associated corporal capital punishment converted offices guests mixed use heritage project officially opened won project year award
Oxford Castle