The Oxfordshire village of Ascott D’Oylly has several castles, including Ascott D’Oylly Castle, occupied between 1130 and 1174, and Ascott Earl Castle, used in the late 11th and early 12th century. There is a also third site, termed here Ascott D’Oylly Castle II, which appears to have been briefly used, probably in the 11th century.
In the 11th century, the settlement of Ascott d’Oylly lay to the east of Ascott Earl, both of which formed part of Shipton-under-Wychwood, a major royal estate, and a probable late Anglo-Saxon settlement. After the Norman conquest, Ascott d’Oylly was granted to Roger d’Oylly, the castellan of nearby Oxford Castle, who in turn assigned it to Robert d’Ivry.
The castle is located north-east of the settlement of Ascott D’Oylly, close to the River Evenlode. It appears to have formed a simple motte-and-bailey design, with earthwork and timber defences. The earthworks have been heavily ploughed and are now only 1 m (3 ft) high, although they were once much higher.
Bibliography
- Bond James. (2001) “Earthen Castles, Outer Enclosures and the Earthworks at Ascott d’Oilly Castle, Oxfordshire,” Oxoniensia, Volume 46 pp. 62-63.
- Jope, E. Martyn and Threlfall, R. (1959) “The Twelfth-century Castle at Ascot Doilly, Oxfordshire: Its History and Excavation,” Antiquaries Journal Volume 39 p. 239.
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