So its time to wrap up some of the honourable mentions of Oxfordshire…
After looking at the main castles of a county, it can be good to dip in to what history is available for some smaller ones in the area, and Oxfordshire definitely has some worthy candidates!
This episode looks at a number of castles in Oxfordshire, including Broughton, Deddington, Shirburn, and Grey’s Court. Between them, they cover almost one thousand years of ghosts and skeletons- with some names you should recognise if you’re up to date on your Podcastles! Oddly, a number of them also seem to claim to be ‘the earliest brick building in Oxfordshire’, which is apparently a very important title.
Normally we only include castles that still exist today, but Oxfordshire has so many castles that are now just ruins and mounds that we had to make a few exceptions. Built in 1135, Banbury castle was home to some massive names, including both of Edward VI’s protectors, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset (d. 1552), and John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (d. 1553). The castle also played a key role in the English Civil war. Similary, Wallingford castle also barely exists anymore, however it has been referred to as one of the most important castles of the 12th and 13th centuries, by those such as historian Nicholas Brookes. During the Anarchy, it was held for Matilda, who fled there after having to leave Oxford castle. Despite numerous attempts by King Stephen, the castle was never taken, and was said to have supplies to last a 2 year siege. 300 years later, the castle was again beseiged, this time by parliamentary forces during the Civil war, and this time, after 16 weeks, did fall.
Many of the castles have ties to Matilda and Stephen during the anarchy of the 12th century, which is why we will be having a quick rundown of the Anarchy story next week!
See you then!
Nikita and Georgia
Sources
Brown, A., English Castles, (London: B.T. Batsford Ltd, 1962).
Friar, S., Castles, (Gloucestershire; The History Press, 2011).
Horrox, R.,‘Lovell, Francis, Viscount Lovell’, Oxford Database of National Biographies, (23.09.2004).
Pettifer, A., English Catsles: a Guide by Counties, (woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1995).
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