Deddington Castle

Deddington Castle stands in the village of Deddington in Oxfordshire. It is an earthwork, the remains of an 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle built by Bishop Odo of Bayeux. Odo, half-brother of William the Conqueror, chose the site for its strategic position overlooking a stream. The castle once had two large baileys enclosed by high earth banks and a central motte. A stone hall stood near the motte in the western bailey. The layout was unusually large for the time, similar in scale to Rochester Castle. The castle’s importance declined after Odo’s rebellion in 1088. By the 13th century it was described as an old demolished castle and fell into disrepair. In 1312, Piers Gaveston may have been held there before his removal and execution. The site passed through royal hands and noble families, including the de Chesneys and the Crown. By the 19th century it was used for recreation before becoming a public park in the 20th. Today the castle is a scheduled monument and open as a park and nature walk. Visitors walk along the surviving earth ramparts and mound, once part of the defences. The western bailey’s high bank and deep ditch are still visible. Paths lead around the motte and through the former baileys. The stream nearby would have supplied fishponds linked to the castle. The site offers quiet views over the village and countryside.