Oxfordshire's Historic Archives
Preserving and Enhancing Access to Historic Oxfordshire
Records of Archaeological Work held by the Ashmolean Museum

Site Name: Ascot D'Oilly Castle

Site Location: North-West Oxfordshire
Related Achive: Jope

Ascot D'Oilly Castle is located on the north side of the village of Ascott under Wychwood and was excavated by E.M. Jope.

Part of the remains of the castle are visible from the public footpath. The motte (mound) can just be seen between the farm buildings. Earthworks, which are probably fish ponds and wide bailey ditches, can also be seen to the north-west and west as you walk up the public path.

Documentary sources suggest the castle was built around 1129 but was demolished soon after 1175. There are fragmentary remains of a stone tower which had been deliberately demolished to within six feet of its footings and the mound smoothed off.

The castle was excavated by Jope and Threlfall in 1959 when twelth century pottery was discovered; the site was not backfilled and the tower foundations are still visible.

The site is now a scheduled ancient monument. The castle is on private land and permission was kindly granted by the owners to photograph the parts of the castle inside their grounds.

There was another castle at Ascott, called Ascott Earl, this is now to be seen as a slight mound in a field to the south of the village.