Oxford Castle was originally built in Saxon England, all the way back in 1071, it has since been a prison, a means of defence, and the sight of archaeological digs. Today, it is a busy tourist destination, drawing on its rich history to attract many different visitors; be they interested in climbing the steps of St George’s Tower for the panoramic views of Oxford or descending into the depths of the crypt for ghost stories that will have tingles running down your spine. As you can probably imagine, the castle is one of the oldest buildings in this historic city, although it is harder to believe once you’re faced with the various modernisations that occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The castle was originally a motte-and-bailey castle (a fortification on raised ground surrounded by a walled courtyard), built by Robert d’Oilly due to its strategic location, although from what I have found in my research St George’s Tower predates this. The tower was originally part of the Saxon burh (fortified town) that Oxford Castle was built upon and was incorporated as part of d’Oilly’s castle’s defences. Since then, Oxford Castle has changed hands multiple times over the centuries, most notably in the 1100s during the civil unrest known as the Anarchy. It was at this point the castle was used by Henry I’s daughter, Matilda until Stephen of Bois besieged the castle and she escaped.

After the Baron’s War, Oxford Castle took on the role of Oxfordshire’s gaol (unofficially), where the first recorded prisoners were university students in 1216!

The castle was also an important part of the English Civil War, as King Charles made Oxford his wartime capital. Its function of being a prison was stretched as dozens of parliamentary soldiers were crammed into St George’s Tower upon capture. When Oxford fell in 1646, the castle and town’s defences were damaged so that they couldn’t be used in defence again, although the tower was still standing as Oxford’s prison.

To get Oxford Castle to be the building we know it as today, it underwent several rebuilds and upgrades during its time as a prison. It wasn’t until 1996 that Her Majesty’s Prison Oxford decommissioned the site!

Today, Oxford Castle is a popular tourist destination with guided tours, museum-like exhibits, ghost stories and even a hotel. A lift has been added to allow step-free access to the crypt and 1st floor in the prison D-Wing, so it is slightly more accessible than it once was.

I can remember visiting a couple of years ago and being fascinated by the stories that were being brought to life in the different locations, particularly the crypt. I can still remember our tour guide telling us that dogs refused to enter the crypt due to the deaths that had taken place there prior, before leading the way down.

As with every location at the moment I would recommend that you visit their website to read up on the Covid-19 restrictions before you go. And, as always, I advise you to purchase your tickets in advance to save time on the day and make sure the time you want to visit is available.

Oxford Castle is definitely a location that I would recommend visiting, particularly for those who are interested in discovering the history of the place.