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Woodstock 'adulterine' castle

In the civil parish of Woodstock.
In the historic county of Oxfordshire.
Modern Authority of Oxfordshire.
1974 county of Oxfordshire.
Medieval County of Oxfordshire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SP44621691
Latitude 51.84913° Longitude -1.35345°

Woodstock 'adulterine' castle has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

In 1436 a toft and croft at the north end of Oxford Street extended eastwards to 'Castle Wall', (Magd. Coll. Mun., Woodstock deeds no. 2, of which missing words are supplied by ibid. EP 110/35) and a street, possibly the later Upper Brook Hill, leading to the same feature was mentioned c. 1461; (Boro. Mun. 83/1 p 4) there was apparently a small earthwork near the north end of Union Street in C19. (O.S. Map , 500, Oxon. XXVI. 8 (1876 edn.)) The nature of the 'castle' is unknown: an adulterine castle said to have been built at Woodstock by the Empress Maud may have been merely a fortification of the king's houses in the park. (Blenheim Mun., plans in wooden chest.) (VCH)
Comments

The place name evidence is suggestive and 'castle wall' does not seem to be a feature likely to be a holding of a castle but overall the evidence seems weak and a site in the Woodstock Palaces complex seems more likely for the recorded 'castle'. However, it may be this was a bailiffs house for manorial administration before the town was incorporated.
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This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:20:07

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