Ascot d'Oilly Castle

Ascot d'Oilly Castle is situated north of the village of Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire. It is a scheduled ancient monument. A fragment of the castle remains and is a Grade II listed building. It was named after Roger d’Oilly who was granted it by William the Conqueror and whose brother built Oxford Castle.

It is thought that the castle was built around 1129 and it was demolished soon after 1175. There are fragmentary remains of a stone tower. It was excavated by Martyn Jope und R. I. Threlfall in 1959, when 12th century pottery was discovered. The remains consist of raised ground surrounded by broad ditching. Only traces of the tower remain and they suggest that it was about 35 ft square with walls 8 ft thick. The castle is very close to the fortification of Ascott Earl Castle, built on an adjacent estate at the other end of the village.