The Building of Oxford Castle Flashcards
How did Robert D’Oyly rise to prominence?
A distinguished soldier, D’Oyly had risen from the ranks of the minor aristocracy in his native Normandy to become a member of William’s inner circle
How did Oxford pick up its name as a city?
On the Thames, about 50 miles upstream of London, there was a ford (a shallow piece of a river where someone can walk across) which cattle used to cross, most commonly oxes. As Oxes crossed the ford, this is where the name Oxford was originated and how it was brainstormed. Next to this ancient ‘oxen-ford’, a Saxon settlement had grown up which, by the late 11th century, had developed into a thriving market town
What was at the foot of the Motte?
A ditch where beyond this, under the watchful eye of the castle keep, was the bailey, a large defensive enclosure where the daily business of the castle was conducted. The bailey also housed D’Oyly’s garrison, horses, livestock and other essential supplies
What was outside the Bailey?
A moat which was fed by the water from the River Thames. Ramparts were formed from the banking up of the Earth surrounding the moated area. Robert D’Oyly was a smart man and cleverly added a layer of clay to the ramparts making these extremely slippery and difficult to climb. This meant that anyone attempting to storm the castle would, quite literally, be facing an uphill struggle
