Bampton Castle, Oxfordshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bampton Castle |
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| Bampton, Oxfordshire, England | |
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The gatehouse from Bampton Castle, incorporated into Ham Court
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 Bampton Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°43′31″N 1°33′11″W / 51.7254°N 1.5530°W |
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| Owner | Oxfordshire County Council |
Bampton Castle was a historic castle located in the charming village of Bampton, found in the county of Oxfordshire, England. Although the castle no longer stands today, parts of its original structure can still be seen within a nearby house called Ham Court.
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What Was Bampton Castle?
Bampton Castle was a type of fortified building, designed to protect important people and land. Castles like Bampton were very common in medieval England. They served as homes for powerful lords and as strongholds during times of war.
When Was Bampton Castle Built?
Historians have different ideas about when Bampton Castle was first built.
- One idea suggests it was built around 1142 AD. This was during the reign of King Stephen, a time when England faced a civil war. It is believed that Matilda, a powerful noblewoman, might have built a motte castle here. A motte castle was an early type of castle with a wooden or stone tower built on a raised earth mound.
- Another idea points to a later date, between 1314 and 1315. This was during the rule of King Edward II. According to this account, Aymer de Valence, who was the Earl of Pembroke, received special permission from the king to build a castle at his house in Bampton.
What Did Bampton Castle Look Like?
We can learn about the castle's appearance from old records and drawings.
- A book called "Antiquities of Oxfordshire" by Skelton describes the castle as being square-shaped. It had a strong tower at each of its four corners.
- The castle also featured fortified gatehouses on its eastern and western sides. These were important entrances that were heavily protected.
- For even more defense, the castle had turrets that stuck out from the walls, allowing defenders to see and attack enemies from above.
The last known detailed description of the castle was made by a man named Woods. He visited Bampton Castle on September 7, 1664. He wrote that almost the entire western side of the castle was still standing at that time.
What Happened to Bampton Castle?
Sadly, Bampton Castle was taken down before the year 1789. This means it was demolished over 200 years ago.
However, not all of the castle disappeared! Some parts of its old structure were used to build a house called Ham Court. This house is now a "Grade II* listed building," which means it's a very important historical building in England and is protected. You can still see the old gatehouse from Bampton Castle as part of Ham Court today.
Other Interesting Facts
Bampton Castle's name has been used for other things in the area:
- RAF Bampton Castle: There used to be a communications station for the Royal Air Force (RAF) nearby, which was named RAF Bampton Castle.
- Telephone Exchange: The local telephone exchange in Bampton village was also called "Bampton Castle." This was probably to help people tell it apart from other places in Britain named Bampton that didn't have castles. The exchange still works today, helping people in Bampton and nearby villages make calls.
The castle also appears in fiction! It is the main setting for a medieval mystery book series written by Mel Starr. The first book in the series is called "The Unquiet Bones, the first chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon."
