Norman tower of Oxford Castle, St George’s Tower, and Castle Mill in Oxford, England. The motte and bailey castle was built c. 1071 AD by Norman Baron, Robert d’Oilly, a contemporary of William the Conqueror, on the site of an earlier Anglo Saxon settlement. Engraving published in 1832.
Engraving, published in 1832 in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' in London, and later skilfully coloured by hand. It depicts the Castle Mill and St George's Tower of Oxford Castle, built c. 1071. The tower survives as a four-storey structure and is in a good state for a building of this early date. In 1142, Empress Matilda was besieged in the castle by King Stephen and the castle was attacked again in 1215 during the Barons’ War. By the 14th century, it was in a ruinous state. Much of the mediaeval fortress was destroyed during the English Civil Wars of the mid-17th century and by the mid-19th century the remaining buildings were serving as the city's prison. Oxfordshire's new County Hall was built on the site in 1840-1841, a few years after this engraving was published. However, the motte or mound of d’Oilly's mediaeval fortress survives and St George's Tower still rises above the Castle mill stream. The prison was closed in 1996 and the buildings have now been restored and redeveloped as a hotel, restaurant and heritage complex. The 'Gentleman's Magazine' was founded in London in 1731 by Edward Cave, who is widely believed to be the first person to use the term 'magazine' to describe a monthly publication. It finally ceased publication in 1922.
Size: 13412px × 10066px
Location: Oxford, England
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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