There is a row brewing about how developing the Oxford Prison site will affect St George's Tower and the Castle Mound. We play devil's advocate and ask: Are they worth preserving as historic features of the city

- or are they merely unimportant relics?

Images of Oxford University and the exquisite architecture of Sir Christopher Wren are recognised by people from all over the world. But right in the heart of the city lies one of its most historic sites that is every day overlooked by tourists and residents alike, after having silently borne witness to almost an entire millennium of the city's history.

The remains of Oxford Castle - destroyed by Parliamentary troops after the Civil War as it was seen as a symbol of Oxford's Royalist loyalties

Now the site's future finds itself at the heart of a raging debate.

To the casual observer, the site of Oxford's ruined castle looks little more than a grassy mound. The city council's planning committee has already agreed to give the developers, the Osborne Group, the go-ahead to convert the Victorian prison into a luxury hotel but there are fears that the future of the castle ruins and the nearby St George's Tower could be overshadowed by commercial activity.

The Oxford Civic Society and the Oxford Preservation Trust have both kept a close eye on the way the city council has handled the application for permission to go ahead with the new development scheme.

The chairman of the Oxford Civic Society, Tony Joyce, says: "I would like to see the site opened up so that it is accessible to both tourists and the people of Oxford.

"Without a doubt it is one of the most important historic sites in the city. It is priceless and could be used as a marvellous backdrop for all sorts of civic events."

Mr Joyce says he believes the city council should give the plans for the development of the site greater consideration.

He says: "The role the site has played over the centuries means it is impossible for the council to discuss this issue in just an hour and a half. It needs much more thought."

The developers say the people of Oxford will have the chance to enjoy the site, even if they are not using the hotel or a range of new facilities, including a wine bar and a leisure centre. They say their plans to create a walkway from New Road to Paradise Street will give people the opportunity to savour the historic atmosphere.

But Mr Joyce is concerned people may think only guests will have access rights and that the site will continue to tucked away out of the public's eye.

The castle was built for William the Conqueror by Robert d'Oilly, who had fought on his side in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Work started on the motte and bailey castle five years into William's reign as part of a strategy to subdue Saxon Oxford.

The castle was used as a royal residence and a centre of administration for the county for centuries. The local assize, or court of law, also met for trials at the castle and the castle jail was first recorded by name in 1230 but it is believed it was used well before that, for prisoners from Oxfordshire and Berkshire as well as for scholars from the university.

In the 1500s, and probably much earlier, there were gallows in the castle yard and the last public execution took place there in 1863.

And in times of civil war or disturbance the castle, normally in the sheriff's charge, was handed over to special keepers. The castle was eventually destroyed by Parliamentary troops after the Civil War as it was seen as a symbol of Oxford's Royalist loyalties.

But a jail remained on the site and after much repair work and several extensions it increased greatly in size.

In 1786 it was rebuilt under the direction of George Moneypenny and then, during the Victorian period, it was enlarged and remodelled and given its castle-like features. It only ceased being a jail less than a decade ago, and the county took it over.

Under the proposed scheme, the county will retain the freehold while offering a lease, probably of 150 years, to Osborne. The site through a city's history 1071: Oxford Castle built by the Norman Robert d'Oilly to subdue Saxon Oxford and guard the river crossing

1142: Stephen besieged the castle and Queen Matilda reputedly escaped across the frozen Thames camouflaged by her white nightdress against the snow

1450: Castle started to fall into decay but continued to be used as a prison and assize courts were held there until 1577

1640s: Castle was garrisoned and refortified during the English Civil War

1652: All but St George's Tower, the base of the keep and another tower were destroyed

1776: Most of the surrounding earthworks disappeared with the building of New Road

1780-1785: More of the site destroyed with the building of the first new prison building and the Oxford Canal terminus

1840s: 'A' wing built as part of major Victorian prison programme

1939: Proposals made to close the prison

1994: Prison reopens as a resettlement centre for low-security prisoners

1996: Prison closed for good and prisoners sent to Springhill open prison, near Aylesbury, and Bullingdon prison, near Bicester.

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