Television personality Jeremy Clarkson has installed a colossal 100,000 square foot metal car park at his Oxfordshire pub, The Farmer's Dog, a move forced by the discovery of significant archaeological remains linked to a 1,400-year-old Viking burial mound. The immense structure, composed of 530 reinforced aluminium sheets, glints so brightly it is visible from space and covers a once picturesque hilltop field in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Archaeological Discovery That Forced a Change
The dramatic intervention came after a geophysical survey was triggered this summer. Clarkson had applied for retrospective planning permission to use the six-acre field as an overflow car park, despite having already used it for that purpose for a year. A specialist team from John Moore Heritage Services discovered significant archaeological remains beneath the car park, potentially connected to the nearby Asthall Barrow.
This scheduled monument is an Anglo-Saxon burial mound from the seventh century AD, containing the cremated remains of a high-status individual, likely a Viking or Anglo-Saxon warlord. Historic England's report accompanying the application states the barrow is of national importance, with only 50-60 such monuments known to exist nationally.
A Costly and Controversial Solution
To protect the underground remains from further damage by vehicles, Clarkson was compelled to hire the huge metal covering. The structure, made from inch-thick strengthened aluminium sheets measuring 15ft by 12ft, weighs hundreds of tonnes and cost the former Top Gear host an eye-watering sum. This financial hit comes after he has publicly detailed the struggles of making the pub, which has been fully booked since its 2024 opening, profitable.
The retrospective planning application is still undecided, and a refusal could force the car park to close completely—a scenario Clarkson fears would be disastrous for the pub, which relies almost entirely on customers who drive.
Local Opposition and Safety Concerns
The development has not been welcomed by all. Asthall Parish Council and local residents have lodged numerous complaints. Locals contend that while the application is for 360 cars, they have witnessed up to 1,000 vehicles parked there at once in the past year.
The Parish Council's letter also raised several safety issues, including:
- Mud on the road from the field.
- Confusing signage potentially causing accidents.
- The car park entrance's proximity to a blind bend.
- Concerns over pedestrian safety.
Interestingly, the council itself suggested installing a protective membrane over the car park. They proposed a grassed surface reinforced with mesh and an educational board to help visitors appreciate the historical significance of the adjacent monument.
Clarkson, who spent £1 million to acquire the pub lease last summer, was determined to avoid a repeat of the traffic chaos that plagued his Diddly Squat Farm Shop. He swiftly leased the field from local landowners Edward and Patricia Walker, charging motorists £2 to park, with £1 going to the Walkers. However, the site's proximity to the ancient barrow has now created a fresh wave of challenges, pitting commercial necessity against the preservation of Britain's ancient heritage.
