Jeremy Clarkson Installs 100,000 sq ft Metal Car Park at The Farmer’s Dog Pub
A Giant Metal Structure Rises Over the Cotswolds
Shining across the hillside and visible even from space, Jeremy Clarkson has installed a colossal 100,000 sq ft reinforced metal car park surface at his Oxfordshire pub, The Farmer’s Dog.
The massive construction covers what was once a green hilltop in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It consists of 530 aluminium sheets, each one inch thick and measuring 15ft by 12ft, linked together to create a hardened surface for vehicles in the pub’s six-acre overflow car park.
Archaeological Discovery Forces Sudden Installation
The unexpected construction was not part of Clarkson’s original vision.
A geophysical survey—triggered after Clarkson applied for retrospective planning permission for the car park—revealed important archaeological remains beneath the field. These remains appear to be connected to a listed 1,400-year-old burial mound, believed to contain the cremated remains of a Viking or Anglo-Saxon warlord.
The car park has been used for over a year, but the new findings forced Clarkson to take action to prevent damage to the historic site.
A Costly Solution to Protect Ancient History
Hiring the metal covering weighed hundreds of tonnes and cost Clarkson a significant sum.
This comes as he has spoken publicly about the financial challenges of running the pub, despite fully booked tables since opening in 2024.
Exclusive aerial photos taken this week show the full scale of the metal installation.
Planning Decision Still Pending
Clarkson’s retrospective planning application has not yet been approved.
If rejected, the car park may be forced to shut down entirely—a devastating blow to The Farmer’s Dog, which relies heavily on customers arriving by car.
Local residents have already raised objections, claiming Clarkson is seeking permission for just 360 cars, though they say up to 1,000 vehicles have been seen in the field during peak times.
Official Concerns Over the Historic Burial Mound
A specialist report from John Moore Heritage Services warned that the car park sits immediately beside Asthall Barrow, one of Oxfordshire’s best-preserved Anglo-Saxon burial mounds.
They cautioned that any fencing, landscaping, or additional work near the monument would require Scheduled Monument Consent from the Secretary of State—similar protections to those surrounding sites like Stonehenge.
Local Council Suggests Alternative Solutions
Asthall Parish Council recommended a protective membrane instead of heavy metal sheets, possibly a grassed surface reinforced with mesh.
They also proposed adding an educational information board so visitors can learn about the historical significance of the burial mound.
Additional local concerns included:
- Mud being tracked onto nearby roads
- Confusing signage causing traffic issues
- The entrance being close to a blind bend
- Pedestrian safety risks
The Parking Problem: A Familiar Clarkson Story
Clarkson spent £1 million acquiring The Farmer’s Dog last year.
From day one, he knew parking capacity would be a major issue, especially after the chaos caused by visitors to his Diddly Squat Farm Shop, where thousands of fans once clogged narrow roads.
To avoid repeating that disaster, Clarkson leased the nearby field from local landowners, charging visitors £2 to park.
This solution worked until concerns were raised about its proximity to the burial mound.
Historic Monument at the Heart of the Dispute
Asthall Barrow, dating from the 7th century AD, is protected as a Scheduled Monument.
It contains the remains of a high-status figure—possibly a Viking warlord—who once controlled part of a regional kingdom during the Dark Ages.
The pub’s overflow car park sits dangerously close to this heritage site, prompting strict rules and heightened scrutiny.
