Billionaire told mansion could be on site of Iron Age hillfort. Plans for a grand Oxfordshire mansion by Soho House billionaire Ronald Burkle are stirring up controversy in the picturesque village of Little Tew – not only among its residents but potentially with history itself.
![[Ronald Burkle (middle) has submitted plans to build a mansion finished with an entrance hall inspired by the Pantheon in Rome]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/16/09/GettyImages-2188479277.jpg)
The billionaire’s proposal for a six-bedroom estate could be thwarted by claims that the site may encroach on the remnants of an Iron Age fort. The project, which would include an opulent entrance hall inspired by Rome’s Pantheon, a natural swimming pool, a stable block, and even a helipad, has been met with fierce objections from villagers.
![[The American businessman has submitted plans to build a mansion finished with an entrance hall inspired by the Pantheon in Rome]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/02/12/tew-24_01861_FUL-LITTLE_TEW_SECTION-1348994-copy.jpg)
Little Tew, a hamlet of just 150 homes nestled in rolling countryside, is known for its tranquil charm, unspoiled by commercial developments. For many, Burkle’s vision of a domed mansion with lavish features represents a stark departure from the character of the area.
![[One resident compared the plans for the house as “more suited to Disneyland” than the village]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/02/12/tew24_01861_FUL-NORTH_ELEVATION_WATERCOLOUR-1348991.jpg)
Oxfordshire County Council has also raised concerns about possible archaeological significance at the site. A report from the county’s archaeological service notes that the area could contain remains linked to a “multi-vallate hillfort,” a type of fortified settlement dating back to the Iron Age. Although preliminary desk-based assessments have been conducted, the report recommends further fieldwork to confirm whether the site holds any historic treasures.
![[The report advised Mr Burkle to commission a practical field investigation to search for the archaeological remains]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/02/12/tew24_01861_FUL-ESTATE_MASTERPLAN-1349016.jpg)
“There have been few formal archaeological investigations undertaken in Little Tew, and few cropmarks suggestive of archaeological remains have been recorded in the area,” the report stated. “There is potential for features related to a possible Iron Age multi-vallate hillfort to exist on the site with the possible hillfort located at The Manor House, Little Tew, 720 metres southeast of the development site.
