| Summary : The site of the remains of Donnington Castle. The manor of Donnington was held by the Abberbury family from 1287, and in 1387 Sir Richard Abberbury was granted a licence to crenellate the castle by Richard II. The castle originally comprised a curtain wall with four round corner towers, two square wall towers, and a substantial gatehouse, constructed around a courtyard. The courtyard buildings were probably of timber construction and possibly included a hall, kitchen, and guest lodgings. In the early 15th century the castle was held by Thomas Chaucer (son of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer), and it later passed to the crown. Henry VIII is reported to have stayed there in 1539, and Elizabeth I in 1568. The castle was defended in the Civil War by Parliamentarian John Packer in 1643, but it was taken by Sir John Boys who built defences on the slopes of the hill in a star shape. The projections were for gun emplacements; scarps and platforms relating to these defences survive today. The castle was subsequently attacked many times until 1646, and had to be relieved by the King (Charles I) on two occasions. Boys surrendered to the Parliamentarian troops after obtaining the King's permission. The castle was then destroyed leaving only the gatehouse remaining, which was then restored to John Packer. The gatehouse is two storeys high and roofed at battlement level. The external walls of the castle have been rebuilt to a height of 0.5 metres to indicate the original layout. The castle is in the care of English Heritage. |