Address: Donnington Castle, Castle Ln, Donnington, Newbury RG14 2LE
Location
Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle situated in the village of Donnington, just north of the town of Newbury in Berkshire.
The castle is currently managed by English Heritage and is free to enter any time during daylight hours.
At Donnington Castle you will find:
Access to the castle grounds
Information boards sharing details of the castle's history
Wonderful views of the surrounding area
Car park
Well behaved-dogs are welcome at this location.
History
Donnington Castle was built by its original owner, Sir Richard Abberbury, under a licence granted by Richard II in 1386.
The castle changed hands multiple times; residents include:
Thomas Chaucer, son of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer,
Alice, Duchess of Suffolk
Duke of Suffolk William De La Pole
This family later fell out with the Tudor monarchs, and the castle became a royal property. In 1514 it was given to Charles Brandon but fell into a state of decay by 1535.
The castle was visited by King Henry VIII in 1539, Edward VI in 1552, and Queen Elizabeth I in 1568.
By the time the English Civil War broke out in 1642, the castle was owned by the Parliamentarian John Packer family, but after the First Battle of Newbury, it was taken for King Charles I and held by Sir John Boys. They quickly enhanced the castle's defenses by adding earthworks in a star shape to provide gun emplacements.
Parliamentarians laid siege to the castle in October 1644, and the garrison held out for 18 months. With permission from the king, Boys surrendered the castle in April 1646 and was allowed to leave with all his men.
In 1646, Parliament voted to demolish the castle; only the gatehouse was left standing.
Parking
The onsite car park is open from 7am to 7pm daily with a £2 charge for non-English Heritage members. Parking is free for members with a valid English Heritage car sticker on display.
If you would prefer to pay in advance, visit their website here.
There are no designated blue-badge parking spaces.
Accessibility
The castle is approximately 100 metres from the car park, accessible via a fairly steep gravel path. There's a bench located halfway up the hill.
The castle ruins are based on a grassy area, which is uneven.
There are no benches around the castle, but there are plenty of places to sit on the castle ruins.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Donnington Castle is a wonderful location for history lovers or families with young kids looking for a picnic with a view. Free entry and a parking charge of £2.00 make this location perfect for a cheap trip out.
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