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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Donnington Castle
Castle
Castle
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Donnington Castle

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 County

Berkshire (2 castles) 

 Categories

Stone

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Location51.4199,-1.3384 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Berkshire (2 castles) 

 Categories

Stone

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Location
51.4199,-1.3384
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
onnington Castle's can be found just north of Newbury in Berkshire. A family called Abberbury owned the land and a licence to crenellate was granted to Richard Abberbury by King Richard II in 1385 (or 1386) around the same time as at Bodiam. Richard Abberbury built a new castle on a natural hill above a stream called the Lambourn.

The castle is roughly rectangular in shape with four circular towers at the corners. Unlike many castles Donnington did not have a separate keep, instead the strongest part of the castle was the large gatehouse which is now all that remains. The gatehouse is rectangular in shape projecting quite a distance beyond the main rectangular part of the castle and has two very tall drum-towers in front of it. The towers have several string courses running horizontally around them dividing the towers into several sections. A range of buildings would have occupied the central courtyard.

Richard Abberbury did not have any children and when he became old he sold the castle to Thomas Chaucer, the son of the poet Geoffrey. Thomas bought the castle in 1415 for his daughter Alice possibly as a wedding gift for her and her new husband Sir John Philip.

in 1643, during the English Civil War, the castle was captured and held for the King by Sir John Boys who built extra defences around it in line with the current military ideas of the time. The castle came under attack in 1644 and much of the castle was destroyed by the large number of missiles fired at it, but the other defences built by Boys held and the castle did not fall. The siege was lifted when Charles I arrived in Donnington with an army. The King rewarded Boys with a knighthood for his valiant efforts protecting the castle. But the victory was short-lived. The Royalist army retreated after the Second Battle of Newbury in October 1644 leaving thier guns at Donnington Castle under the command of Sire John Boys. Again the castle came under attack ang again Boys defended it against all that was thrown at it. After a siege of two years Sir John was allowed to surrender with full honours and a led his army out with their guns.

Location

See Also

People

  • Richard (II, King of England 1377-1399)
  • Chaucer, Geoffrey
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • Bodiam Castle
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Timeline

1385

...

Licence granted to crenellate at Donnington

Threats of invasion prompted Richard to allow the creation of fortified manor houses. Donnington is one example. ¹

1644

July 31

Donnington Castle Siege

In July 1644, the Parliamentarian General Middleton was given the task of taking Donnington Castle. The commander of the castle, John Boys, refused to surrender and so a siege began.

1644

November 9

Charles returns to Donnington

Charles I returned to Donnington Castle to get the guns he had left there. A battle could have been fought, one that the King was willing to take part it, but Manchester and the committee of generals declined because their forces were not in a fit state. ¹

1646

April

Donnington Castle Surrender

After a two year siege Sir John Boys who commanded Donnington Castle for the Royalists was allowed to leave with full honours in respect for the way he had protected the castle against attack.

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. James Forde-Johnston, Great Medieval Castles of Britain, 1979
  • 2. C.H.Frith, Cromwell, 1935

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Richard (II, King of England 1377-1399)
    • Chaucer, Geoffrey
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • Bodiam Castle
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

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