Donnington, Berkshire


Donnington is an English village in the civil parish of Shaw-cum-Donnington, just north of the town of Newbury in Berkshire. It contains a ruined medieval castle and a Strawberry Hill Gothic mansion.

Notable buildings

Donnington Castle

, a ruined medieval castle of some historical significance, is in the village. It was the home of Richard Abberbury the Elder. The second Battle of Newbury was fought between Newbury and Donnington, as an attack on the castle, which was held for the Royalists by Sir John Boys. The main entrance range of Donnington Castle House was built in 1648 to incorporate an earlier lodge.

Donnington Hospital almshouses

, established in 1393, form the oldest charity in the county, although others formed later had older charities merged into them. Robert Beaugraunt is recorded as minister of the poor in 1412. The earliest current building dates from 1602, but the complex is wide-ranging, with additional modern almshouses having been built in Bucklebury and Iffley.

Others

Other notable buildings include Donnington Priory and Donnington Grove. The latter is a Strawberry Hill Gothic mansion built by the antiquary and translator James Pettit Andrews in 1763–1772. It is now a hotel in the centre of a golf course.

Transport

Donnington has regular bus services to Newbury.

Famous residents

In birth order: