Donnington Castle

Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle on a hillside north of Newbury in southern England, originally built in the late 14th century. Its remains include medieval masonry and later earthwork defences.

Constructed in the late 14th century, the castle was strengthened and famously held for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War; it endured sieges and was largely slighted and left in ruin after the 1640s. Subsequent centuries saw the site remain as a romantic ruin and local landmark.

Perched on a hill just north of Newbury in Berkshire, Donnington Castle overlooks agricultural land and river valleys and is reached by minor roads and footpaths from the nearby town.

• Gatehouse focus: The gatehouse is the most substantial visible part of the medieval castle and is typically the focal point for visitors exploring the site.

What to See #

• Gatehouse: A largely intact 14th-century gatehouse that survives above the later earthwork defenses and marks the main entrance to the ruined inner ward.
• Earthwork fortifications: Extensive Civil War-era earthworks and bastions added in the 17th century, visible as raised banks and ditches around the ruined masonry core.