Donnington Castle opens its gates as part of Heritage Open Days

Visitors were treated to a view of a Newbury landmark that they don’t usually get to see.

The gates of Donnington Castle were opened up to allow people to step inside, as part of the Heritage Open Days.

During a full day of events visitors got to see and hear the story of Donnington Castle.

Talks took place at St Mary's Church throughout the day, before visitors moved to the castle itself, where they were given access to the usually closed off gatehouse.

Well-known local historian Dr David Peacock outlined the story of the castle from the reign of King Richard II through to the reign of King Charles II and the English Civil War – speaking about the people who had an impact on the castle during that time.

Dr Steven Brindle, an architectural historian, gave a presentation on “reconstructing Donnington Castle as it was in its heyday, before its destruction during the English Civil War”.

He has looked at evidence of the ruins and records in archives to reconstruct the appearance of the castle at the start of its life.

Some of the information was being presented in public for the first time.

Sarah Somerville, the West Berkshire visitor services officer at Shaw House, gave a talk on the local setting of the castle using historical maps, before David Willetts and Ginny Slade led a discussion on the next steps for the ongoing Community Heritage programme, which is creating a heritage trail from Shaw village to the castle.

The visit to the castle was also an opportunity to inaugurate the new information panels that have been installed there by English Heritage.

The event was organised as a community collaboration between St Mary's Church, local parishioners, students at Trinity School, Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Council, English Heritage, Newbury District Field Club, Shaw House and West Berkshire Heritage.