Hopes for Donnington Castle to open to public again

Visitors snapped up the recent and rare opportunity to look inside the historic Newbury building's gatehouse

WEST Berkshire Council is discussing with English Heritage the possibility of opening up Newbury's Donnington Castle to the public again in future, following the success of last weekend's tours.

Visitors snapped up the chance of a rare look inside the walls of Newbury's 14th century castle.

Around 160 local history enthusiasts were led by archaeology staff from West Berkshire Council around the ruin to learn about what is one of the most important surviving Civil War earthworks in the country, which is even mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The gatehouse is all that remains of the chalk and flint castle that was built in 1380 and currently owned by the state, in the care of English Heritage.

It played a key role in the Civil War and the Second Battle of Newbury, but was destroyed by the Parliamentarians, with some restoration work carried out in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Among the visitors on Sunday was Brian Bull, aged 72, with his nine-year-old grandson, Cameron Bull, of Wendan Road, Newbury. Mr Bull said: “I used to come here as a boy and before they sealed it all off - it's a brilliant view.

“They have put the portcullis in during the last 30 or 40 years. When I was a kid you could climb to the top (of the castle).”

Tours of two interior levels were led by Sarah Orr, the district council's historical environment record officer.

Mrs Orr recounted the castle's rich history, from Medieval to Tudor times when royal visitors included King Henry VIII, finishing with an account of the Civil War.

Duncan Coe, archaeological officer for the council, said discussions were ongoing with English Heritage as to the possibility of future tours, as last weekend's had proved “a real success.”

Click on the link below to view more pictures of the castle.