Origins
Donnington
Castle was built by its original owner, Richard Abberbury the Elder,
under a licence granted by Richard II in 1386. Richard de Abberbury was
a knight in the Black Prince’s household, and a guardian of the
Prince's son destined to become Richard II. This position of trustlater
helped secure the licence. Richard de Abberbury was a renowned
knight who fought at Poitiers during the Hundred Years War. The
surviving castle gatehouse dates from this time. It is thought to be
the work of the architect
William de Wynford, who was known to be working in the area for William
of Wykeham.
Donnington shares its origin with the more famous Bodiam Castle in East
Sussex which was also built by a knight surviving the Hundred Years War.
The castle was subsequently bought in 1415 by Thomas Chaucer, the son
of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer. At his death the property was given his
daughter Alice, who later became Duchess of Suffolk. This family later
fell out with the monarchy because of the poliitical activity of
the Duke who was imprisoned for a while in The Tower of London. The
family survived these events only to have the castle confiscated by the
Crown in 1503 because they were on the losing side in the War of the
Roses.
King Henry VIII vistied the castle. Subsequently Queen
Elizabeth I visited Donnington Castle and had previously wished to live
there during her imprisonment by herhalf-sister, Queen Mary I, which
was
not allowed.
Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham, was given the castle by Elizabeth
around 1600. The Earl was overall commander of the fleet which
defeated the Spanish Armada.
