Castle Donington

Castle Donington (pronounced Dunington) is just over the Leicestershire border on a hill above the Trent River. As the name suggests, there was once a Castle in the area. It was built in the 11th or 12th century, demolished in 1216, rebuilt later that century and was finally demolished in 1595. All that is left of the castle now is a mound in the actual location.

Today the village is a pleasant blend of the old and new, with modern shops standing alongside dignified Georgian and Regency houses. Several timber-framed houses dating from the 17th century and earlier survive along the main road. The oldest part of the Parish Church of St Edward, King and Martyr, dates back to 1200 but it was probably built on the site of an older Saxon church. The spire, rising to a height of 160 feet, is a landmark for miles around.

Donington Hall with its park was the home of members of the Hastings family from 1595 until the death of Lord Donington in 1895. The old hall was replaced by the present building in 1793 by Earl Moira, later 1st Marquis Hastings. The Hall is of the ‘Strawberry Hill Gothic’ style, first made fashionable by Walpole. The hall and park were developed between the wars into what would today be known as a Country Club with accommodation, golf, boating and other amusements, the most notable of which was the racetrack, which developed from humble beginnings using the park driveways to a Grand Prix circuit. Today the racetrack is open again and it is possible to see something of its pre-war glories in the Donington Park Museum. Vehicles on show include Ascari’s Ferrari, Jim Clark’s Lotus 23 and Nigel Mansell’s Williams. The Hall is now the headquarters of British Midland Airways who have carefully restored it to much of its former glory. The medieval Deer Park survives and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Close to the village stands Nottingham East Midlands Airport, originally a Royal Air Force base. It was purchased in the 1960s and soon became the main airport for the nearby conurbations of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.