Location

SITUATION
Tucked away and hidden from view, Donnington Castle House sits centre stage within its stunning, expansive gardens and grounds, in an elevated position and adjacent to the historic, medieval Donnington Castle.

It is ideally situated for easy access to the road and rail networks. The A34 and junction 13 of the M4 is just three miles away.   Newbury station offers a fast and regular service to London Paddington taking from 40 minutes. Heathrow 47 miles away.

Newbury, just two miles away, offers a comprehensive choice for everyday shopping requirements, with historic Oxford and Marlborough presenting a vast array of cultural opportunities and pastimes.

The locally renowned Woodspeen Restaurant and Watermill Theatre are both under two miles away.

HISTORY
The historic conservation village of Donnington has many period buildings and is well known as the site of battles during the Civil War. The castle is Listed Grade I and is managed by English Heritage, having been in the ownership of a number of monarchs including Henry VII, Henry VIII and Edward VI.   In 1600 it was presented to the Earl of Nottingham, Howard Effingham, as a reward for defeating the Spanish Armada and was held by his descendants until the siege in the mid 1600's.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, the castle was owned by John Packer, a prominent member of the Royal court and parliament. It was important strategically during the war which began in 1642. With the Royalists based in Oxford and Parliamentarians in London, Newbury was the site of two significant battles during the war. After the first battle, King Charles I ordered Colonel Sir John Boys to take the castle. It remained in Royalist hands until Colonel Boys officially surrendered the castle to Colonel Dalbier of the Parliamentarians in March 1646. Dalbier's Mead is the field where the surrender took place and is within the grounds of Donnington Castle House and still retains that name.

Severely damaged during the war, the castle and it's lands were granted back to Packer in 1646. By 1648 he began the construction of a new house, Donnington Castle House on what is thought to have been the site of a former lodge. Although the majority of the house is constructed of red brick, it is thought that some of the foundations and elements of the house feature stone and flint from the castle.

After the death of Packer in 1649, the house became the home of one of his sons, William. He is attributed with the rebuilding of Donnington village, having been burned to the ground during the war, and included Donnington Hospital and a row of alms houses.

The original and oldest part of the house faces south and houses the wood panelled rooms, the central oak staircase and cellars. The house has been added to over time, including the north-east wing overlooking the croquet lawn, possibly in the late 17th century.

The fascinating and rich history of this house continues through the centuries being home to a wealth of interesting occupants and owners, including the Parker Bowles family. During World War II the War Office requisitioned the house for accommodation for 'The Screaming Eagles', the 101st Airborne Division of the US Air Force. In its time it has also played host to many a famous guest, including Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES
Nearby sporting opportunities include hunting with the Old Berks Hunt, racing at Newbury, golf at Donnington Grove Golf and Country Club, fishing on the Rivers Kennet and Lambourn and sailing in the Solent and Hamble. Lambourn, the Valley of the Racehorse, is approximately 14 miles away.

SCHOOLING
There is a wide choice of schools within easy reach including Horris Hill, Cheam, Elstree, Cothill House, Ludgrove School and Brockhurst & Marlston House Prep schools. Senior schools include Radley College, Eton College, Downe House, Marlborough College and St Gabriel's (6 months-18 years).

Description

DESCRIPTION
During their 13 year tenure, the present owners have restored this beautiful and historic house and its gardens to their former glory. Gently nurturing its ancient history, they have skilfully met the requirements of a warm and welcoming family home, which it is today.

Built in 1648, Donnington Castle House showcases the stunning classic design and symmetry of the Restoration period.

Original architectural and design details abound throughout the house. These include floor to ceiling large pane sash windows, original shutters, leaded light windows, window seats, panelled rooms, dado rails. Decorative plaster cornicing and ceilings, bolection moulded fireplaces, oak floors and tall ceilings throughout, all feature.

Stone steps rise to the front door, set within a stone pedimented frame, creating a graceful entrance to this beautiful house. The door opens to a large reception hall, flooded with natural light.

Either side of the front door are the morning room and the library, both with 12 pane sash windows, shutters, window seats and a fireplace. The library with bookshelves and cabinetry either side. The beautiful drawing room is fully panelled with a striking marble fireplace to one end. Two full height 24 pane sash windows and a full height glazed door open to the secluded Ladies Garden. Opposite is the dining room, also fully panelled, with alcoves either side of the fireplace and windows and door opening to the croquet lawn, and the views beyond. An inner hall leads on to the entrance to the cellars, cloakroom, walk in storage and coat room and an ante room, with French doors opening to the snooker room.

The snooker room, originally the ballroom, features an outstanding, ornately carved plaster ceiling. This wonderful room is dual aspect with a sitting area and fireplace to one end, making it a wonderful space to entertain family and friends. A door opens to the tranquil Ladies Garden.

Just beyond is the kitchen/breakfast room with a French oak floor. The painted cabinetry is by Smallbone of Devizes. Appliances include a four door electric Aga, Miele oven and dishwasher and Sub-Zero integrated fridge/freezer. There is also a walk-in pantry and a large storeroom directly off.

The dual aspect sitting room, originally the kitchen, with its ancient beams, fireplace and door to the croquet lawn is directly opposite the kitchen. A rear corridor leads down to a media room, a further cloakroom and a delightful inner courtyard, perfumed with the heady scent of jasmine climbing the walls. Opposite, a door opens to the outside, walled courtyard. The corridor also leads to the boot room, laundry room, flower room, sports store and store room. All have extensive storage.

The large cellar is formed of five rooms, one with the original brick arched wine bins, two with bespoke wine storage, capable of storing up to approximately 5,000 bottles and a further two wine stores.

The main staircase rises and divides. The east wing of the first floor houses the principal bedroom suite with wonderful views over the gardens and two giant Cedar of Lebanon trees. The bedroom features a fireplace and window seats with steps leading to the bathroom, with its marble topped vanity unit, bath and shower. There is full height cabinetry to two walls. The dressing room has fitted wardrobes to three walls and dressing table providing an abundance of storage.

Also in the east wing is the principal guest bedroom suite and two further bedrooms, two with fully panelled walls. All have en suite bathrooms.

From the half landing, stairs rise to a spacious landing, beneath the roof lantern. Directly off is a wardrobe storage room, kitchenette and cloakroom. A corridor leads on to three further bedrooms (including the Butler's bedroom), a family bathroom, study, studio, family shower room, linen room and further storeroom.

All sanitaryware throughout is by CP Hart.

The huge attic floor, spanning the footprint of the house, was originally servants quarters. Beams, fireplaces, oak and elm flooring feature throughout. This space offers scope for diverse uses as self-contained accommodation, offices, or even a teenagers retreat. Presently one of these rooms, just off the galleried landing has been converted into a large teenage attic den.


OUTSIDE
The gravel drive sweeps around and divides to provide ample parking at the front and rear of the house. The rear parking courtyard is bordered by the house, Coach House and Rose Cottage.

Spectacular gardens wrap around the house, affording wonderful views from most rooms.   Surrounding the house are a series of garden 'rooms', each with their own character. The courtyard garden with its sitting and dining areas and beautiful stone trough water feature leads on to the pool garden. Both these exquisite gardens are enclosed by mellow red brick and flint walls, festooned with roses and herbaceous beds below. The pool garden has a kitchen and changing room with shower and cloakroom. The tennis court and rose courtyard are just beyond. Throughout these gardens, ancient oak doors and stone architraves and lintels were repurposed from the damaged castle. The large croquet lawn, supported above tall old brick terrace walls, has lawns below that sweep down beneath the arching boughs of two Cedar of Lebanon trees, to the northerly end of the woodland.

In recent years, the deep herbaceous borders throughout the gardens, have been redesigned by renowned garden designers Jameson Stamp, and now froth with colour and scent. The Ladies Garden is enclosed by mature copper beech hedging and has doors opening to it from the snooker room and drawing room.

The remainder of the grounds are predominantly mature broadleaf woodland. Dalbier's Mead, now a wild flower meadow, fields, interspersed with lime avenues, are rich wildlife habitats and are underplanted with swathes of bluebells, crocus, snowdrops and cyclamen. The enclosed kitchen garden includes vegetable, cut flower beds and a greenhouse.

To the rear of the house are four of the loose boxes, tack room and the cricket net. There is also a large garden utility area just inside the rear access gates and two garden equipment sheds and a tool shed.

THE COACH HOUSE
One of the three garages has now been converted into a party room, an ideal retreat for teenagers and their friends. There are two remaining garages with double wooden doors and engineered brick flooring followed by a gym. Attached to the gym are the two further loose boxes and access into the huge oak A-framed loft space, once the hayloft, which offers myriad of opportunities to convert.

ROSE COTTAGE
Forming the third side of the rear courtyard, this cottage has a kitchen, utility, rear lobby, dining room, sitting room, shower room, 3 bedrooms and bathroom.

GARDENERS COTTAGE
Kitchen, sitting room, dining room, boot room, 2 bedrooms, shower room

Directions

Directions
From the M4: Exit at J13 onto the A34 towards Winchester/
Southampton. Immediately take exit signed Services/Hotels. At
the mini roundabout by Chieveley services take second exit. At
next roundabout 2nd exit, third roundabout take 1st exit go past
Donnington Valley Hotel and Golf Course, next roundabout take 1st
exit. Then Castle Pub on left hand side, turn right opposite, at cross
roads turn right up Castle Lane, over sleeping policeman and the
gates and gravel drive to Donnington Castle House are on the right.
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