Donington Castle
Donington Castle was an early 12th-century medieval castle at Castle Donington in Leicestershire. Its medieval masonry survives only in fragments that were later incorporated into the fabric of Donington House. The site was active through the early 13th century and passed through several hands before becoming Crown property.
Its prime
1215
Today
Partial ruin
As it stood in 1215
What Donington Castle looked like in its prime.
In its prime around 1215 Donington Castle appeared as a compact stone fortress set within the village on the flat Leicestershire plain. The site had continuous stone curtain walls enclosing a small cobbled courtyard and internal ranges, built of coursed medieval rubble and ashlar with lime mortar. Crenellated parapets and narrow defensive openings punctuated the wallline; rooflines of the halls and inner stronghold rose just above the curtain. Condition at prime: complete and occupied.
Its story
The story of Donington Castle.
Donington Castle stood in the village of Castle Donington in Leicestershire, north of what is now East Midlands Airport. Built in the early 12th century, it was held by the de Lacy family and was attacked around the time of Magna Carta, remaining active as a fortress through the early 13th century.
In 1311 the castle passed to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, the cousin of Edward II, and it eventually became Crown property. Its medieval masonry survives only in fragments, long since incorporated into the fabric of Donington House.
Step inside
2 places to explore in 1215.
The record describes 2 distinct spots at Donington Castle — including 1 interior: donington house — incorporated medieval masonry. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Donington Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1215 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Donington Castle.
The families that held Donington Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Lacy
Held by the de Lacy family in the 12th century; the castle passed to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, in 1311.
Nearby
