A HISTORY OF LEICESTERSHIRE 



An entrenched bank in Old Park Wood, three-quarters of a mile 

 south-east of Belvoir Castle, was probably an outwork used in the 



Civil War. 



CASTLE DONINGTON (x, i). Nine and a half miles north-east of 

 Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The castle, from which the village derives its prefix, 

 stands high upon a sandstone hill south-east of the River Trent. In 

 Domesday Survey the village is called Donitone, and was the property of the 

 mother of Earl Morcar. The mound upon which stood the mediaeval keep 

 is now divided into small holdings, and the surrounding fosse into miniature 



CASTLE HILL AND MOAT, CASTLE DONINGTON 



orchards. Notwithstanding the consequent delving and annual deposit of 

 leaves the escarpment of the mound is still about 60 ft., with a counterscarp 

 of almost the same height except on the east, where it is considerably lower, 

 and without doubt marks the entrance to the former bailey. The base-court 

 was probably obliterated by George, earl of Huntingdon, who bought the 

 castle and park of Queen Elizabeth, ' and hath quite ruinated the earth.' 

 The outer scarp is generally of the same depth as the first, which, with the 

 natural hillside made the work a formidable barrier. Buildings have so 

 encroached upon the outer scarp that around its southern portion a great part 

 is lost. 



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