Post by Spooky on Sept 6, 2004 14:34:21 GMT
Donnington Castle’s towering gatehouse, standing on a high spur and overlooking the old London to Bath road, is an awesome edifice that still commands the attention much as it has done since its construction in 1386. Built by Richard de Abberbury, chamberlain to Richard 11’s Queen, Anne of Bohemia, its’ most eventful period was during the Civil War when Charles 1st seized it from its owner, John Packer, and appointed John Boys commander of the garrison.
In July 1644 the Parliamentarian General Middleton arrived with 3000 men and demanded that the garrison surrender. When Boys refused, Middleton launched an ill-conceived siege that not only failed to break through the castle’s defences, but also cost him a tenth of his force. In September, a new force under a new commander loosed a twelve-day volley of cannon fire at the walls. Three of the castle’s flanking towers were blown to smithereens and the curtain wall was breeched, but still the valiant Boys refused to surrender. A month later the Parliamentarians tried again and bombarded the castle with more than a thousand shots. But when they sent word demanding that Boys submit, they received his customary short shrift. Then word arrived that Charles 1st was on his way to relieve the defenders and the attackers retreated. The exhausted garrison were duly re-provisioned and were able to enjoy a brief respite from hostilities.
When the second Battle of Newbury on 28th October 1644, ended in stalemate, another assault on the Castle led by Sir William Waller ensued. Once more the demands for surrender were met with an emphatic “no” from the gallant Boys, and a week later a Royalist force commanded by Prince Rupert managed to relieve the garrison.
Colonel Boys used the respite afforded by the winter months to strengthen his defences and was once more prepared to continue his valiant stand. But the Civil War was drawing to a close and when, in March 1646, the Parliamentarians again demanded his surrender, he sought the Kings instructions and was told to shift for himself and get the best terms he could. On the 1st April 1646 having withstood almost twenty months of constant siege, John Boys surrendered to his adversaries. Parliament then voted for the demolition of this symbol of valiant resistance, and today all that remains are the twin towers of the mighty gatehouse that rise from the grassy hillside to a commanding 65 feet.
Needles to say, such a turbulent history has resulted in several ghosts. There are persistent reports of spectral white dog that comes bounding down the hill from the castle towards the woods below. The creature makes no sound and the first intimation that he is anything more than living flesh and blood, is when he suddenly vanishes into thin air. A ghostly guard has also been seen around the gatehouse. Whether he is the shade of one of the castle’s Civil War defenders is unknown, since he never stays around long enough for witnesses to ask him! One minute he’ll be standing by the gatehouse, a solid and apparently human figure, next he will suddenly disappear, as one witness put it, “like a bubble bursting”.
In July 1644 the Parliamentarian General Middleton arrived with 3000 men and demanded that the garrison surrender. When Boys refused, Middleton launched an ill-conceived siege that not only failed to break through the castle’s defences, but also cost him a tenth of his force. In September, a new force under a new commander loosed a twelve-day volley of cannon fire at the walls. Three of the castle’s flanking towers were blown to smithereens and the curtain wall was breeched, but still the valiant Boys refused to surrender. A month later the Parliamentarians tried again and bombarded the castle with more than a thousand shots. But when they sent word demanding that Boys submit, they received his customary short shrift. Then word arrived that Charles 1st was on his way to relieve the defenders and the attackers retreated. The exhausted garrison were duly re-provisioned and were able to enjoy a brief respite from hostilities.
When the second Battle of Newbury on 28th October 1644, ended in stalemate, another assault on the Castle led by Sir William Waller ensued. Once more the demands for surrender were met with an emphatic “no” from the gallant Boys, and a week later a Royalist force commanded by Prince Rupert managed to relieve the garrison.
Colonel Boys used the respite afforded by the winter months to strengthen his defences and was once more prepared to continue his valiant stand. But the Civil War was drawing to a close and when, in March 1646, the Parliamentarians again demanded his surrender, he sought the Kings instructions and was told to shift for himself and get the best terms he could. On the 1st April 1646 having withstood almost twenty months of constant siege, John Boys surrendered to his adversaries. Parliament then voted for the demolition of this symbol of valiant resistance, and today all that remains are the twin towers of the mighty gatehouse that rise from the grassy hillside to a commanding 65 feet.
Needles to say, such a turbulent history has resulted in several ghosts. There are persistent reports of spectral white dog that comes bounding down the hill from the castle towards the woods below. The creature makes no sound and the first intimation that he is anything more than living flesh and blood, is when he suddenly vanishes into thin air. A ghostly guard has also been seen around the gatehouse. Whether he is the shade of one of the castle’s Civil War defenders is unknown, since he never stays around long enough for witnesses to ask him! One minute he’ll be standing by the gatehouse, a solid and apparently human figure, next he will suddenly disappear, as one witness put it, “like a bubble bursting”.