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. 256
