Castlefacts³

Donington le Heath Manor

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are major building remains

Name	Donington le Heath Manor
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Leicestershire
Modern Authority	Leicestershire
1974 Authority	Leicestershire
Civil Parish	Coalville

House, c.1280, altered C17, restored 1966-71, of Charnwood granite rubble with ashlar dressings, C20 timber-framed gables and Swithland slate roofs. Massive rubble stack to rear (truncated). Main hall block of 2 storeys lies E-W with wings projecting N at each end to form a half-H plan, and a further wing of slightly later date extends from the NE angle. S wall contains original 1st floor entrance to hall, holes for staircase still visible. Shallow angle buttresses (except at SE corner and in N wing). C13 cusped lancets, restored. S, N and E walls largely rebuilt during restoration. Ground floor fireplace C17, dates from conversion of undercroft to kitchen, when the height of the ceiling was also raised. 1st floor hall has C17 fireplace (fragment of stone wall bracket only remains of C13 fire- place). 3 C17 roof trusses, one closed and 2 open. Hall separated from wings by timber-framed partitions. Part of original plaster infilling survives by doorway to E wing. C17 mullioned windows of 3 and 4 lights with hood bands above, inserted in S and E walls. Window at W end of hall is single large lancet. (Listed Building Report)

A slight depression on the east and south sides suggests a former moat, but the enclosure bank to the east is now almost ploughed out. (PastScape–Field Investigators Comments-B H Seaman/06-JUL-1972/Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator)

Gatehouse Comments

Williams calls this a fortified manor house in a group not 'requiring' a licence to crenellate i.e. low status and weakly fortified. A complete misapprehension of licences which were most often granted to just such buildings. (see Licences to Crenllate)Site staff report that air photo shows possible moat and finds of roof slates may indicate the position of a gate house.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number

Historic England Listed Building number(s)

1074361

Images Of England

187880

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

920571

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLE14488&resourceID=1021

OS Map Grid Reference	SK420126
Latitude	52.7099494934082
Longitude	-1.3795599937439
Eastings	442020
Northings	312660