The Donnington Grove Estate is set in a delightful and secluded position on the outskirts of Newbury and is overlooked by the historic Donnington Castle. The present house was built by James Pettit Andrews between 1763 and 1772 to designs by John Chute. This style is now known as Strawberry Hill Gothic, after the house created for Horace Walpole in Twickenham. The land purchased by Andrews at the time was not extensive and during his ownership, Donnington Grove could more properly be described as a house with grounds rather than a country estate.

Records show the house was expensive to construct and the house and grounds costly to maintain. For whatever reasons, the estate was sold to William Brummell in 1783 and it was this gentleman who turned Donnington Grove into a proper countryseat. By the time of Brummell’s death, in 1794, the estate covered some 800 acres, the house and stables had been extended, Grove Farm created and the entrance lodges erected.

There is no doubt that it was Brummell who was responsible for much of the landscaping that can be seen today. Although no record of a landscape architect can be found, it was likely that William Brummell, the father of Beau Brummell, would have mixed in the sort of circles to have picked up an extensive knowledge of estate landscaping.

Brummell’s will stated that the estate should be sold after his death and the proceeds divided amongst his children. In 1795 Donnington Grove transferred to John Bebb, an East India Company Official and, after the death of his widow in 1850, the estate again changed hands to Head Pottinger Best. The house remained in the family until 1936, when it was sold to a Mrs Amy Swithinbank. However, like so many other country estates, the house was requisitioned in 1940 for Allied Supplies Ltd. After the war the estate was sold to the Hon. Reginald Fellows and remained in the family until the early 1990’s.

The estate, which comprises of 550 acres, was a mixture of parkland, farmland and woodland, with the River Lambourn running through it. These variations in the landscape provided an ideal setting for a championship golf course. Dave Thomas, one of Britain’s foremost golf architects was assigned the task of creating a golf course that was in keeping with the listed landscape gardens and lake to the southof the house. The construction of the course started in November 1991 and on the 12 June 1993 the Donnington Grove Country Club opened.

Below is a recently acquired print of "Donnington Grove looking northbound". It's a long time before the golf course was built, however you can clearly see the house and Donnington Castle in the background. The lake is in full view and to the right of the print you can see the bridge. It is difficult to tell whether this is the same bridge that is in existence today. If you have any historic information about Donnington Grove, or indeed photographs or prints; we'd really like to here from you.