A hand-colored engraving of the House from "Neale's Views of Seats," circa 1830.
The House from an 1837 engraving
House & Family History: Lady Selina Shirley, second daughter of the 2nd Earl Ferrers, is famous for founding the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion (she married the 9th Earl of Huntingdon in 1728), a Calvinist Methodist movement that still exists today. The 2010 book by Anton Rippon, "Gunther Plüschow: Airmen, Escaper and Explorer," has brought new notoriety to Donington. The House served as a prisoner of war camp for German officers during World War I; it was from this camp that Gunther Plüschow of the German Imperial Navy, together with a fellow officer, escaped in May 1915. Plüschow was the only German prisoner of war ever to escape from the British mainland and make it back to Germany. Donington was refurbished 1981-82 as the headquarters of British Midland International Airways; since 2013 the House has served as offices for Norton Motorcycle Company.
Architect: William Wilkins Sr.
Date: 1790-93Vitruvius Britannicus: C. New, II, pls. 31-35, 1808.
John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 272, 1852.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, 1819.
Country Life: CLXV, 828, 1979.
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: Theophilus Hastings, 9th Earl of Huntingdon, early 18th century; Francis Rawdon Hastings, 2nd Earl of Moira and 1st Marquess of Hastings, late 18th century.
Current Ownership Type: Corporation
Primary Current Ownership Use: Offices
Ownership Details: Headquarters of Norton Motorcycle Company since 2013