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Coordinates: 52°50′40″N 1°20′16″W / 52.844422°N 1.337693°W
| Castle Donington | |
  Castle Donington
Castle Donington shown within Leicestershire |
|
| Population | 7,000 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | North West Leicestershire |
| Shire county | Leicestershire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DERBY |
| Postcode district | DE74 |
| Dialling code | 01332 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | North West Leicestershire |
| List of places: UK • England • Leicestershire | |
Castle Donington is a small town, with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, part of the Derby postcode area and on the edge of the National Forest. It is the closest town to East Midlands Airport and DHL which are major employers. East Midlands Airport is served by several major airlines including BMI, Ryanair, EasyJet, Thomson Airways (who have a training centre at the airport) and many others. Castle Donington is also home to the world famous Donington Park motor racing circuit. Castle Donington stands on the former Nottingham to Birmingham trunk road. The town is a mix of the old and new, with modern shops mixed with dignified Georgian and Regency houses. Several timber framed houses dating from the 17th century and earlier survive along the main road.
Although there is no rail station in the town, East Midlands Parkway opened early in 2008 at Ratcliffe-on-Soar providing links on the Midland Main Line.
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King's Mill, Castle Donington the nearby crossing on the River Trent is mentioned in a charter agreed by Æþelræd Unræd (King Ethelred the Unready) in 1009 regarding the boundaries of Weston-on-Trent.[1] Dunintune or Dunitone is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book of 1086 as having land belonging to Countess Ælfgifu and land assigned to Earl Hugh.[2]
Donington Park was the original venue for the Monsters of Rock heavy metal festivals through the 1980s and 1990s, and is now the home of the annual Download Festival. It also hosted a Formula One Grand Prix - The European Grand Prix - in April 1993 which was won by Ayrton Senna and which is widely recognised as one of Senna's greatest wins. It was also set to be the home of the British Grand Prix from 2010 for at least 10 years,[3] but the agreement was cancelled due to financial problems.[4] The circuit also hosts the Donington Grand Prix Collection, the world's largest collection of Formula One and Grand Prix vehicles. Brian Henton, an F1 driver, was born in Castle Donington.
Castle Donington also had its own power station later operated by Powergen from 1990, which when originally built in 1958 was one of the largest coal fired power stations in Europe. However, this was closed in September 1994 and demolished in 1996.
Castle Donington has two primary schools, St Edwards and Orchard Primary School, each serving roughly one half of the town. A high school — Castle Donington Community College, which celebrated its 50th anniversary on 10 September 2007 — takes students from ages 10–14.
Donington also hosts one of the best amateur football teams in the local area, Castle Donington Town FC, who won the Leicestershire County Cup in the 2005/6 season.
BMI (British Midland), an airline, is headquartered in Donington Hall, Castle Donington.[5] Prior to its disestablishment, Excalibur Airways had its head office on the grounds of East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington.[6]
Once a year on May bank holiday Monday a medieval market is held on the main shopping street in Castle Donington. This event comprises local stalls selling various kinds of produce and goods accompanied by dancing and music.
Usually during the last week of October each year the town hosts a travelling fair, known locally as Donington Wakes.
On the second Saturday of every month a farmers market(website) is held on the playground of St. Edwards CofE primary school.
A very large market known as Donington Sunday Market takes place virtually every Sunday at Donington Park.
Castle Donington Football Club website
Castle Donington Town Cricket Club website
Castle Donington Rugby Union Football Club website
Donington Park is a site near Castle Donington in North West Leicestershire, England. Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it is leased by Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd from owner Tom Wheatcroft. Used as a motor racing track, it is also the venue for the Download Festival. Donington Park had a contract to stage the Formula One British Grand Prix for a period of ten years from 2010 although this was later cancelled due to Donington Park failing to secure the finances required to upgrade the track.[4]
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