In 1429 a statute issued by king Henry VI offered a subsidy of £10 to any wealthy and loyal gentleman who showed the will to live in the Pale and that would have built a fortified house within the following ten years.
The castles to be built under this subsidy had to follow strict rules for the construction, and namely at least 6.10 metres in length, 4.88 metres in width and 12.20 metres in height (20 feet long, 16 feet wide and 40 feet high).
Donore castle complies so closely to the specifications imposed by the royal statute that it is regarded as a true "£10 castle".
This kind of award also narrows its date of construction down to between 1429 and 1439.
The building has a rectangular plan, measures 6 metres by 8 metres and has rounded corners. At the southwest corner is a circular stair turret. The entrance is on the west wall next to the turret and was protected by a machicolation.
The ground floor has a vaulted ceiling and receive good light through two double-splayed windows. The windows serve also as niches for the nest of a group of crows. I also saw two nestlings while the adults tried to scare me away.
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