History
Henry Compton began work on Castle Ashby House in 1574 and building continued into the early 1600’s.
The house was originally built as an ‘E’ shape building to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I with the steps within the present courtyard forming the central stroke of the ‘E’. In 1624 the front façade was added by Inigo Jones. Around the top of the house the Latin inscription reads:
"Except the lord build the house they labour but in vain that built it; except the lord keep the house the watchman waketh but in vain"
The sunken lawn at the front of the house is described in history books as a bowling green. The avenue dates back to the time of William III (William of Orange) when he visited Castle Ashby in 1695. King William suggested the planting of four great avenues – North, South, East and West and the planting, mainly with Elm trees began within a month, and continued for a further 25 years.
When Capability Brown came to Castle Ashby in 1761, he removed the avenues to the North and West and broke up the avenue to the East with clumps of trees. The remaining ‘Grande Avenue’ to the South stretches for three and a half miles over the main Northampton/Bedford Road and into the Deer park beyond. Nowadays this Avenue is planted with a mixture of Oak, Walnut and Lime Trees.
Castle Ashby House has recently been passed to Earl Compton, the son of the 7th Marquess, to continue the family tradition of managing the Castle Ashby Estate. The Gardens are continually undergoing change and restoration and are open daily for all to enjoy.
For more information on the history of the gardens please go to Historic England.
The Gardens
The Italian Gardens were developed in the 1860s in what was the former kitchen garden. The path through the Italian gardens is marked by topiary, white terracotta urns and benches, as well as by a mulberry dating back to 1795. Beyond the paths, a further trace of the kitchen garden is the sunken lawns, which were transformed to crushed gravel in the shape of the family crest before being lawned in the early 1900s.
In the Butterfly garden, the plants have been specifically chosen to attract butterflies, bees, and many other insects. The main attraction, the Buddleja (also known as the ‘Butterfly Bush’), has been known to attract 18 different species of butterfly. As you leave the butterfly garden through the box hedges, you will discover our secluded ‘Secret Garden’ filled with lavender, roses, jasmines, salvia, and many more scented plants.
The Maltese Cross is best seen during early June when the array of silver, blue, and white plants are in full bloom. Behind the Maltese Cross is what is referred to as the ‘Rainbow Border’. Planted in blocks of colour, ranging from whites, yellows, reds, pinks, and blues, this border is home to plants such as acanthus, ballota, tamarix, and a colletia.
Arboretum
The Arboretum, which is Latin for ‘collection of trees’, dates back to the 1860s and is home to what is thought to be the UK’s largest weeping beech. There is also a selection of pine, spruce and giant sequoia trees, which are surrounded by wild flowers in the spring and summer. At the bottom of the arboretum, a stream runs down towards Park pond where one can go wild swimming (please contact the Falcon Hotel for more information) and there you will find Bathstone Bridge (Grade II) and the stunning Terracotta Bridge (Grade II) – both date back to the 1760s. There is also a pond wildlife viewing lodge, Cedar Lodge, which has sweeping views of Capability Brown Parkland.
Glass Houses
Castle Ashby gardens boasts many interesting areas to explore including the unique
Orangery (Grade II) or Palm House, designed by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt and dating back to 1872. It comprises thirteen bays, a central pavilion, and an octagonal glazed dome. It houses a large central pond, home to over one hundred fish, and an abundance of water lilies. You will find a variety of plants including eucalyptus, ficus, camellia, and different varieties of fuchsia.
The Fuchsia House (Grade II) is an old greenhouse nestled in the corner of the butterfly garden. From May to September, this house is home to over many different varieties of fuchsia.
In front of the Orangery and either side of the arch are the Birmingham Houses (Grade II) also designed by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt, which serve as Capability Brown archives for the estate as well as housing plant collections.
