The Slaugham Archive
Ashfold houseAshfold was first mentioned in 1787, and was one of several impressive mansions in the parish not to survive until the end of the 20th century. For some thirty years the estate was the home of Ashfold School, but in about 1960 the school moved to Aylesbury where is still operates. Soon after the school left the parish Ashfold house was demolished.
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Picture added on 29 January 2012 at 17:04
This picture is in the following groups
Ashfold (Ashfold School - see Schools)
Ashfold (Ashfold School - see Schools)
Is this the Ashfold House mentioned in the obituary for Sir John Smith published on 3rd March 2007 (search for it)?
Where it says:
John Lindsay Eric Smith was born in London in 1923 and grew up in Sussex. His parents had reduced their sprawling Victorian house, Ashfold, from 40 bedrooms to 24.
The works there gave the young John his first taste of a building site. He used to frequent the estate carpenters’ shop and became fascinated by tools and materials.
He was clearly a very important man in terms of preserving the Nation's Heritage. Does anyone know about the family in Handcross?
He played a big role in 1958 in persauding the National Trust to restore the Stratford upon Avon Canal.
Where it says:
John Lindsay Eric Smith was born in London in 1923 and grew up in Sussex. His parents had reduced their sprawling Victorian house, Ashfold, from 40 bedrooms to 24.
The works there gave the young John his first taste of a building site. He used to frequent the estate carpenters’ shop and became fascinated by tools and materials.
He was clearly a very important man in terms of preserving the Nation's Heritage. Does anyone know about the family in Handcross?
He played a big role in 1958 in persauding the National Trust to restore the Stratford upon Avon Canal.
Added by Clive Henderson on 11 March 2021
Clive, I can confirm that this is the Ashfold house associated with John Lindsay Eric Smith. The Ashfold estate with its various residents over the years is fairly well known throughout the village and there is a considerable volume of photographs and information on the website. This can be viewed by selecting "Groups" at the top of the page and scrolling down to Ashfold.
Thank you for those snippets of information regarding his interest in the building works at Ashfold and his role in preserving the Stratford-upon-Avon canal.
Thank you for those snippets of information regarding his interest in the building works at Ashfold and his role in preserving the Stratford-upon-Avon canal.
Added by Barry Ray on 11 March 2021
In 1958 John Lindsay Eric Smith and his wife, Christian, were living in Lower Ashfold, Coos Lane, Handcross which appears to be an 8 bedroom house now, so it must be near the former Ashfold House on this page.
He founded the Landmark Trust and his charitable trust, The Manifold Charitable Trust, enabled many rescue projects to happen.
Sometime after 1958 he moved to live at Shottesbrooke House near Maidenhead.
Appointed CBE in 1975, Smith was knighted in 1988. He died in 2007.
He founded the Landmark Trust and his charitable trust, The Manifold Charitable Trust, enabled many rescue projects to happen.
Sometime after 1958 he moved to live at Shottesbrooke House near Maidenhead.
Appointed CBE in 1975, Smith was knighted in 1988. He died in 2007.
Added by Clive Henderson on 11 March 2021
I think my text, which goes back to 2010, may be of use here.
ASHFOLD – THE HOUSE
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John’s comment is very comprehensive and I have converted it into a PDF document.
It can be viewed by selecting Open Document above.
You may need to make use of the plus and minus buttons at the top.
Barry Ray
ASHFOLD – THE HOUSE
------------------------------------
John’s comment is very comprehensive and I have converted it into a PDF document.
It can be viewed by selecting Open Document above.
You may need to make use of the plus and minus buttons at the top.
Barry Ray
Added by John Ling on 12 March 2021
My grandparents, Walter and Alice Munn, lived in a cottage a few yards away from the school and ran a market garden there.
I can remember my sister Sara and I, as young girls, going with our grandmother to open the school windows in the morning and close them in the evening.
I don't know exactly when it was but it might have been when the boys went home for the holidays or more likely it could have been after the school had moved away to keep the empty building aired. It seemed huge!
I can remember my sister Sara and I, as young girls, going with our grandmother to open the school windows in the morning and close them in the evening.
I don't know exactly when it was but it might have been when the boys went home for the holidays or more likely it could have been after the school had moved away to keep the empty building aired. It seemed huge!
Added by Carol Viner (née Ray) on 13 March 2021
I stumbled across this site whilst researching my family history. My gg-grandparents worked "in service" at Ashfold House.
In the 1861 census, Frederick Tyler was the butler. His wife, Cecilia Tyler (née Beck), was the lodge keeper. Her sister, Louisa Beck. was a lady's maid. Both Cecilia & Louisa were born in Switzerland.
At the time of the 1861 census, the main Ashfold House was occupied by William Peters and family (plus servants). He was a banker from Hanover Square in St.Georges, London.
If anyone has further information relating to this period or photographs of the main house or lodge at that time, I would be pleased to hear from you.
In the 1861 census, Frederick Tyler was the butler. His wife, Cecilia Tyler (née Beck), was the lodge keeper. Her sister, Louisa Beck. was a lady's maid. Both Cecilia & Louisa were born in Switzerland.
At the time of the 1861 census, the main Ashfold House was occupied by William Peters and family (plus servants). He was a banker from Hanover Square in St.Georges, London.
If anyone has further information relating to this period or photographs of the main house or lodge at that time, I would be pleased to hear from you.
Added by Keith Smith on 25 March 2021
Ashfold was then leased from c.1946 by Jim Harrison who re-established the school there. It might still have been there today, but the owner refused to renew the lease later on - having in mind to dispose of the house.
The school hurriedly acquired Dorton House, near Aylesbury in 1955, and took the name Ashfold with it.
I knew Crispin Graves, who visited Ashfold before the war, his mother knew the family then living there. Crispin afterwards became a junior master at Harrison’s school and returned to Ashfold. He moved with Jim Harrison to Dorton and was himself later Headmaster of Ashfold School.