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Ashdown House, Lambourn

3.6

#161 of 376 in Things to do in Berkshire

Ashdown House is a 17th-century country house in the civil parish of Ashbury in the English county of Oxfordshire. Until 1974 the house was in the county of Berkshire, and the nearby village of Lambourn remains in that county.HistoryAshdown House is associated with the "Winter Queen" Elizabeth of Bohemia, the sister of Charles I. Along with his house at Hamstead Marshall, it is said that the William, the first Earl of Craven built Ashdown for her, but she died in 1662 before construction began.Although the architect is uncertain, it is thought that Craven commissioned Captain William Winde to build the Dutch-style mansion as a hunting lodge and refuge from the plague. The house features 8000sqft of living space, a large central staircase, reception rooms, interlinking drawing and sitting rooms, a kitchen, a dining room and eight bedrooms. The property includes two lodges, three cottages and a hundred acres of land. The house is isolated, and the view from the roof includes park-like grounds and gardens, and beyond, woods and pastures. Nearby is a large group of sarsen stones and Alfred's Castle, an Iron Age hill fort.

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Ashdown House Reviews

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45 reviews

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3.8

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5.0

77 likes

By Charles H On March 25, 2018

Arrived st 9.00am, open, because it’s dawn to dusk. Reasonably flat, bit muddy, but it has been raining for a couple of days. Our first, but not last, visit. Grumpy Yorkshireman. more »
By Tonyholland233 On October 18, 2017

Although you are not allowed in any of the rooms it is still worth a visit for the view from the top. Not open that often so check before you go and only 3 guided tours in the afternoon. The guide was... more »
By jasmineblack21 On September 29, 2017

Enjoyable few hours out, a bit of history being told by a guide and climbing a stair case with lots of old pictures and statues. Free if you're a history member as well. lovely walks around the house ... more »

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By katrina Ludford On October 4, 2017

No access to any rooms just the staircase with some beautiful paintings of the ancestors. The guide east truly magnificent and made the visit very interesting

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By Matthew Evans On August 20, 2017

Nice historic place but the visit to the house only includes the staircase, paintings and views from the roof. You cannot enter any rooms. So rather limited.

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By Mark Foyle On March 19, 2016

Beautiful grounds at most times of the year and often very quiet. Set in a beautiful valley and the house itself (whilst only open occasionally) is very pretty. The park itself is free to access, though note there is not a great amount of parking. Lovely place for a picnic :)

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By Te Jay On June 3, 2017

Very peaceful loved the closeness to nature

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By Michael Bateman On June 6, 2017

Stunning grounds woods and house

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