Ashton Court

Infobox Historic building

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caption=
name=Ashton Court
location_town=Bristol
location_country=England
latitude=51.44791
longitude=-2.64462
map_type=
architect=
client=Smyth family
engineer=
construction_start_date=1633
completion_date=
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
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Ashton Court (gbmapping|ST553723) is a mansion house and estate to the west of Bristol in England. Although the estate lies mainly in North Somerset, it is owned by the City of Bristol. The estate is a venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now defunct Ashton Court festival and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Architecture

The core of the house was built in the 15th century, but it was enlarged and adapted over the centuries by the Smyth family, who bought the estate in 1545. The south facade and Inigo Jones wing date from about 1633cite book |last=Burrough |first=THB |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0289798043 ] and was extended eastwards in the 19th century. The house became derelict after the last of the Smyths died in 1946; it was taken over by the City in 1959, and restoration has been an ongoing process since then. The facilities of the house are now rented out for business conferences, parties and weddings.

The mansion house and stables have been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building. [cite web | title=Ashton Court Mansion and Stables | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33487 | accessdate=2007-03-16]

The lower lodge to Ashton Court and attached gates, railings and bollards, which were built in 1805 by Henry Wood, are a grade II* listed building. [cite web | title=Lower Lodge to Ashton Court and attached gates, railings and bollards | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=378880 | accessdate=2007-03-18] The garden and perimeter walls and railings are also listed. [cite web | title=Former perimeter wall of Ashton Court estate | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=379849 | accessdate=2007-05-15] , [cite web | title=Garden Wall extending to south- east from east corner of Ashton | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33488 | accessdate=2007-05-15] , [cite web | title=Garden Wall extending to south- east from east corner of Ashton | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33488 | accessdate=2007-05-15] , [cite web | title=Garden Wall extending to south- east from south corner of Ashton | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=430596 | accessdate=2007-05-15] , [cite web | title=Two sets of Railings, Gates and Gatepiers at south end of Ashton | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=33489 | accessdate=2007-05-15]

The estate

The estate covers 850 acres (3.4 km²) of woods and open grassland laid out by Humphrey Repton. It includes two pitch-and-putt golf courses, an orienteering course and horse riding and mountain bike trails. [cite web | title=Ashton Court Estate | work=Bristol City Council | url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Parks-and-open-spaces/ashton-court-estate.en | accessdate=2006-06-13] There is a deer park which was started in the 14th century and extended in the 16th and 17th centuries The park contains a great variety of wildlife; much of the site (an area of 210.31 hectares) was notified in 1998 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the presence of rare woodland beetles. [cite web | title=Ashton Court | work=English Nature | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000331.pdf | format=PDF | accessdate=2006-06-13]

Ashton Court Meadow

2.37 hectares, known as Ashton Court Meadow, is managed as a nature reserve by the Avon Wildlife Trust. It contains a wide range of flowering plants, including wild carrot, yellow-wort and field scabious. Some unusual parasitic plants are also found here, such as common broomrape which feeds off clovers, and yellow-rattle, which feeds partly off grass. [cite web|url=http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/level1/reserves/ashton_court.htm|title=Ashton Court Meadow|work=Reserves|publisher=Avon Wildlife Trust|accessdate=2008-06-01]

Clarken Combe

Clarken Combe, at the western edge of the estate, is a woodland area with a range of plant species, including Narrow-lipped Helleborine, which grows here in small numbers under Beech. [Myles, Sarah (2000) "Flora of the Bristol Region" ISBN 1-874357-18-8 page 249]

References

External links

* [http://www.ashtoncourtestate.co.uk/ Photos and information on Ashton Court estate]