Ashridge palace
Has been described as a Certain Palace (Royal)
There are masonry ruins/remnants remains
| Name | Ashridge palace |
| Alternative Names | Ashridge House |
| Historic Country | Hertfordshire |
| Modern Authority | Hertfordshire |
| 1974 Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Civil Parish | Little Gaddesden |
Country house, now a management college. 1808-1814 by James Wyatt (d.1813) completed by his nephew Jeffry Wyatt (Sir Jeffry Wyattville after 1824) for 7th Earl of Bridgewater, sold 1921 and became The Bonar Law Memorial College, and after 1954 Ashridge Management College. The house incorporates remains of a College of Bonhommes founded 1283 which became a royal residence after its dissolution in 1539 until sold by Elizabeth in 1575 and acquired by Egerton family in 1604 (Listed Building Report)
The manor remained in the possession of the college until its suppression in 1538–9, and after the Dissolution became annexed to that of Little Gaddesden, (Pat. 5 Edw. VI, pt. 3, m. 27) with which it passed to Lord Ellesmere.
Edward VI and Elizabeth seem to have spent a considerable part of their childhood at Ashridge, (L. and P. Hen. VIII, xix (2), 726 and 794
) and Browne Willis states that Edward VI was nursed here. Todd suggests that the western avenue, which is called the Prince's Riding, may have taken its name from him (Todd 31). He and Elizabeth were living there in 1543, when Mary, their sister, was brought there for the benefit of her health. (Cusson 138) After the coronation of Mary, Elizabeth retired to Ashridge, (Cal. of S.P. Dom. 1547 80, pp. 29 and 60
) and was living there when she was arrested and summoned to London on the charge of being implicated in Wyatt's rebellion.
In a survey of Ashridge made in 1560, it is stated that though, since the first year of the reign of Elizabeth, £55 3s. 8d. had been expended in repairs, the house was still so far out of repair that 300 marks would not make it fit for the queen's residence. A good part of the building was falling down, 'namely the lodging that Master Treasurer lay in, which was accounted the fairest lodging of the house, next where the Queen's Highness lay.' (S.P. Dom. Eliz. xii, No. 38) (VCH)
Not scheduled
This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law
Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | SP993123 |
| Latitude | 51.7994918823242 |
| Longitude | -0.559859991073608 |
| Eastings | 499300 |
| Northings | 212300 |
