Ashton Court: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 10: Line 10:
|map_type=
|map_type=
|architect=
|architect=
|client=Smyth family
|client=[[Smyth]] family
|engineer=
|engineer=
|construction_start_date=1633
|construction_start_date=1633
Line 25: Line 25:
|<div style="width:158px; float:left;">[[Image:Map ashton court.png|158px]]<br>Shown within Bristol (above) and England.</div><div style="width:120px; float:right;">[[Image:EnglandBristol.png|120px]]</div>
|<div style="width:158px; float:left;">[[Image:Map ashton court.png|158px]]<br>Shown within Bristol (above) and England.</div><div style="width:120px; float:right;">[[Image:EnglandBristol.png|120px]]</div>
|}
|}

'''Ashton Court''' ({{gbmapping|ST553723}}) is a [[mansion]] house and [[Estate (house)|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 has been a venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now-defunct [[Ashton Court festival]], [[Bristol International Kite Festival]] and the [[Bristol International Balloon Fiesta]]. On the 18th September 2011 the estate played host to a 12 hour softball match for a cancer charity.
'''Ashton Court''' ({{gbmapping|ST553723}}) is a [[mansion]] house and [[Estate (house)|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 has been a venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now-defunct [[Ashton Court festival]], [[Bristol International Kite Festival]] and the [[Bristol International Balloon Fiesta]]. On the 18th September 2011 the estate played host to a 12 hour softball match for a cancer charity.


==Architecture==
==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 the wing incorrectly<ref name="dunning">{{cite book |title=Somerset and Avon |last=Dunning |first=Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=John Bartholomew & Son |location=Edinburgh |isbn=0702883808 |page=125|quote=The most striking part of the house is the s wing of the early 17th century, […] derived from copy-books of the period and not from Inigo Jones. |page=117}}</ref> attributed to [[Inigo Jones]] date from about 1633<ref name="burrough">{{cite book |last=Burrough |first=T.H.B. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0289798043 }}</ref> and were 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 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 the wing incorrectly<ref name="dunning">{{cite book |title=Somerset and Avon |last=Dunning |first=Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=John Bartholomew & Son |location=Edinburgh |isbn=0702883808 |page=125|quote=The most striking part of the house is the s wing of the early 17th century, […] derived from copy-books of the period and not from Inigo Jones. |page=117}}</ref> attributed to [[Inigo Jones]] date from about 1633<ref name="burrough">{{cite book |last=Burrough |first=T.H.B. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0289798043 }}</ref> and were 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]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Ashton Court Mansion and Stables | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=33487 | accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref>
The mansion house and stables have been designated by [[English Heritage]] as a Grade I [[listed building]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Ashton Court Mansion and Stables | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=33487 | accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:32, 30 October 2011

Ashton Court
Map
General information
Town or cityBristol
CountryEngland
Construction started1633
ClientSmyth family
Ashton Court

Shown within Bristol (above) and England.

Ashton Court (grid reference 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 has been a venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now-defunct Ashton Court festival, Bristol International Kite Festival and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. On the 18th September 2011 the estate played host to a 12 hour softball match for a cancer charity.

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 the wing incorrectly[1] attributed to Inigo Jones date from about 1633[2] and were 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.[3]

The lower lodge to Ashton Court and attached gates, railings and bollards, which were built in 1805 by Henry Wood, are Grade II* listed buildings.[4] The garden and perimeter walls and railings are also listed.[5][6][6][7][8]

The estate

The estate covers 850 acres (3.4 km²) of woods and open grassland laid out by Humphrey Repton.[2] It includes two pitch-and-putt golf courses, a Disc Golf Course, an orienteering course and horse riding and mountain bike trails.[9] 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.[10]

Ashton Court Meadow

Aerial view of Ashton Court Estate

Ashton Court Meadow (2.37 hectares) 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.[11]

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.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dunning, Robert (1980). Somerset and Avon. Edinburgh: John Bartholomew & Son. p. 117. ISBN 0702883808. The most striking part of the house is the s wing of the early 17th century, […] derived from copy-books of the period and not from Inigo Jones. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ a b Burrough, T.H.B. (1970). Bristol. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 0289798043. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ "Ashton Court Mansion and Stables". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  4. ^ "Lower Lodge to Ashton Court and attached gates, railings and bollards". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  5. ^ "Former perimeter wall of Ashton Court estate". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  6. ^ a b "Garden wall extending to south-east from east corner of Ashton". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  7. ^ "Garden wall extending to south-east from south corner of Ashton". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  8. ^ "Two sets of railings, gates and gatepiers at south end of Ashton". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  9. ^ "Ashton Court Estate". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  10. ^ "Ashton Court" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 2006-06-13.
  11. ^ "Ashton Court Meadow". Reserves. Avon Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  12. ^ Green, Ian P., Myles, Sarah (2000). The Flora of the Bristol Region, p. 249. Pisces Publications. ISBN 1-874357-18-8.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ashton Court.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashton_Court&oldid=458137934"