2014

SP9912 : Ashridge House - southern entrance to grotto

taken 10 years ago, near to Hudnall, Hertfordshire, England

Ashridge House - southern entrance to grotto
Ashridge House - southern entrance to grotto
It used to be possible to walk into and through this subterranean passage into the grotto at Ashridge House, but the roof of the tunnel is now in a parlous state, held up in places by acrow props - and not surprisingly the public is kept out by sturdy metal gates. The roof has actually collapsed at the far end of this tunnel as can be seen in SP9912 : Ashridge House - collapsed roof of grotto
Ashridge House

Ashridge House is one of the largest Gothic Revival country houses in England and is Grade I. listed.

The building stands on the site of Ashridge Priory, a medieval abbey founded by the Brothers of Penitence. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the building eventually became the private residence of Princess Elizabeth - later Elizabeth I. - and it was here that she was arrested in 1552 under suspicion of treason. In 1604 the priory was acquired by Sir Thomas Egerton. A descendant of his, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater - he of canal-building fame - demolished the old buildings but did not live to see his plans for the House completed. His successor, the 7th Earl of Bridgewater, commissioned James Wyatt to build the present neo-gothic building as his home: it was completed in 1813.

In 1921 the House was acquired by a trust established by Andrew Bonar Law, a former Prime Minister. In 1959 it became a management training college, and it continues in that role today with its own degree-awarding powers and an international reputation.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rob Farrow and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Educational sites Country estates Place: Ashridge Estate Primary Subject: Grotto other tags: Tunnel Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Roof [10] · Grotto [4] Other Photos: · Ashridge House - collapsed roof of grotto ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
SP9912, 151 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Rob Farrow   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 6 August, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 14 August, 2014
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 9939 1201 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:47.8750N 0:33.6074W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 9940 1200
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
Clickable map
+
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image classification(about): Supplemental image
This page has been viewed about 87 times
You are not logged in login | register