HISTORIC OLD HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

HISTORIC OLD HOME.

FORTUNES OF ASHRIDGE.

ONE .TIME MONASTERY.

MEMORIES OF HENRY VIII

NOW A POLITICAL COLLEGE

Many of England's stately homes have romantic histories, but few can compare with thnt of Ashndgc, in Buckinghamshire, tho fortunes of which vary from thoso of a monastery founded in tho thirteenth contury, to thoso of a rollego of conservatism, which it now is.

Tho story of Ashridgo is told by Mr. Arthur Bryant in tho Nineteenth Contury. Ashridgo remained a monastery, housing 20 brothers, until it was closed and the monks were expelled by Henry VIII. in 1535. Tho rules under which tho .monks lived for 250 years havo been preserved. Thoy rose at dawn arid breakfasted on bread an I ale Water was substituted for alo on fast days. Aftor breakfast tho rector road the notices of the day, and imposed penalties for breaches of monastic discipline. " While corporal punishment is being inflicted on u brother," it was ordered, " all tho rest sit with bowed and covered heads, and with kind and brotherly afTection should have compassion on him."

At tho midday meal " no singularity of eating was allowed." If thcro wero nuts the monks had to opon them " privately with a I.nife, and not crack them with their teeth." Moreover, " tho brethren wero enjoined to bo careful not to wipo their noses on tho table napkins or- tablecloths." Tho afternoon was devoted to work rn tho fields or the practice of medicine among tho poor. Among the visitors to Ashridge was the .Black Prince, who loft it a rich legacy in his will.

Residence of Henry the Eighth.

When tho iast 20 brothers had filed out of Ashridge in 1535, Henry VIII., who was attracted to the beauty of the place, appropriated it for himself. It was hero that his children were brought up. It was hero that tho red-haired Elizabeth sheltered from her sister Mary, and it was at Ashridgo that the was arrested and carried to London under suspicion of treason.

Early in the seventeenth century the house was purchased from tho Crown by Lord Ellesmere. tho Lord Chancellor, whoso son and heir afterwards became Earl of Uridgewatcr, and kept splendid state at Ashridgo, but with due regard to economy as his instructions to his household indicate. Tho directions wero

clear and minute. " Tho porter must open the gato in summer at five in the morning, and in winter botween six and seven of tho clock.' Tho " lluishcr of the Hall " had to keep it " sweeto and

cleane," and seo that fires were lit when necessary, and also ho had to watch that ill servants attended morning prayers or sermoi# in the " Chappell," with proper reverence. Absence was allowed only by special leave on urgent occasions.

" Wasteful Expense oi Butter."

In tho forimil and elaborato arrangements for meals in tho groat hall, the

yeoman usher and the butler had to see that the servants sat at their appointed tables, all unseemly and rudo deportment bee avoyded." No servant should leave her placo " until thanks first bee given to God," nor was any perimtted to " sitt dringinge in the hall." The steward was t-o " look carefully at all bills, that the stuffe boo good and prices reasonable. Tho clerk of the kitchen was expressly ordered to be on guard that " tho co'oko and the larder maid bee watchful to prevent the wasteful expenso of butter, which hath hithertoo been too little considered, and too little valued, nnd too much wasted." In tho eighteenth century tho glory of Ashridgo for the time, departed for a strange reason, under Francis, Duko of Bridgewater. As a very callow youth ho fall in love with a famous beauty, who rejected him. Henceforth, ho forswore tho sex. and dovoted his life to building tho great canal, which bears his name. Ho lived as a lonely recluse, spending every penny he could gather on his canal. Ashridge, he left to crumble in mould and cobwebs. When he died there was not ;i room that was not open to tho rain.

Masonry Front o! 1000 Feet.

The seventh earl succeeded, and rebuilt the present Ashridge with a masonry front of 1000 ft. It is a gigantic building, with the roof of its staircase hall 100 ft. high. Its c'l-eat series of state rooms, each 50?t. long, open into one another. This house was completed in 1814. In 1824 Ashridgo passed into possession of Lord Drownlnw and his family. Since then,* however, the growing cost of maintaining Ashridge, has made its possession as a private residence impossible. At. ono time it was feared that the hoino would ro to the estate breaker, but recently it was bought by Mr. Urban r.roughton, and presented with its gardens and park to the Conservative party as a memorial to Mr. Bonar Law, to bo used as a training collcgo of conservatism.