Built / Designed For: 1st Earl of Craven

House & Family History: Ashdown was built as a hunting lodge, or villa, in the classical style by William, 1st Earl of Craven, for Elizabeth, the Winter Queen of Bohemia (sister of Charles I). Lord Craven was apparently in love in Elizabeth, though she died in 1662 before construction for the house even began. There are no reliable records for the architect or date of Ashdown, but it can be reasonably assigned to the architect William Winde on stylistic grounds and is very much in the style of the Anglo-Dutch design of the mid-17th century brought to England by the Restoration of Charles II. The five-bay house is unusually tall for its width and is frequently compared to a doll's house. Its original setting was in a forest with long, straight avenues that radiated out in four directions. During World War II Ashdown was requisitioned by the army, who left the house in near-derelict condition when they vacated. Cornelia, Countess of Craven, donated Ashdown and its estate to the National Trust in 1956. The house has been leased to tenants since it came under the ownership of the National Trust; in 2010 Pete Townshend purchased a 41-year lease on Ashdown.

Collections: Asdown once contained the noted Craven Art Collection, which has been largely dispersed and sold.

Country Life: XXXIII, 454, 1913.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Pete Townshend; here since 2010.

Past Seat / Home of: William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, 17th century.

Current Ownership Type: The National Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01793-762-209

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No