Castle Ashby House

Castle Ashby House is a stone mansion with a distinctive E-shaped floor plan and a Latin inscription on its parapet, set within extensive formal gardens. The estate includes an Orangery building, a large Arboretum, and various garden areas arranged on different levels throughout the grounds.

The house was built between 1574 and 1600 and later received a visit from Queen Elizabeth I, an honor that showed its importance in court circles. The family employed a substantial household staff over generations, reflecting the complexity and wealth required to maintain such estates during that era.

The house blends architectural styles from different periods, and the formal gardens reflect the owners' evolving tastes over generations. Visitors can see Italian-inspired sections and other garden areas that reveal how the family's travels and preferences shaped their landscape design.

The gardens are open on most days, and a tearoom on site serves visitors with light refreshments. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as the gardens span multiple levels with paths of varying surfaces.

Literary scholars believe this estate inspired Jane Austen's description of the fictional Mansfield Park in her novel of the same name. This connection to classic English literature adds an extra layer of interest for readers familiar with Austen's works.