Ashley Park

Ashley Park is a private residential neighbourhood at Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. Its central feature was a grandiose English country house, at times enjoying associated medieval manorial rights, which stood on the site, with alterations, between 1605 and the early 1920s. Its owners included Charles Sackville, 2nd Duke of Dorset, in the 18th century and members of the Sassoon family around the turn of the 20th century. The bulk of the estate was developed into detached houses in the inter-war period, often rebuilt since in a modernist style with American influences; older examples tend to be in the Arts and Crafts style, its principal local exponent being Walter George Tarrant. Houses sold by its development company are more strictly subject to covenants mandating low density residential development. The manor here was recorded in forms similar to and including Asshlees in 1433 in the hands of Joan widow of Robert Constable who held it of the Crown. This was a relatively small manor measured at 16.5 acres (0.067 km2) as to its earliest demesne which was later extended. It is believed to have been mainly woodland with some lawns and fields. The manor was one of those incorporated into set of manors (the 'honour') of Hampton Court under the passing of the Hampton Court Manors or Manors of Hampton Court Act, 1539. The construction of the first properly documented "Ashley House" was by Lady Jane Berkeley in 1602–05 and it was altered over the centuries until demolition between 1920 and 1925. Whether a relief (livery of seisin) was not paid, no heirs existed or through attainder, Ashley Manor escheated to the Crown before and after Berkeley's ownership as was common of many manorial estates in that period. The manor and Walton Lee and Walton Meads were granted (that is to say, the chief tenancy of the same) by James I of England to Henry Gibb in 1625; but the house may already have been long-let to wealthy tenants – it was long leased by 1630 to the brother of the King's favourite (the Duke of Buckingham) Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey who lived at Ashley Park and died in Windsor in April 1630. It may have been he who extended the estate as he was before ennoblement successively Gentleman of the Horse; Gentleman of the Bedchamber; Master of the Robes and five years after being granted his earldom Chief Steward or Keeper of the Honour of Hampton Court in 1628 supplemented by that of Bushy Park the year after.