Building record 5993/0/6 - Boathouse, Ashton Wold Estate

Boathouse on the north bank of the larger of two lakes or fishponds on the Ashton Wold Estate. The boat house was probably designed by William Huckvale as part of the Rothschild's development of the Ashton Estate. The boat house is a small open fronted structure built of coursed rock-faced limestone; the interior is lined with brick. The roof is hipped and is covered with reed thatch. Stone steps lead down to the edge of the lake

{1} The Ashton Estate, stretching from the River Nene near Oundle in the west to Ashton Wold in the east, has been occupied since Roman times. In the 18th century it was a well-known sporting estate, with avenues of chestnut trees planted in a cross as rides, and a number of fox coverts. In the early 19th century the estate was owned by William Walcot and was largely farmed by tenants, with Ashton Wold continuing as a sporting ground. However, there is no evidence that it had ever contained a manor house, and when in 1860 it was purchased by Lionel Rothschild the sale particulars described it as 'a very valuable and important landed estate', with sporting advantages, but no house adapted for the occupation of a gentleman. Both Lionel Rothschild and his son Nathaniel Mayer, 1st Lord Rothschild (1840-1915), showed little interest in the estate, and the only structural work undertaken in the 19th century was the building of a hunting lodge at Ashton Wold. However, when Lord Rothschild's second son, Nathaniel Charles (1877-1923) - known as Charles - discovered Ashton, he was so impressed by the rich fauna and flora of Ashton Wold that he persuaded his father to build him a house on the site of the hunting lodge. In 1900 Lord Rothschild commissioned William Huckvale to design not only a house, but a model farm, an entire complement of estate buildings which included the Steward's house, stables, gardeners' accommodation, a building to house a fire engine, a petrol store, kennels (now derelict) and a dog hospital. Most of the cottages at nearby Ashton were rebuilt to create a model village. High quality design and workmanship were consistent themes throughout the estate, employing traditional vernacular building traditions, with simple working buildings afforded the same care as were the dwellings, farmsteads and garden structures.

The boathouse is shown on the 1926 OS map, on the north bank of the larger of two lakes or fishponds, about 0.5kms from the formal gardens - although the walk along the path from the lily pond garden gate would have been a little further. This path leads to a pair of lakeside buildings; the other, a nature observation hide or summerhouse, is slightly to the east. It seems probable that both were designed by William Huckvale (1847-1936) as part of the project to rebuild and develop the Ashton Estate.

Huckvale worked mainly for the Rothschilds and therefore had no need to publicise his work in the architectural journals, and was not a member of the RIBA. After setting up his own practice in London he came into contact with Alexander Parks, agent to Lord Rothschild. He designed a number of buildings for the Rothschilds on the Tring Park estate, undertook considerable work at the Rothschild bank in New Court in the City of London, and was the architect for the Royal Mint Refinery. He also carried out work on the Rothschild estate at Aston Clinton. The quality of his work is reflected in the 42 listed buildings he already has to his name, 13 in Tring and 29 on the Ashton Estate.

Charles Rothschild not only worked full time at the family bank, but was also a renowned naturalist, and became the leading expert on fleas in the country. A pioneering conservationist, he argued that the whole natural habitat needed to be protected, not just rare species. He bought part of Wicken Fen in 1899, donating it to the National Trust two years later, and formed the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves in 1912 (now the Royal Society for Nature Conservation). Although the formal gardens at Ashton Wold took a conventional Edwardian form, the wider landscape was designed to provide natural habitats to attract wildlife.

Following his death in 1923 and that of his wife Rozsika in 1940, their daughter Miriam (1908-2005) inherited the estate. Like her father, she was deeply involved in conservation, but her approach to gardening was also very different, showing a preference for wildness over formality that transformed the Edwardian garden at Ashton Wold; she planted trees and sowed wildflower meadows, and her advocacy of wildflowers became highly influential in the gardening world. Miriam continued her father's work with fleas to become an international expert in her own right. She was a fellow of the Royal Society, was awarded eight honorary degrees and was appointed DBE for her services to the study of natural history.

The boathouse is built on the edge of the lake, over the water, and is a small open fronted structure built of coursed rock-faced limestone, the interior lined with brick. The roof is reed thatched and hipped, the south (front) end with a longer slope. Stone steps with a retaining wall to their south side lead down to a door which gives direct access to the water and moored boats.

The boathouse is not recommended for listing as it lacks the distinctive architectural qualities required to fulfil the criteria for designation.

<1> ENGISH HERITAGE, English Heritage Listing File, Heritage Protection Adviser, 21st October 2009 (Report). SNN111579.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:58PM