Building record 5993/0/11 - Pavilion House and Pavilion Lodge, Ashton Wold Estate

Formerly a pair of semi-detatched cottages, Pavilion House and Pavilion Lodge were probably designed by William Huckvale in circa 1900 as part of the development of the Rothschild's Ashton Wold Estate. Historically known as the Bothy the building was the home to a number of gardeners. The properties were amalgamated into a single dwelling in 2006. The building has two storeys and has an asymmetric, aproximately T shaped plan. It is constructed with coursed, irregular sized, rock-faced limestone blocks. The gable roofs are covered in collyweston slate. The internal arrangement of the cottages has been significantly altered. The only original features that remain include some four-panelled doors, an in-built cupboard and a cast-iron fireplace. The wash house is square in plan and is constructed with coursed rock-faced limestone was a pyramidal roof covered with collyweston slate

{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 19th 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 describe 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 cenutry 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 by accident whilst on a butterfly-collecting expedition with the vicar of Polebrook, 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. 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. The Rothschilds also became the first landowners in the country to provide their tenants with the luxury of both running filtered water and electricity, the latter generated by turbines housed in an old mill below the village on the River Nene , from where water was pumped to a water tower and so to the estate buildings. Each cottage had a bath house and was placed in a large garden planted with a lilac, a laburnum and fruit trees.

High quality design and workmanship were consistent themes throughout the estate, where traditional vernacular building traditions - Collyweston stone slate and thatch roof coverings, steeply pitched roofs, tall chimneys, limestone masonry walling and dressings and mullioned windows were all faithfully referenced. Simple working buildings such as cart hovels, wash houses and potting sheds were consciously afforded the same care as were the dwellings, farmsteads and garden structures.

Formerly a pair of semi-detached cottages, Pavilion House and Pavilion Lodge were probably designed by William Huckvale (1847-1936) in c1900. Historically known as 'The Bothy', the building was the home to a number of gardeners and at one time, one of the units was inhabited by Miriam Rothschild's chauffeur. The properties were amalgamated into a single residence in 2006, the conversion has led to interior remodelling and there are few historic fixtures and fittings remaining.

Little is known about Huckvale who 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 was a renowned naturalist, and became the leading expert on fleas in the country. He published around 150 scientific papers and was also interested in other fields, including the cultivation of rare orchids, irises and water lilies. He was a pioneer conservationist, arguing that the whole natural habitat needed to be protected, not just rare species. Following his death in 1923 and that of his wife Rozsika in 1940, their daughter Miriam (1908-2005) inherited the estate. The house was commandeered for use as a hospital during the Second World War and the gardens and estate suffered much damage and neglect. Like her father, Miriam was deeply involved in conservation, she 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.

Pavilion House and Lodge, formerly a pair of cottages now amalgamated into one residence, built c1900 by William Huckvale for Charles Rothschild. The building has two storeys and has an asymmetric, approximately 'T' shaped plan with a double pile to the south elevation. Constructed with coursed, irregular sized, rock-faced limestone blocks, the gable roofs are covered in collyweston slate and have ashlar stone copings, oversailing eaves and linked stacks. The façade to the east has an off-centre plank entrance door to one unit flanked by windows, that to the right has a gablet with casement window above. To the right is a projecting gable, with similar fenestration details, which is part of the second dwelling; the main entrance of which is located on the north elevation. The rear elevation has two projecting gables, one to each dwelling, with a recessed linking gablet. Tripartite and paired chamfered mullion and transom windows with leaded lights are on all elevations; all door and windows have simple drip moulds and ashlar stone surrounds which mimic quoining.

The internal arrangement of the cottages has been significantly altered; principal rooms have been knocked through and corridors removed on the ground floor and created on the first. With the exception of some four-panelled doors, an in-built cupboard and one contemporary cast-iron fireplace in a first floor bedroom, there are no historic fixtures and fittings of significance.

The wash house is square in plan and is constructed in coursed rock-faced limestone with a pyramidal roof covered with collyweston slate adorned by a ball finial. The north elevation has a plank door, painted in Rothschild turquoise, flanked by a mullion and transom window with stone surrounds. The west elevation has an open doorway, partly rebuilt with brick, leading to a urinal and a door to the south leading to a separate WC.

The interior is sub-divided into two; that to the east has no surviving features, but later 20th century toilet furniture remains in the outside facilities to the west.

Pavilion House and Pavilion Lodge, erected in c1900, and the associated wash house are not recommended for designation for the following principal reasons. The amalgamation of the buildings into one residence has resulted in the loss of plan form and interior detail, a significant alteration in estate worker housing of this date. It does not compare favourably with other already listed cottages in Ashton village.

<1> ENGISH HERITAGE, English Heritage Listing File (Report). SNN111579.

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, Pastscape, No. 1513431 (Website). SNN109137.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:57PM