Monument record 3321/0/4 - The Grand Avenue (Linking Castle Ashby to Yardley Chase)

The great avenues in the grounds were laid out after the visit of William III in 1695.

{1} Avenue of trees 3 miles long, made 1719, led to Yardley Chase, 21 coppices.

{2} Avenues laid out immediately after visit of William 3rd in 1695.

{3} The formal approach is to the south forecourt, either via a short road from Castle Ashby village or down the 2km long road made by the third Marquess in 1863-5 down the centre of the Grand Avenue.
The visit of William III in 1695 prompted the planting of four avenues radiating from the house to each point of the compass, and planting and levelling in the park continued for some thirty years. To the south, where scarping is especially visible, the Grand Avenue was laid out 5.5km long, with four rows of alternate elms and limes either side of a 100m wide ride. The other three avenues were doubles, of limes and elms. These, and some lesser and connecting avenues, are shown on a map of 1760.

<1> CAMDEN, 1802, Britannia, (unchecked) (Series). SNN42332.

<2> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.138 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<3> English Heritage, 1994, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1994, Northamptonshire), (unchecked) (Report). SNN1324.

<4> 1760, Map of Castle Ashby, (unchecked) (Map). SNN107223.

<5> McKay P.H., 2000, Twenty-One Years Ago: The Battle of Yardley Chase, (unchecked) (Article). SNN102518.

Record last edited

Aug 4 2021 3:39PM