Ashton House
Ashton House, on Ashton Park, celebrates its 200th birthday in 2010.
During those 200 years the house has had a very mixed history, from being a mansion for some of the richest families in Preston to serving as an old people’s home and a nursery. Perhaps the house’s 200th birthday is an appropriate time to start appreciating one of Ashton’s true architectural gems and put it at the centre of Preston’s cultural heritage.
The house, once known as Ashton Lodge, dates back to 1810 when it was built of Longridge stone by Thomas Starkie Shuttleworth. Mr Shuttleworth didn't have much time to enjoy the house, however, dying only 9 years later at the age of 46 in 1819.
This gave one of Preston’s most famous families, the Pedders, the opportunity to buy the house and the surrounding lands. James Pedder, the son of the founder of Preston's first bank, bought the house in 1820. The family would eventually give its name to nearby Pedders Lane and Pedders Way.
James Pedder
James Pedder lived at the house for 26 years until his death in 1846. During his time at the house, he contributed to the cost of building St Andrew's church, inviting residents to his house as part of the opening celebrations in 1935:
"Mr James Pedder gave an invitation to the gentlemen present to call at his seat, Ashton Lodge [...]. At Ashton Lodge the band continued to play lively and popular airs, and all present were regaled with a glass of excellent porter."(1)
Edward Pedder
James' son, Edward Pedder, inherited Ashton House in 1846. He extended the house around 1850, adding a grand hall and two pavillioned wings. A new porch was built and the house's grounds were remodelled, creating the ha ha which can still be seen today.
During this period another grand house was built in Ashton House’s grounds for one of Edward’s younger brothers. The mansion, Whinfield House, was a much more Victorian construction which overlooked the River Ribble. It was, unfortunately, demolished in the mid-20th century(2). One of Ashton's gems that have been lost in time.
Shockwaves
Edward Pedder died suddenly in 1861 at the age of 51. The death came at the worst possible time, just as a cotton famine was devastating the cotton industry throughout the North West. Shockwaves were sent round Preston when the books of the bank Edward Pedder partnered were scrutinised. It soon emerged that the bank, although not unsuccessful, was severely overdrawn to Edward Pedder and the brother who lived in Whinfield House. With no other solution immediately available, Ashton House, along with many other Pedder possessions, were sold off to pay the bank’s debts.
After the Pedders
The house has had many owners over the years, including another of Preston’s most famous names, Edmund Robert Harris, who owned the house between 1861 and 1877. Harris most famously gave his name to the Harris Museum in the centre of Preston.
After the Harris family sold the estate, Ashton House and its grounds changed hands many times. Another mill-owning family, the Calverts owned Ashton House for a while but the mansion was eventually sold to English Electric at the end of World War One.
Council takes charge
The house was sold to Preston Town Council in 1937 but that by no means safeguarded its future. Preston kept hold of the park but sold the mansion on to Lancashire County Council, who ran the house as care home for the elderly for many years. The house was sold again in the 1990s, when it took on its present role as a nursery.
Click here to visit the nursery's website, to see photos of the house up close, including, if you visit the virtual tour, some interior shots and shots of the grounds.
Notes:
A previous version of this article stated that the house was built by the Pedders, which was, according to further information, incorrect.
(1) A History of the Parish of St Andrew's, Douglas B Cochrane
(2) Looking for the specific date
Bibliography:
- People of Old Preston, Keith Johnson
- A Brief History of Pedder & Co. Preston Old Bank 1776-1861, FS Moxon AIB
- Article by WG Lonsdale on Ashton House, from the Harris Library, published by University of Central Lancashire
- Preston Council's website
- A History of the Parish of St Andrew's, Douglas B Cochrane
Your comments please
- Have you any ideas what can be done with Ashton House, and how the park could be developed?
- Do you have any more details about the house’s history, particularly its 20th century history?
- Add your comments to this article, or write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Thanks
Thanks to all those who contributed research to this article, particularly Jim Goring.
I would definitely like to expand this history, there's certainly lots more to add to the story.
The Pedders also partly funded the building of St Andrew's church. In the history of the church (soon to be added to this website), it mentions a celebration of the laying of the church's foundation stone (in 1835). The celebration was held at Ashton Lodge (as it was known in those days):
"The procession then re-formed to return to the town by way of the Marsh [Simon: ie Ashton Marsh, eventually to become the docks] when Mr James Pedder gave an invitation to the gentlemen present to call at his seat Ashton Lodge [...] At Ashton Lodge the band continued to play lively and popular airs, and all present were regaled with a glass of excellent porter, after which the procession resumed its route to the town" .
If we find anything else, we'll put it up on the website, but if you find anything in the meantime, please do let us know!
See the link on the left on Dick, Kerr Ladies, which is also relevant to Ashton Park.
Thanks. B.S.
Any ideas where the stone was laid? Is it in the same place now?
Explore Flikr, particularly streams by Tony Worrall and Nog Tow, for other bits and bobs, don't know if there's any history of your cottages but you never know.
Please let us know what you find out!