ASHRIDGE 107 



from Lady Cheyne, keeping it for two years, 

 when it was bought by Sir Thomas Egerton, who 

 with great trouble managed to get back the 

 lands which had passed away from the old 

 college estate. 



The college of the Bonhommes at Ashridge was 

 originally a good specimen of thirteenth-century 

 work, but in Elizabeth's reign it fell into great 

 disrepair. It was, however, put in perfect order 

 by Sir Thomas Egerton, who also made extensive 

 alterations. From a view of the house published 

 in 1768, it appears that it was entirely enclosed 

 within a court, the entrance being through a hand- 

 some porch, which formed the porter's lodge. 



The chief feature of the old building was the 

 hall, which had high Gothic windows and wings 

 at each end with huge bay windows. The two 

 smaller wings are thought to have been added 

 during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. 

 The cloisters remained intact till 1800, when Lord 

 Bridge water pulled the whole of the old house 

 down ; the cloisters being so damaged by the 

 destruction of the house that they too were destroyed. 

 Brown Willis says that at this date the painting on 

 the cloisters was still clearly to be seen, especially 

 the fresco of the Crucifixion. To this old house 

 belonged an old Garden, entirely surrounded by 

 walls, and described by a youthful poetess some 

 years later as "a perfect Eden" of delight. 



