ASHRIDGE 115 



given time become either a Duke or a Marquis, the 

 estate should be relinquished. This condition 

 nearly ruined the property, but finally, after many 

 suits in Chancery, "the House of Lords granted the 

 property to Lord Alford's son " although he was 

 neither a Duke nor a Marquis. 



Ashridge, possessed of six and a half centuries 

 of historical interest, has remained in that family 

 ever since. 



The words of the satirical old Laureate are indeed 

 still appropriate to Ashridge, with its Avenues, 

 Park, and mass of Gardens : 



"A pleasanter place than Ashridge is harde were to fynde." 



But the old man, who died about 1529, would 

 perhaps not recognise " the goodly place " in these 

 days ! 



