

XXIX. 



Tuesday morning opened dull and misty with every appearance of a 

 bad day to follow. The majority of the party reached Axminster (the 

 station for Lyme) by the 10.35 train from Templecombe and Yeovil. 

 Here many brakes and carriages were in waiting, and in a few minutes a 

 start was made for Ashe. The party now numbered about 60, and on 

 reaching Ashe House they dismounted to inspect what remains of this 

 once historic Tudor mansion, which is now occupied as a farm house. In 

 the open ground in front of the house the Secretary briefly described 

 the features of the country through which they were driving and the plan 

 of excursion which the programme contained. He said their route that 

 day lay along the valley of the Axe, which rises in Dorsetshire at 

 Cheddington Copse, about two miles north-east of Beaminster, much of 

 its course lies in Somersetshire ; from Axminster it flows in a south- 

 westerly direction to Axmouth, where it enters the sea. The name Axe 

 is of British or even Phenician origin, signifying "water," and is there- 

 fore allied with such names as Ouse, Usk, Esk, and Isis. For the district 

 which they were about to visit Pulman's " Book of the Axe " is the best 

 authority ; Hutchins' " History of Dorset" does not treat of the valley 

 towards the sea. The " History of Lyrne Regis," written by George 

 Roberts in 1823, contained much interesting information about the town 

 and vicinity, especially duiing the troubled days of the Commonwealth 

 and of Monmouth's rebellion. An allusion to the valley would be found 

 in that curious poem of Michael Drayton, published in 1612, entitled 

 " Polyolbion. " With regard to Ashe House, Pulman says : " Delightfully 

 situated on the eastern side of the valley of the Axe is what remains of 

 the once famous residence with which is associated the name of one of the 

 greatest military heroes of England one who moreover played a 

 conspicuous part in the political affairs of the eventful period in which he 



lived 



" The man to distant ages known, 



Who shook the Gallic, fixed the Austrian throne." 



" Years and years have passed since the splendour of the old manorial 

 state was rife at the ancient and gentile seat of Ashe. The past is verily 

 but as a dream, and men now gaze upon the quiet homestead and ask 

 incredulously : ' Is this the birthplace of the Duke of Marlborough f 



"Its first owners, as far as can be discovered, were the family of De 

 Esse or De Ashe, to whom it was given by John Lord Courtenay Lord 

 of ihe Manor of Musbury. Thence by marriage it passed to the families 

 of Stretch or Street, and Hampton. Alice, daughter of Warren Hampton, 

 carried it by marriage to John Billett, whose heiress, Christiana, in the 

 reign of Henry V. (1412-22) married first John Duke of Exmouth. Their 





