Ashley Coombe Exmoor

Ashley Combe was built in 1799 and improved in 1835 by Lord William King (later created the First Earl of Lovelace). Ashley Coombe was designed as a romantic country home for his wife Ada Byron (daughter of the poet) and best known as Ada Lovelace probably using some of Ada's money. The house is situated in woods and overlooks the Bristol Channel. It has exotic terraced gardens in the Italian style.

Ashley Coombe in its heyday

William King was an engineer with a fascination for tunnels. Tradesmen were led up from the roads to the trade entrance of the house through a series of tunnels so that those within wouldn’t have to see their carts. A woodland walk and steps led down to the beach where a bath-house was built into the cliff to enable Ada to bathe in privacy.

The house, in the style of those to be found around the Italian Lakes, had an impressive tall clock tower. The gardens consisted of terraced walks, each backed by a row of alcoves and joined by spiral stairs. Beyond these were more open gardens facing out of the woods down to the stream below. These contained hot-houses. Beyond these again were woodland walks, ornamented by decorative towers, turrets and archways. Tunnels led tradesmen up from the road to the trade entrance of the house so their carts could not be seen from the house. A woodland walk and steps led down to the beach where a bath-house was built into the cliff to enable Ada to bathe in privacy. Part of the terraces was known by the family as ‘Philosophers Walk’ because it is there that Ada and Babbage are reputed to have walked discussing the mathematical principles behind the ‘Difference Engine’.

By 1939 the house was leased to Dr Barnardos for the duration of the war.

Ashley Coombe as a Dr Barnado Orphanage in the 1940s

In 1950 it became a Country Club but was closed after acquiring a dubious reputation. It then fell into disrepair and its owner, the 4th Earl of Lytton, decided to pull it down. The ruins are still there giving an air of mystery.

Ashley Coombe as a Country Club during the 1950's

Although the house has been demolished, the gardens count as a ruin in their own right, still private property and used as a pheasant run for the local shoot. The archways and spiral staircase are still to be seen as well as intriguing little dark passageways which lead away in the hills.

During the last war an American plane crashed into the side of the the cliffs near Ashley Combe. Along the track there is this memorial to the men that died.

War Memorial above Ashley Combe OS grid reference SS8548
The inscription reads "In memory of Flying Officer A.D.Gardner, Flight Sergeant J.M.Hansen, Sergeant P.W. Schultz, Sergeant W.A.B. Stokes who were killed when their plane crashed here on 11th. June 1943. 'If I ascend into Heaven Thou art there, if I atke my wings early in the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand hold me up'

Lord King was a descendant of Lord Chancellor Peter King and of the family of John Locke, the philosopher. The King Family owned Ashley Combe, Yearnor, Culbone, Sparkhayes and Bratton near Minehead.

Contributed by: Sue Ling