Ashton Court Mansion

Flower and Bee in the Mansion Gardens Owned by Bristol Council since the late 1950's, the mansion offers function rooms, lawns and gardens for corporate or private hire.

Entrance to the mansion gardens and the rest of the estate is free with free parking - apart from during the larger events like the balloon fiesta.

South Face Tower The old stables area of the mansion (by the car park) has public toilets, a visitor centre, exhibition space, cafe and the stables bistro restaurant.

The south face above was of course designed to impress visitors. You can see two distinct building styles. The older 17th Century wing on the left and the 19th Century wing to the right.

In the times of the last owners, the Smyth family. visitors from Bristol would arrive at the Town Gate and traveled in a great sweep below the mansions south face to eventually arrive at the Western Entrance.

Access from Kennel Lodge Road.

Mid May early 2007 bloom, go in Late May or June for a mass display in most years. I prefer naturalised or truly wild plants and flowers to formal gardens but the rose garden is an exception and worth a look in mid to late May or June perhaps later too.

Replanted in 2006 with a variety of climbing and shrub roses in a formal planting.

The mansions South Face from the Sunken Garden.

The south face of Ashton Court Mansion from the sunken garden.

Early morning view
South face on an early summer morning.

History and Neighbours

Links on the history of Ashton Court and to its neighbours: Leigh Woods, the Avon Gorge, Clifton Suspension Bridge ...

Western Entrance and the Lodges

Ashton Court Mansion west entrance (above) is the main entrance to the mansion. The west face dates from about the 16th Century and leads to a 14th Century Medieval Hall.

Sadly the mansion itself is not open to the public.

West entrance

Drives ran from the Clifton, Clarken Coombe, Church and Town (later called Lawn or Garden) Lodges converging here.

Before Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge was built the estates main entrance was the Town Gate (external link), now somewhat sadly positioned on the boundary of Ashton Park School and the A370, Brunel Way dual carriageway.

The town gate had the disadvantage of either a trip across the River Avon on Rownham Ferry (external link) or a lengthy trip into Bristol to cross the first bridge downstream.

Clifton Lodge was built when the Clifton Suspension Bridge (completed 1864) opened, offering a much easier route into Bristol.

Only traces of the drive to the old Town Gate remain but the other driveways still exist.

The other lodges have fared better than the Town Gate -

Clarken Coombe Lodge restored in early 2007
Church Lodge or Gate (external link) leading to All Saints Church, Long Ashton.

Clifton Lodge, front and rear views.
Clifton Lodge, front view
Clifton Lodge, rear view

Ashton Court has one further lodge, Kennel Lodge. The driveway from the Kennel Lodge Road Entrance passes this Lodge some distance from the house. Then goes up to the stables and the (now demolished) servants quarters and I am sure that it was primarily for the staff and tradesmen.

The rather modest Kennel Lodge The very modest Kennel Lodge on Kennel Lodge Road, just before the University of the West of England - faculty for the Creative Arts campus.

Ashton Court Home Contact Mansion Woodland & Meadows Deer Fiesta & Festival Activities Visitor Centre