Ashdown House

During an autumn weekend, we went to Ashdown House. This property, unlike other National Trust buildings, has limited opening hours since it is still occupied. Because the house is occupied, the only way to explore it is on a guided tour; however, the tour only covers the staircase and the roof and focuses primarily on portraits of the people who shaped the house's history (the collection of Elizabeth of Bohemia, "the Winter Queen," who was said to have lived here). The National Trust guide was entertaining, with the information, and the variety of sites as we climbed the stairs floor after level with some meaning behind them grew tiresome. The trip started from my home.

I packed all of my bags as well as other items. I scheduled a trip to Heathrow Airport, and after arriving and completing all of the appropriate requirements, I went looking for the cab driver whom I had reserved through an online cab service. My friends suggested this cab service to me, so I booked a company cab. He assured me that company is one of the greatest cab companies in the UK. They provide transportation to and from the airport. As I approached the checked-out gate, I noticed a man wearing a flat and carrying a nametag with my name on it. I approached him and introduced myself; he greeted me cheerfully and offered to handle my baggage. I was very content carrying the luggage, so I respectfully declined. We got into the cab, and the driver put my stuff in the trunk. We had arrived at Ashdown's house.

Ashdown House is a spectacular 17th-century Dutch-style mansion located on the Berkshire Downs and notable for its link with Elizabeth of Bohemia ('The Winter Queen,' Charles I's sister, to whom the house was dedicated. Because of its delicate, decorative façade and box-like design of the core block, Ashdown Home has been compared to a doll's house. Lord William Craven started the home as a present for Elizabeth of Bohemia. Elizabeth was the daughter of King James I of England and King James VI of Scotland, and she married Frederick, Elector Palatine, in 1619. The pair reigned as Bohemian kings for one year. In 1620, Frederick was defeated in the Battle of White Mountain, forcing the royal couple to escape into exile in The Hague.

There, the exiled queen met Lord Craven, a nobleman, and soldier who was also one of England's wealthiest men. Craven was enamoured by the queen and spent the rest of his life serving her, providing financial assistance at a time when she needed it. When Frederick died, Queen Elizabeth went to England with Craven and moved into his Drury Lane home. We don't know how close they were, but rumours circulated that they had secretly married, and Lord Craven played the part of a husband, accompanying the queen to social gatherings and acting as the unofficial head of her household.

The remaining National Trust volunteers sought to enhance our experience by providing lace knitting classes and a display of traditional woodworking in the woodland surrounding the home. To be honest, this makes Ashdown a fascinating destination to visit in my opinion.