Grotto, tomb and souterrein at Ashridge

Grotto and souterrein executed around 1813-1821 by Sir Jeffry Wyatville based on a design in Humphry Repton’s Red Book of 1813.

MATERIALS: puddingstone amphitheatre and flint-lined tomb and tunnel. The tomb and tunnel have iron armatures, except for approximately 3m of the tunnel which has a steel framework.

PLAN: the grotto is located to the south-east of the fernery garden about 100m south of the chapel and is set into an earth mound planted with mature trees.

EXTERIOR: the grotto garden is in the form of an amphitheatre, the sides of which are lined with local puddingstone. Formerly a pond lay on the north side, fed by a cascade from the mound to the east, but this is now largely filled in. The east side of the grotto is formed by a puddingstone wall into which are set three openings. The two to the north give access to a circular domed chamber, approximately 4m across, containing the grave of Duke, a favourite horse who died in 1857. This date, and the horse’s name, is inscribed on a memorial tablet set into the pebble-lined floor. The opening to the south is the entrance to the souterrein, a flint-lined tunnel about 2m wide and 2.5m high leading through the mound to the Duchess' Private Garden. This opening at the east is also framed by puddingstone and has a wrought iron gate.