“A Douglas in his hall.”—SCOTT.
This fine baronial mansion, one of the seats of his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, is situated about three miles south of Lancaster, and therefore occupies a site which is associated with many memorable transactions in British history-ranging from the time when our rude forefathers “did battle” for their hearths and homes against the invading Romans, through the stirring days of the celebrated John o’ Gaunt, the bloody wars of the “Roses,” the troubles of the Commonwealth, and the misguided rebellion of the “Young Pretender.”
Ashton Hall is principally, remarkable as the ancient seat of the De Courcys, out of which family it passed, by marriage, to John De Coupland, the hero of Neville Cross. In 1454 it was possessed by Sir R. Lawrence, Knt., whose son, Sir James, was knighted by Lord Stanley, at Hutton Field, in Scotland. From the Lawrences the manor and hall passed to the Ratcliffs, through the Butlers, and from them, by further marriage, to Sir Gilbert Gerard, ancestor of Lord Gerard of Bromley; and Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of Digby Lord Gerard, having married James Earl of Arran, created fourth Duke of Hamilton in 1679, it thus came into the present ducal family. Of this nobleman it is related that be made a conspicuous figure during the reigns of Charles Il. and James II., from both of whom he was deputed Envoy Extraordinary to the court of France. Besides many other posts of honour that were conferred upon him by the above monarchs, he was made Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster in 1710; also Admiral of the Sea-coasts; and in December of the same year was sworn into the Privy Council of Queen Anne. In the next year he was created an English peer by the title of Duke of Brandon, in the county of Suffolk. In 1718 he fought a duel with Lord Mohan, and fell in the rencontre; but the second of his antagonist, a General Macartney, was suspected of having “slyly stabbed him,” and a reward of 500 guineas was offered by the Government, with 300 by the duchess, for his apprehension. Macartney sought refuge in a foreign country, but was taken in Hanover; and, after a trial on a charge of wilful murder in the Court of King’s Bench, was only found guilty of manslaughter.
The mansion at Ashton is an oblong building, with square embattled towers to the west; a spacious hall; and other characteristics of an ancient castle. The walls are probably of the fourteenth century; successive alterations and additions, however, have scarcely left any evidences of the origin of the baronial residence, except those exhibited in the turrets; but the pristine character of the hall has been preserved in the more recent reparations and improvements. The park, in which Ashton Hall is erected, contains some of the finest sylvan scenery in Lancashire; it is agreeably diversified with hill and dale; and from some of its eminences grand, interesting, and extensive views may be obtained of a wide sweep of country, skirted by “ocean’s dim immensity—a vast natural panorama of woods and waters, headlands and distant mountains, beautiful and picturesque as the most ardent admirer of Creation’s glories could desire. With reference to some of the views which here present themselves, Mrs. Radcliffe has the following descriptive remarks: — “The appearance of the northern tells is ever changing, with the weather and shifting lights. Sometimes they resemble those evening clouds on the horizon that catch the last gleams of the sun; at others, wrapt in dark mist, they are only faintly traced and seen like stormy vapours rising from the sea. But, in a bright day, their appearance is beautiful; then their grand outlines are distinctly drawn upon the sky, a vision of Alps; the rugged sides are faintly marked with light and shadow, with wood and rock; and here and there a cluster of white cottages, or farms and hamlets, gleam at their feet along the water’s edge. Over the whole landscape is then drawn a softening azure, or sometimes a purple hue, exquisitely lovely; while the sea below reflects a brighter tint of blue.” Well may the poet exclaim, ” Who can paint like Nature?”
The present possessor of the ancient and princely domains of Ashton Hall is Alexander, tenth Duke of Hamilton, whose principal seat is Hamilton Palace, near Glasgow, in Scotland. His grace’s only daughter was married, in November 1832, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Lincoln, M.P., and his only son (the heir to the dukedom of Hamilton), the Marquis of Douglas, is to be married during the ensuing month, according to court gossip, to a Princess of Baden.
The Illustrated London News, London, England, Week Ending November 19, 1842
