Ashby De La Launde
Encyclopedia
Ashby de la Launde is a small village, part of the civil parish of Ashby de la Launde and Bloxholm
, in the North Kesteven
district of Lincolnshire
, England.
The villages is located just west of Digby
, and east of the A15 and B1191 roads. The suffix to the name comes from the family that once held the Lordship of the Manor
here, the De la Laundes.
In the Domesday Book the village is called Asherbie with William becoming a Knights Templar who gifted lands to create the Temple Bruer preceptory, in time to become the second most wealthy in Britain, funding the Crusades from sheep rearing and wool exports to Europe. The marriage between the Asherbie (Ashby) family and Laundes from Laceby created the Anglicised Ashby de la Launde title for the settlement.
There is a church dedicated to Saint Hybald and a hall
. Ashby Hall was built in 1595 by Edward King, it remained in the King family until the late 19th century although between 1814 and 1835 it was let to a Mrs Gardner as a girls' school
. In 1841 the Hall and estate passed to John William King who was also the parson
of Ashby. Now squire
and parson he took over the stables and stud
and set about breeding racehorses. In 1874 his filly
'Apology' won the Triple Crown
of the Thousand Guineas
, the Oaks
and the St Leger
. His activities came to the notice of Bishop Wordsworth
of Lincoln who demanded his resignation from the church. King resigned a year later and died shortly afterwards.
The Hall was sold in 1925 by Colonel William Vere Reeve King-Fane
of Fulbeck
to Baron Garvagh
who had sold his estates in Garvagh
near Londonderry and moved his family to Ashby Hall. Baron Garvagh (George Canning) rebuilt and modernised parts of the Hall, and during the Great Depression to keep his staff employed he built a large wooden indoor Badmington court which in later years became the present Village Hall, relocated today in the centre of the village. Baron Garvagh moved to Keswick at the beginning of WW2 and by 1942 various fighter squadrons at RAF Digby
had taken over Ashby Hall as their officer's mess. One of the most notable was 609 Squadron
(White Rose). By the end of the war the house became derelict and stood empty until the entire estates were broken up in the late 1950s. The park was cleared of its magnificent oak trees, the walled garden and surrounding farms sold separately leaving the Hall itself to become the Lake Rendezvous Club, featuring many famous acts in its cabaret including Diana Dors
, Bob Monkhouse
and Ken Dodd
. The Hall and Club was purchased by the Ward family in the late 1960s under the new name Ashby Country Club, eventually closing in 1992. The Hall was then purchased by Eran Bauer and became the international headquarters of the defence and security manufacturing company Civil Defence Supply who continue ownership to this day.
Ashby de la Launde and Bloxholm
Ashby de la Launde and Bloxholm is a civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 796. The parish includes the villages of Ashby de la Launde and Bloxholm, along with the southern part of Scopwick Heath....
, in the North Kesteven
North Kesteven
North Kesteven is a local government district in the East Midlands. Just over north of London, it is east of Nottingham and south of Lincoln. North Kesteven is one of seven districts in Lincolnshire, England and is in the centre of the County...
district of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England.
The villages is located just west of Digby
Digby, Lincolnshire
Digby is a small village and civil parish in the district of North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England. The village lies in the vale of the Digby Beck watercourse, north of the town of Sleaford and miles south of the city of Lincoln...
, and east of the A15 and B1191 roads. The suffix to the name comes from the family that once held the Lordship of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
here, the De la Laundes.
In the Domesday Book the village is called Asherbie with William becoming a Knights Templar who gifted lands to create the Temple Bruer preceptory, in time to become the second most wealthy in Britain, funding the Crusades from sheep rearing and wool exports to Europe. The marriage between the Asherbie (Ashby) family and Laundes from Laceby created the Anglicised Ashby de la Launde title for the settlement.
There is a church dedicated to Saint Hybald and a hall
Hall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
. Ashby Hall was built in 1595 by Edward King, it remained in the King family until the late 19th century although between 1814 and 1835 it was let to a Mrs Gardner as a girls' school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. In 1841 the Hall and estate passed to John William King who was also the parson
Parson
In the pre-Reformation church, a parson was the priest of an independent parish church, that is, a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization...
of Ashby. Now squire
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
and parson he took over the stables and stud
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
and set about breeding racehorses. In 1874 his filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
'Apology' won the Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
of the Thousand Guineas
The Thousand Guineas
The Thousand Guineas is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 1600 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne on a Wednesday in October.-Distance:...
, the Oaks
The Oaks
- England :* The Oaks *The Oaks, Ascot, an 18th century country mansion later re-named the Royal Berkshire- United States :* The Oaks , listed on the NRHP in Colbert County, Alabama...
and the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
. His activities came to the notice of Bishop Wordsworth
Christopher Wordsworth
Christopher Wordsworth was an English bishop and man of letters.-Life:Wordsworth was born in London, the youngest son of the Rev. Dr. Christopher Wordsworth, Master of Trinity and a nephew of the poet William Wordsworth...
of Lincoln who demanded his resignation from the church. King resigned a year later and died shortly afterwards.
The Hall was sold in 1925 by Colonel William Vere Reeve King-Fane
William Vere Reeve King-Fane
Colonel William Vere Reeve King-Fane OBE, DL was a member of the Fane family an English landowner, soldier and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.-Background:...
of Fulbeck
Fulbeck
Fulbeck is a small village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the A607, north from Grantham and north-west from Sleaford. To the north is Leadenham, and to the south is Caythorpe.-Toponymy:...
to Baron Garvagh
Baron Garvagh
Baron Garvagh, of Garvagh in the County of Londonderry, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1818 for George Canning. He had previously represented Sligo and Petersfield in Parliament and also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry...
who had sold his estates in Garvagh
Garvagh
Garvagh is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the banks of the Agivey River, south of Coleraine on the A29 route. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,288.-History:...
near Londonderry and moved his family to Ashby Hall. Baron Garvagh (George Canning) rebuilt and modernised parts of the Hall, and during the Great Depression to keep his staff employed he built a large wooden indoor Badmington court which in later years became the present Village Hall, relocated today in the centre of the village. Baron Garvagh moved to Keswick at the beginning of WW2 and by 1942 various fighter squadrons at RAF Digby
RAF Digby
RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station which, since March 2005, has been operated by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Intelligence Collection Group. Formerly a training and fighter airfield, it is currently a tri-service military signals installation located...
had taken over Ashby Hall as their officer's mess. One of the most notable was 609 Squadron
No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in World War II active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role...
(White Rose). By the end of the war the house became derelict and stood empty until the entire estates were broken up in the late 1950s. The park was cleared of its magnificent oak trees, the walled garden and surrounding farms sold separately leaving the Hall itself to become the Lake Rendezvous Club, featuring many famous acts in its cabaret including Diana Dors
Diana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
, Bob Monkhouse
Bob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
and Ken Dodd
Ken Dodd
Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”...
. The Hall and Club was purchased by the Ward family in the late 1960s under the new name Ashby Country Club, eventually closing in 1992. The Hall was then purchased by Eran Bauer and became the international headquarters of the defence and security manufacturing company Civil Defence Supply who continue ownership to this day.