Ashridge began as the English College of Bonshommes founded by Edmund Earl of Cornwall in 1283. After the dissolution of the monasteries it was one of the monastic houses that Henry VIII decided to keep for himself. The reason for his choice must have been its excellent position on high ground surrounded by extensive wooded parkland. Unusually the king did not undertake significant alterations and it seems as if the ex-monastic buildings were simply taken over as the royal lodgings. Even the church and cloister were kept as the royal chapel.
It’s location not far from London, and in what was probably believed to be good air, made it one of the most important of Henry’s nursery houses and all the king’s children spent time there, in particular Elizabeth and Edward. There seem to have only been one suite of royal rooms, but they contained all the normal accommodation. Various ancillary buildings were leased by the king to his courtiers.
In the reign of Mary, Elizabeth continued to use the house but after she became queen it was leased and, eventually, in 1575 it passed from royal ownership. It was in continuous occupation until it was completely rebuilt in the early 19th century. Only an undercroft survives from its time as a royal palace.