Nestled in the heart of the National Forest, Ashby-de-la-Zouch is a charming market town rich in heritage and character. 

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History of Ashby de la Zouch Castle

 

Ashby de la Zouch Castle was the purpose-built seat of one of the most powerful men in late 15th-century English politics, William, Lord Hastings. His adaptations to the relatively modest existing manor house at Ashby began in 1472–3, but by the time of his sudden fall from grace and execution in 1483 only about half of his grand design had been realised.

 

The castle remained in use as the main family seat of his descendants, playing a prominent part in the Civil War, when it was held for the king. It began to attract visitors in the 19th century after Sir Walter Scott set a scene in his novel Ivanhoe there.

 

Another nod to this legacy can be found within the history of  The Ivanhoe Baths & Bath Grounds

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Between 1800 – 1917 following the discovery of a saline spring at Moira’s ‘Bath Pit’ a couple of miles from Ashby, the Rawdon Hastings family established a small scale baths in Moira.

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In 1818 – 1819, the lack of inns and lodgings in Moira together with the proximity of mine shaft led to the decision to transfer the brine waters to Ashby de la Zouch.

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In 1822 funding by the town and Francis Rawdon Hastings Esq allowed the building of the Ivanhoe baths. The Baths designed by the architect Robert Chaplin were built for the princely sum of £16,000.
Originally transported by canal and later by rail to the new Ivanhoe Baths, the mineral water was stored in an underground brick Reservoir cable of filling 2000 baths.

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In Ashby you could ‘take the waters’ as a medicinal drink or ’be totally immersed in water or sponged in the problem area.’  Application of the water was either ‘as a flow, in the steam bath, through a tube directing it to a particular spot on the bather’s person’ or ‘as rain, in the shower bath, where its activity is thrilling and diffusive over the head and shoulders.’

 

Ashby failed to gain the fashionable status needed to succeed as a spa town and the baths closed in the 1870s due to a lack of patronage. The end came in 1962 when the beautiful neoclassical building was finally demolished.

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The town also seamlessly blends history with whimsy—home to a Paddington Bear bench that delights visitors of all ages, it also has literary fame as the inspiration behind Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole books, capturing suburban life with wit and poignancy.

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The National Forest 

Spanning 200 square miles to the north-west of Leicester, the Forest’s vibrant and varied landscape takes in ancient forest and newly planted woodland, wildflower meadows and rugged, rocky uplands. You’ll find reminders of the region’s industrial heritage, atmospheric castles and mighty manor houses, bluebell woods and country parks, home to herds of deer. 

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Nine million trees have been planted since the early 1990s, transforming former coal pits and clay works at the heart of the Forest and joining the ancient forests of Charnwood in the east and Needwood in the west. A ‘hidden gem’ at the heart of the country, the National Forest has trebled the amount of land available for public access, created rich habitats for wildlife, and transformed the landscape for the people who live here, and for those who come to visit.

 

Whether you're exploring heritage trails, relaxing in its independent cafés, or enjoying the beauty of the surrounding woodland, Ashby offers a unique blend of culture, nature, and nostalgia.

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We have used the many inspriational surroundings we live in to inspire our collection and our very small family run business.   We hand-pour all of our products in small batches in Ashby De La Zouch and they are presented beautifully in our amber glass vessels.

 

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