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Westminster School

Ashburnham House is a historic 17th-century building located in Little Dean’s Yard, Westminster, now part of Westminster School. Here are some fascinating facts about its history:

  • Medieval Foundations: The site has been occupied since the 11th century, incorporating remains of the Prior’s House.
  • Architectural Attribution: The house was leased by Charles Ashburnham, a friend of Charles II, and was long believed to be designed by Inigo Jones or John Webb, though it is now often attributed to William Samwell.
  • Cotton Library & Fire: The house once housed the Cotton Library, a collection of historic manuscripts, including the Beowulf manuscript. A fire in 1731 damaged many items, with Dr. Richard Bentley famously leaping from a window with the priceless Codex Alexandrinus.
  • Westminster School Acquisition: In 1739, the Dean and Chapter repurchased the property from the Crown for £500, and after a long legal battle, it became part of Westminster School in 1882.
  • Occasional Public Access: The house is occasionally open to the public, allowing visitors to see its grand staircase and first-floor drawing rooms.

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