Sessions House, George Row, Northampton - 01953 604 721 markbrooks@castleashby.co.uk

Castle Ashby is the name of a civil parish, an estate village and an English country house in rural Northamptonshire.

Historically the village was set up to service the needs of Castle Ashby House, the seat of the Marquess of Northampton.

The village has one small pub-hotel, The Falcon. At the time of the 2011 census, the parish's population (including Chadstone) was 111 people.

The village contains many houses rebuilt from the 1860s onwards. These include work by the architect E.F. Law of Northampton, whose work can also be seen nearby at Horton Church. The castle is the result of a licence obtained in 1306, for Walter Langton, Bishop of Coventry, to castellate his mansion in the village of Ashby.

The present rebuilding of Castle Ashby was started by Henry Compton, 1st Baron Compton, in 1574 and was continued by his son, created Earl of Northampton. Queen Elizabeth I's first visit to the house was in 1600. Like other houses of its date, it was built in an E-shaped floorplan, a deep central porch and flight of steps forming the centre stroke of the E. This was to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I. When King James and his Queen first stayed in 1605, the castle is documented as "Lord Compton's princely mansion", and in the household records we find that employed at this time were 83 household servants, four chaplains, three musicians and the Gardener of Ashby.

The house today is the minor estate house - Compton Wynyates being the family's main residence; Castle Ashby is now used by the estate heir - currently the Earl Compton. The Castle Ashby estate, now managed by Lord Compton, remains one of the area's great landowners; the estate includes land in many of the neighbouring villages, such as Grendon, Denton and Yardley Hastings.

The estate grounds also include a fine cricket pitch in front of the castle and a mile-long drive.

The grounds are open daily to the public. The house is not usually open but viewing can be on appointment. The grounds provided the venue for the Greenbelt Christian music festival each year between 1984 and 1992.

Two open-air concerts were given by Sir Elton John in the grounds in front of the house in July 2000.

Local amateur acting group The Parish Players, drawn from various of the nearby villages, holds regular performances in the castle - a tradition carried on now for some years.