the Big House:
18th century Ashcombe House, notable residents were cecil beaton, Beaton entertained lavishly at Ashcombe House, and his houseguests included many notable people of the time,
and peter gabriel
When the house came up for sale in 2001, the first time it had been on the open market since just after World War I, there was a great deal of interest.Madonna and Guy Ritchie were the successful purchasers, c£9m
they sought the house after they were told by Hugo Vickers, Beaton's biographer, of its being up for sale. Like Beaton, the couple were struck by their first encounter with the house:

On 3 March 2009, planning permission was granted to Ritchie (who obtained the house in the divorce settlement) by Salisbury District Council for the creation of a sporting lake and shoot on the estate,
The grounds of the house are noted for their re-established wildlife, including fallow deer. The grounds are also noted as one of the top game bird shooting venues in the country: The Field magazine voted it one of the UK's ten top venues for pheasant shooting.

Public rights of way run through the grounds, and are open to the public all year round. The grounds contain a 17th-century Quaker burial ground which was still in use in 2004

Of note for Ppruners:
Guy has made a foray into the beer industry after launching his very own brewery and transformed an old converted barn on his farm on the Dorset/ Wiltshire border into the Gritchie Brewing Company, and his first beer is already available to buy.

Tght Circuit
 

When we took the Turbs in for a 'pitts stop' it was a 20ft break around the wind sock (heading west) and land off the turn (took about 15 secs !!!.