For much of its life, Ashburnham House was a domestic property, with remaining features of grand fireplaces and chandeliers indicating this former use. In the 17th century, the house was let to the Earls of Ashburnham who would go on to give it its surviving name. They re-modelled the property into the form it takes today.
The architect is not known for certain, although claims that it was the work of Inigo Jones are unfounded. The design is certainly inspired by him, however, and John Webb, who collaborated on some works with Jones, is a likely candidate. The Drawing Room is named as such because it was once the drawing room for the Ashburnham family. It is now used to display portraits of several notable figures in the School’s history by equally notable artists. Particularly worth mentioning are a portrait of Sir William Dolben, a former pupil in the 18th century, by John Opie; and one of World War Two fallen Leonidas Paul Lambrinudi as a pupil, painted by Philip de Laszlo.
