Come with us if you dare, to Devil's Bridge on Spooky Lane the home to the Ashridge Monk, a ghost from the Benedictine monastery which is now Ashridge Management College. A seemingly harmless place during the day but at night ... it's a whole different matter!
We found this place late one night many years ago and from the moment we laid eyes on it shivers ran down our spines. In those days the lane was in a slightly better condition and if you were brave you could drive down it, although we wouldn't try it now! As we approached the walls we got the distinct feeling we were not alone. When we saw the bridge we were convinced that there was a shadowy demonic figure standing there watching us (which is why we call it Devil's Bridge) that was it, we had to get out of there as quickly as possible! To tell the truth, we didn't know this place was haunted until doing some research for this cache. Who knows, perhaps we had just seen the Ashridge Monk?
OK, so enough of the ghost story and onto the history lesson!
The original 19th Century driveway to Ashridge House began on the Nettleden Road leading from the Gade valley, the Hemel Hempstead side of Ashridge. The then Earl or Duke of Bridgewater, who owned the house and grounds, decided to sink the original straight medieval road (also known locally as the Roman Road or Spooky Lane) which leads from Frithsden to Nettleden, into a deep cutting with flint lined walls and a Tudor style bridge over the top so that he wouldn't have to make contact with the villagers.
As there are several approaches to cache we'll leave you to make you own decision where to park. From the Frithsden side there is an excellent watering hole to calm your nerves after your visit, or perhaps to get some dutch courage before you go!