Ashley Combe was opened as an evacuation home in 1939 In  June of 1942 Ashley Combe was used for babies and small children. The house reverted back to its owner in February 1950.

106/1 Childhood Memories a photographic history of Dr Barnardo's

Some History:

Ashley Combe was built in 1799 and improved in 1835 when its owner, Lord William King (later created the First Earl of Lovelace), married Ada Byron (daughter of the poet) and set about building a romantic country home to please her, and probably using some of the money she brought into the marriage. The house was tucked into the woods overlooking the Bristol Channel and surrounded by most exotic terraced gardens in the Italian style.

By 1939 the house had been let out to Dr Barnardos for the duration of the war. In 1950 it became a Country Club but was closed after acquiring a dubious reputation. It then fell into disrepair and its owner, the 4th Earl of Lytton, decided to pull it down. The ruins are still there giving an air of mystery.

During WWII an American plane crashed into the side of the the cliffs near Ashley Combe, the tail could once be seen sticking out of the rocks. Along the track there is this memorial to the men that died in the plane crash.