Matthew Ashton
I started working in the insurance industry in 2004. Four years later, I left to focus on theological studies, working as a youth worker and then as a ministry director in Seattle, USA. When returning to the UK, I had an opportunity to work for the late Andrew Marchington. I joined his firm as a sales advisor when it had around ten staff members. Within three years, I was Head of Ops with a staff team of over 30 people. After a chance encounter in 2019 with Rachel Living and Will Cooper, I co-started Stanhope to build a high-value home, luxury watch, and jewellery broker synonymous with trust. I love being with Donna, my wife, and four kids when not working, cramming in the odd row, or run when I can. I am fortunate to love what I do and consider it a blessing to grow the Stanhope brand.
Posts by Matthew Ashton
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Blog
History of… Andy Warhol
By Matthew Ashton
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928, Andy Warhol (born as Andrew Warhola) was raised in a poor, working-class family throughout the Great Depress...
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Blog
Can I insure a luxury watch purchased on eBay?
By Matthew Ashton
The second-hand online marketplace has opened the door to exciting items and brands people wouldn’t have been able to afford before – but, when it...
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Blog
Announcing our Boodles partnership
By Matthew Ashton
We are excited to announce our partnership with pre-eminent jeweller Boodles. For over two centuries, Boodles has set the standard for luxury British ...
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Blog
History of… Jaeger-LeCoultre
By Matthew Ashton
From humble beginnings in a small barn to a global brand worth a staggering £12 billion, Jaeger-LeCoultre has become one of the most prestigious name...
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Guides
How to add value to your home with home improvements?
By Matthew Ashton
Compared to moving house, a home renovation is a cost-effective – and potentially far less stressful – method of adapting your home to your changi...
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Pricing
Engagement Ring Insurance Cost Calculator
By Matthew Ashton
How much does it cost to insure my engagement ring? This short article outlines the cost of insuring an engagement ring. Engagement ring insurance car...
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Blog
Introducing the first comparison site for luxury jewellery
By Matthew Ashton
We’re delighted to introduce, we believe, the UK’s first comparison site for luxury jewellery and watch insurance. If you can cover your car onlin...
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Guides
Guide to Different Types of House Extensions
By Matthew Ashton
It’s said that moving home is one of life’s most stressful events. If you simply need more space and you’re happy where you are, extending your ...
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Pricing
Watch Insurance Cost Calculator
By Matthew Ashton
How much does it cost to insure my luxury watch? This short article outlines the cost of insuring a luxury watch or a collection of luxury watches.&nb...
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Blog
Council tax for second and empty homes
By Matthew Ashton
If you own more than one property, you must pay council tax for second homes, even if the additional property is unoccupied. As you know, council tax ...
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Blog
Can you insure a lab grown diamond?
By Matthew Ashton
Having grown in popularity in recent years, lab-grown diamonds have generated some confusion – and a fair few misconceptions. A prevalent misconcept...
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Blog
Stuck for a gift? Here are the luxury jewellery trends of 2025
By Matthew Ashton
A well-selected piece of jewellery can enhance life’s brightest moments, providing vibrancy to life’s most precious memories. Jewellery uniquely h...
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Blog
Does My Home Insurance Cover Christmas Gifts?
By Matthew Ashton
Important Disclosure: The content provided does not consider your particular circumstances and does not constitute personal advice, please check with ...
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Blog
Stay cyber-safe this Black Friday
By Matthew Ashton
Every year, Black Friday generates an enormous amount of traffic from shoppers who are eager to take advantage of exclusive offers. But in their haste...
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Blog
The treats of high value home insurance
By Matthew Ashton
Important Disclosure: The content provided does not consider your particular circumstances and does not constitute personal advice, please check with ...
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Blog
High-value home autumn maintenance checklist: looking after your prope...
By Matthew Ashton
Wear and tear, ageing, and gradual deterioration are part of life for both humans and properties. Since a typical high-value home policy does not cove...
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Blog
Stanhope awarded £2,500 as part of Ecclesiastical’s Closer to You p...
By Matthew Ashton
Since it began in 2017, Ecclesiastical Insurance’s charitable giving programme Closer to You has distributed £625,000 to brokers. The money helps t...
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Blog
How to keep watches and jewellery safe at home
By Matthew Ashton
No one wants to think about their jewellery and watches being damaged or stolen, but did you know there were nearly 191,500 home burglaries reported i...
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Blog
History of… Cartier
By Matthew Ashton
We continue our popular History Of... series by looking at the much loved jewellery brand - Cartier.
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Blog
When to get High Value Home Insurance when buying a house
By Matthew Ashton
At exchange or completion – when should I arrange high value home insurance? If you’re buying a house with an above-average market value, taki...
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Guides
Guide to High-Value Home Insurance for Airbnb hosts
By Matthew Ashton
Since Airbnb first launched over 15 years ago, there has been a significant rise in the number of luxury short-term rentals available in response to t...
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Pricing
Launching a Jewellery, Luxury Watch and Art Insurance Panel
By Matthew Ashton
From my first conversation It was immediately clear that the Team at Stanhope had a strong grasp of the personal nature of insuring emotive valuables ...
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Blog
The most luxurious places to propose abroad
By Matthew Ashton
The journey to propose is a magical one, and choosing the best places to propose can often be a difficult and arduous task. If you’re planning to pr...
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Blog
Get ready for the holiday season: Using your land for camping
By Matthew Ashton
If you have the land to spare around your high value home, you may be considering letting campers use it this summer – particularly if you live ...
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