

                                                                 Exhibit 23.1

                        Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the  reference  to our firm under the caption  "Interests  of
Named  Experts  and  Counsel"  in the  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8)
pertaining  to the Amended and  Restated  Ashland  Inc.  Incentive  Plan of
Ashland Inc. (Ashland) and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated November 1, 2000, with respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements  and schedule of Ashland  included in its Annual  Report on Form
10-K for the year ended  September 30, 2000,  filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

                                         /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio
January 30, 2001


