


                                                        Exhibit 23.1


                      Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Amendment  No. 2 to the
Registration  Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-54762) and the related Prospectus
of Ashland Inc.  (Ashland) for the  registration  of 149,300  shares of its
common  stock,  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 (as amended by Form 10-K/A, Amendment No. 1) for
the year ended  September 30, 2000,  filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.



/s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Cincinnati, Ohio
March 29, 2001




