Exhibit 23.1
                                              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.




                      Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form S-3) and the related  Prospectus  of Ashland Inc.  (Ashland)  for the
registration  of 296,385  shares of its common  stock,  of our report dated
November 6, 2002 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,  2002,   filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.




/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio
May 16, 2003