SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           Washington, D.C. 20549

  
                                  FORM 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report:   November 14, 1996
Date of earliest event reported:  November 1, 1996



                                ASHLAND INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                  Kentucky
                (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

         1-2918                                              61--0122250
(Commission File Number)                                  (I.R.S. Employer
                                                         Identification No.)


1000 Ashland Drive, Russell, Kentucky                           41169
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)


P.O. Box 391, Ashland, Kentucky                                 41114
     (Mailing Address)                                        (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (606) 329-3333





Item 5.  Other Events

     On November 1, 1996, the Registrant issued a press release  announcing
that Providence  Capital,  Inc., a small New York-based financial firm and a
stockholder of record of 100 Ashland Inc.  (NYSE:ASH)  common  shares,  has
given formal notice to Ashland that they have nominated  three  individuals
for  election  to   Ashland's   board  of  directors  at  the  1997  Annual
Shareholders Meeting, to be held on January 30, 1997.

     The  foregoing  summary of the attached  press release is qualified in
its  entirety by the  complete  text of such  document,  a copy of which is
attached hereto.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
     (c)   Exhibits
           99     Press Release 




                                 SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                  ASHLAND INC.
                                          ------------------------------
                                                  (Registrant)



Date:  November 14, 1996                    /s/  James G. Stephenson
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:  James G. Stephenson
                                          Title: Vice President-Law



                               EXHIBIT INDEX

  EXHIBIT NUMBER                                               PAGE NO.
       99              Press Release of the Registrant             5
                       dated November 1, 1996


                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

                                                     Stan Lampe
                                                     (606) 329-4061 - Office
                                                     (606) 329-9365 - Home

                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                     November 1, 1996


Ashland Inc. receives board nominations

Ashland, Ky. -- Providence Capital,  Inc., a New York-based financial
firm and a  stockholder  of record of 100 Ashland  Inc.  (NYSE:ASH)  common
shares,  has given formal notice to Ashland that they have nominated  three
individuals for election to Ashland's board of directors at the 1997 annual
shareholders meeting, to be held on Jan. 30, 1997.
         Providence   Capital  identified  the  nominees  as:  Lawrence  G.
Schafran,   chairman  of  the   executive   committee  of  the  Dart  Group
Corporation,  Landover,  Md.;  Kenneth  A.  Bouldin,  president  and  chief
executive officer of Economic Technology Solutions, Inc., Nashville, Tenn.;
and Robert J. Slater,  president,  Jackson  Consulting,  Inc.,  New Canaan,
Conn.
     Ashland  Inc.  is a large  energy  and  chemical  company  engaged  in
petroleum refining and marketing;  coal; highway construction;  and oil and
gas exploration and production. Ashland Chemical is the largest distributor
of  chemicals  and  plastics  in North  America  and a leading  supplier of
specialty  chemicals  worldwide.  Ashland's  major consumer  brands include
Valvoline-R-  motor oils,  Zerex-R-  antifreeze  and  Pyroil-R-  automotive
chemicals.  As one of  the  largest  independent  refiners  in the  nation,
Ashland  is  also a  leading  regional  gasoline  marketer,  with  products
marketed  under the  SuperAmerica-R-  and Ashland-R-  brand names.  

     Ashland's Internet address is http://www.ashland.com

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