Details of Sculptor

Surname

Ashton

Alternative Surname

First Name

Robert I

Initial of Surname

A

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

Year of Death

1805

Biographical Details

He was first the pupil and later the assistant of William Tyler RA and together they signed a number of large and important monuments. That to the antiquarian Martin Folkes in Westminster Abbey was designed by Tyler and executed by Ashton. It has a full-size statue of Folkes, in loose-fitting robes, leaning on folio editions of his works (2).
Ashton also carved chimneypieces as part of a more wide-ranging masonry business (5, 6). In 1788 he tendered for building the Freemasons’ Tavern, quoting a figure of £7,283. Since the lowest tender was under £5,000 he did not get the commission, though he was employed on decorative carving for the building from 1791 until 1792 (7).
The will of Robert Ashton, ‘Stone Mason of Vine Street, Piccadilly’, was proved on 17 December 1805. He left his business, utensils and stock in trade to his son Robert Ashton II, together with leasehold properties in Exeter Street, Chelsea and household items. Ashton was clearly a successful businessman, for he left £3,000 in shares to his daughter, and nearly 20 properties in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Woolwich. One of his executors was John Tombling.
Literary References: Gunnis 1968, 20; Whinney 1988, 271
Will: PROB 11/1434