Background
He was born in 1814 at Colleton Barton, in the parish of Chulmleigh in Devon.
He was born in 1814 at Colleton Barton, in the parish of Chulmleigh in Devon.
He left Colleton in 1822 and later moved to London where he became a pupil of the architect Charles Fowler (1792-1867), born in Collumpton, Devon. During 1842-1846 Ashworth travelled in New Zealand and Hong Kong. Following his return to England in 1846 he set up an architectural practice in Exeter, Devon.
In later life he lived at Dix"s Field in Exeter.
He rebuilt or restored many churches in Devon, including: Rebuilding works Cullompton, Devon (1849) Dulverton, Somerset (1852-1855) Bideford, Devon (1859) Lympstone, Devon (1862) Withycombe Raleigh, Exmouth, Devon (1863-1864) Street Mary Major, Exeter, Devon (1865), now demolished Topsham (1874) Milton Combe (1878) Street Nicholas Church, Exeter (opposite Street Nicholas Priory) (design of) Restoration works Street Michael and All Angels Church, Bude, Cornwall Street Peter"s Church, Tiverton, Devon Silverton Lapford Widecombe Axminster Doddiscombsleigh North Molton Wynards Almshouses, Exeter (1863) Paintings and drawings Many of his drawings and paintings are held in the collection of the Westcountry Studies Library, Exeter, at the Devon and Exeter Institution and Devon Record Office. He died on 8 March 1896 and left a substantial estate valued at £26,814, mainly invested in Railway stocks.
He was buried in the newly created Higher Cemetery, Exeter, for which he had designed two lodges and one chapel. His ornate stone cross, made of pink stone, survives and was restored circa 2010.
He was elected a member of the Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society in 1847.