He left Colleton in 1822 and later moved to London where he became a pupil of the architect Charles Fowler[2] (1792-1867), born in Cullompton, Devon.
During 1842-46 Ashworth travelled in New Zealand, Australia, Timor, Macau and Hong Kong during which time he kept diaries and sketchbooks.
[3] Following his return to England in 1846 he set up an architectural practice in Exeter, Devon.
[2] He died on 8 March 1896 and left a substantial estate valued at £26,814, mainly invested in Railway stocks.
[2] He was buried in the newly created Higher Cemetery, Exeter, for which he had designed two lodges and one chapel.