In 1836 he helped in the formation of the Blaenavon Iron and Coal Company and was appointed resident managing director.
[1] He trained as an engineer with Bryan Donkin, and became friends with Henry Robinson Palmer, who was often employed by Thomas Telford to make surveys.
In 1836 he helped in the formation of the Blaenavon Iron and Coal Company and was appointed resident managing director.
[3][4] Within a few years there was a downturn in the industry, Ashwell was forced to resign in 1841, and the new works at Forgeside abandoned (although it was later restarted in 1859).
[5] Ashwell returned to England to study Hebrew and harmony and died on 2 July 1881 at his home, Mildway Lodge, in Weston-super-Mare[5]