Name

Walter Aston

Designation
Architect
Born
1861
Place of Birth
Manchester
Location
Manchester
Died
1905

  • Birth date:October 1861 Manchester
  • Death date: 29 January 1905 aged 43
  • Funeral February 1905 at Prestbury

 The son of Walter and Eliza Ashton of Rainow, Walter Ashton was christened at Manchester Cathedral on 28 October 1861. His grandfather had been a prominent figure in Manchester in the early part of the nineteenth century as the editor and publisher of Aaron's Exchange Herald, and as the author of a “Picture of Manchester,” and of many pamphlets relating to the affairs and antiquities of the city. Walter Aston was articled to a London architect before returnung to Manchester. Among his principal works were “Fence” alms-houses and the “Olde Shoppe” at Macclesfield,  the Wesleyan Day and Sunday Schools in Old Chapel-lane, Rainow, Cheshire, and works at Knutsford for Richard Harding Watt, including the Ruskin Rooms . He also acted as assistant to James Stevens of Macclesfield in the restoration 1882-1892 of the parish church of St Michael in that town between 1882 and 1892.

Walter Aston was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in January 1901 and was a Fellow of the Manchester Society of Architects. He was also a member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society to which he contributed several papers. He married Katharine Thorp at Holy Trinity Rainow in 1887 (1886-1890). Their daughter Dorothy was born in 1901

Walter Aston died on 29 January 1905 at “Limefield,” Bollington, Macclesfield, the funeral being held at Prestbury on 1 February.

Address
1903       Walter Aston, FRIBA  7, Brazennose Street, Manchester
1905       King Street, Manchester (obituary)

Residence
1881: 3 West End Green   Census Place London,
1901: Bollington 1901 Census
1905 :Limefield, Bollington (Probate)

Obituary:  Builder Volume 88, 11 Feb 1905, Page 154;
Obituary: RIBA Journal Volume 12, 1905, Page 235 11 Feb 1905 Page 142
Obituary: Building News 3 February 1905 page 167
Obituary: Manchester Guardian 1 February 1905
 
Reference: British Architect 11 January 1901 Page 20 (FRIBA)