Ashton had attended evening classes at Machynlleth and passed some of the South Kensington Science and Art examinations . He was a notable example of the kind of Welshman who himself profited intellectually and at the same time benefited his countrymen, because the National Eisteddfod Association provided him with subjects and an incentive for research. His chief eisteddfodic successes were: Caernarvon ( 1886 ), an essay on ‘ Cyfreithiau Hywel Dda ’; London ( 1887 ), an essay on the history of the Act of Union between England and Wales, 1536 ; Wrexham ( 1888 ), an essay on ‘ Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain ’; Bangor ( 1890 ), an essay on ‘ Bywyd Gwledig yng Nghymru …’ ; Swansea ( 1891 ), Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymreig o 1651 hyd 1850 , this work being published by the National Eisteddfod Association in 1893 ; Rhyl ( 1892 ), ‘ Llyfryddiaeth Cymreig y Bedwaredd-Ganrif-ar-Bymtheg ,’ a portion of this work, covering the years 1801 to 1810 , being published by the National Eisteddfod Association in 1908 ; Chicago ( 1893 ), an essay on ‘ Y Beirdd Cymreig o William Llyn hyd at Gwilym Hiraethog ’; Caernarvon ( 1894 ), Gwaith Iolo Goch (published by the National Eisteddfod Association , 1896 ).
Ashton also published Traethawd or Ffeiriau Cymru ( Llanelli , 1881 ), Bywyd ac Amserau'r Esgob Morgan ( Treherbert , 1891 ), A Guide to Dinas Mawddwy ( Aberystwyth , 1893 ), and a Welsh translation, entitled Y Ddirprwyaeth Dirol Gymreig. Crynhodeb o Dystiolaeth ( Dolgellau , 1895 ), i.e. the evidence given by Edward Davies , Llandinam , before the Welsh Land Commission .
Sir William Llewelyn Davies, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A. (1887-1952), Aberystwyth
Published date: 1959