William Henry Ashford was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England in 1870 and was articled to Oliver Essex (1855-1939) in Birmingham. He then worked as an improver and assistant at Birmingham School of Art. He also worked as an assistant to Edwin Seward (1853-1924) and Stephen William Williams (1837-1899) in Rhayader, Wales in 1892. He qualified as an architect in 1893 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) the following year.
Ashford commenced independent practice as an architect in Birmingham in 1903. His address was given as Penralley, Rhayader, Wales in 1894; 3 Newhall Street, Birmingham in 1903 and 1935; 424 Stratford Rd, Sparkhill, Birmingham in 1911; 90 New Street, Birmingham in 1914; and 32 Paradise Street, Birmingham in 1923 and 1926. He died in Birmingham on 27 May 1937 At the time of his death, his address was given as 1 Ivor Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 44, 1937 p.968