Ted Ashley was a former resident of Weatherfield who was born in Zion Street at the turn of the century and went to Bessie Street School along with Albert Tatlock, Ena Schofield, Minnie Carlton and Martha Hartley. After leaving school he worked in Garside's shoe shop in Sebastopol Street and then left for Australia after the First World War where he married, raised a family and became a rich farmer and shop owner, eventually owning 30,000 acres which he bequeathed to his sons.