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Defunct house builder in Yorkshire
Ashtons
was a
housebuilder
in
Yorkshire
in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
History
[
edit
]
Norman Ashton started his Leeds-based housebuilding business in 1933, and it was incorporated in 1938 as Norman C Ashton Ltd. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, the company was restricted to contracting for local authorities; it also established a motor repair business.
[1]
Private housebuilding resumed after the war and when Ashton was floated in 1964 it claimed to be one of the largest housebuilders operating in the
West Riding
. Growth was only modest thereafter and Ashton was acquired by Orme in 1972.
[2]
The company constructed many homes in northern England during the 1960s and 1970s. It was one of several pioneers of the British three bed semi, a style of house used frequently from the 1940s until the 1970s, they also built many four and five bedroomed detached houses. Most Ashtons housing were built in close proximity with
council housing
;
Holt Park
in
Leeds
was a joint project between Ashtons and
Leeds City Council
.
Ainsty
in
Wetherby
is also a large mixed development with many Ashtons and Leeds City Council houses.
Knottingley
,
Mirfield
and
Washington
also include many Ashtons houses.
[3]
Controversies
[
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]
The company was at the centre of a controversy concerning a
covenant
on one of their early developments in 1956. This resulted in the Bell v Norman C. Ashton Ltd (1956) P&CR 359 case which came before the Leeds Courts. Ashton had purchased land with a covenant that meant they could not build on it.
[4]
References
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]