The Ashton's had already been in business a large number of years so I presume when Cardiff market opened they decided it would be a good trading area. They had already been in business at least since 1870.
The business was set up between March 1863 when the birth of their twins David and Albert were recorded in Abergaveny and March 1865 was the birth of their 4th Child was registered in Cardiff. Roger Ashton worked for Thomas Ward first. The family had traded in Cardiff since 1800. In 1870 Thomas ward had deceased and his wife had just died and Roger Ashton bought the business from the Executors at 89 St Mary's Street, on the Corner of Guildhall place and set up Ashton and Ward. In 3 years time Roger Aston bought 70 St: Mary's Street and in the 1881he was employing one person. The Cardiff street directory also says that he had a further business in the Castle Arcade.
There was another fish market on Hills terrace- the Habitat building now- but they would have moved over to the new market when that opened. They were well known in the business and the new market was a prestigious development. Elizabeth Ashton took over the business when she was in her 50's when her 12 children had grown up and moved out. She had worked all her life but when the children had grown up she took it over. She worked in the market until well into her 80's.
She was the backbone of the business. Elizabeth Ashton actually started the business and from family stories she was a wonderful women and well ahead of her time. The Ashton's used to supply all the big families including the Butes. She also traded in Penarth and in Powys to a man called Colonel Lee. She used to send a horse and cart out delivering to these families. There were 20 people working for her.
From what I can understand she was a very caring person my fathers mother died in 1921-she lost two children in 1921 and she looked after their families as well as Harry's children because his wife died. The children all came back to her. It was however her business acumen that everybody was impressed with. She really was way ahead.
She took Archie into the business and trained him to run it and he was a very good businessman and a very flamboyant character. He was in the masons and had all his regalia on, you know. He was also president of the Fishmongers association but he was also known as a very nice man. Obviously I am the great grandchild so I never met him.
Everybody, from what I understand from my father would congregate at her house on Neville Street, they moved there at the turn of the century. Elizabeth died there.