The History of Ashcroft

Present-day view of Ashcroft Manor

Ashcroft Legal & Escrow, was named after the Homestead in England that Owner and General Manager Randall Cornwall's Great, Great, Grandfather & Uncle, Clement and Henry Cornwall, immigrated from called Ashcroft Manor.

The brothers, who were always eager to embark on their next great adventure, left England in 1862 headed for British Columbia, Canada, to prospect for gold.  The "road to gold" just happened to lead them through the central British Columbia ranchlands, which would change the course of the family's history forever.

The beauty of the ranchlands reminded the brothers so much of their home they decided to settle on the land, even though it meant abandoning their "golden dreams."  The brothers decided to build a "new" Ashcroft Manor in 1862, naming it after their home in England, and using the manor house to provide warmth and shelter for tired and hungry travelers.

After the Manor was established the brothers began developing a farm that extended over 6000 acres of land and kept over 1500 head of cattle.

The roadhouse was only a small part of the business that the Cornwalls ran. Cattle ranching was their primary concern, but the Cornwalls had a market garden as well.

The Manor also had its own sawmill which was run by a waterwheel. Later, the sawmill was converted into a grist mill.

Ashcroft House or "The Upper House", as it was called, was a single storey log building with a steep shake roof, and was ready for occupancy by end of October 1862.

Cornwall Ranch, later Ashcroft Manor, 1862 BC ARCHIVES A-01652

In December 1862, the brothers decided to build a larger house beside the trail where the wagon road would soon pass through their property.

The construction of Ashcroft Manor or "The Lower House", began in 1862 and was completed in 1864. The original building was 20 by 40 feet and was situated on 320 acres of land. There were two rooms in the attic of "The Lower House" which were comprised of a large kitchen, and a place where the travellers could sleep. The Cornwalls' new road house opened on 3 April 1863 and included a saloon.

Blacksmith Shop, Ashcroft Manor

By 1865 the brothers' ranch was established well enough that they turned their attention to the building of a racetrack on a field beside the roadhouse. 
 
The Manor, with its roadhouse, quickly became the social center for the area as the Cornwalls attempted to recreate the "sporting life" of England that they had left behind. In 1870 the brothers held Fall Races at the track and fox hunting was then introduced.

The manorhouse was destroyed by fire in 1943 but the roadhouse survives.

One of the hired  Ranch Managers, Charles A. Semlin,  later became Premier of British Columbia. Clement Cornwall went on to become one of British Columbia's first Senators in in 1871, and Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. in 1885.

Ashcroft Manor is located 10 kilometers south of Cache Creek and is open today year round.

The two large elms in front of the Manor were shipped in from England as seedlings, and are now well over 100 years old.

The ranch itself is now owned by the Canadian Provincial government, and the Cornwall Family has no ownership interest in the land, other than a several acre plot where the family graveyard is located.  Today, the Cornwalls still gather on the ranch whenever a family member passes away so that the deceased may be laid to rest with their ancestors.

The original "Ashcroft Manor" is nestled in the central English countryside often referred to as the "Cotswolds" near the town of Tetbury, and is still occupied today.