A short history of the Ashtons of Blakeville with a full account of the mining activities of Ashton's Reef, by Christopher Munro, 1983. Includes an account of the Ashton family's emigration from Liverpool to Port Phillip Bay on the Eagle, Christmas 1854 - 5 April, 1855. Describes economic geography of Cornforth, North Lancashire, shipboard life, near drowning of Henry Ashton, bible inscription recording the incident, settlement at Heidelberg, removal to Ballan, farm life, formation of a prospecting party by the sawmilling community of Blakeville, discovery of Ashton's Reef, geomorphological description, dissipated behaviour, seizure of the mine, coach service between Ballan and Blakeville run by Lilly Ashton, disaster following later working of Ashton's Reef, decline of the town and mills following emigration to Western Australia in the 1890s. Also, maps, photoportraits, newspaper extracts and family trees.
