In the early records of the Ashton family we find that Thomas Stavely, or Stayley, held a place called the Bestal by paying one penny at Christmas.  This Bestal was, perhaps, a place of security or confinement.  Adjoining the hall yard, the ancient residence of the Ashtons, is an old stone building facing the south, now called the Dungeon.  It is flanked at the east and west corners by small towers with conical stone roofs.  The wall is pierced by two pointed windows.  Judging from its appearance, it must have been a place of strength; the name Bestal being probably a corruption of Bastile, basilion, or bastilion—­all of which we find appropriated to places of this description.  Tradition, indeed, says the ancient lords of Ashton made this a place of confinement, when the power of life and death were at their command.  A field near the old hall, still called Gallows Meadow, was then used as a place of execution.

Sir John Assheton, in the fifth year of Henry VI., became possessed of the manor on payment of one penny annually.  He is generally supposed to have founded the church about the year 1420.  We find him assigning the forms or benches to his tenants:  the names for whose uses they are appointed are all females.  From this it may seem that seats in our churches were first put up for their convenience.  Eighteen forms or benches are mentioned for the occupation of one hundred wives and widows, who are named, besides their daughters and servant wenches.  Their husbands had not this privilege, being forced to stand or kneel in the aisles, as the service required.  In the windows there yet remains a considerable quantity of painted glass, but very much mutilated.  Three or four figures on the north side represent a king, saints, &c.  In the chancel are the coats and effigies of the Asshetons in armour, kneeling.  In one part seems to have been portrayed the invention of the Holy Cross by St Helen.  At whatever period the church was built, the steeple must either have been erected afterwards, or have undergone a considerable repair in the time of the last Sir Thomas Assheton; for upon the south side are the arms of Ashton impaling Stayley.  There is a tradition, that while the workmen were one day amusing themselves at cards, a female unexpectedly presented herself.  She asked them to turn up an ace, promising, in case of compliance, that she would build several yards of the steeple; upon which they fortunately turned up the ace of spades.  This tale may owe its origin to the following circumstances:—­Upon the marriage of Sir Thomas Assheton with the daughter of Ralph Stayley, a considerable accumulation of property was the consequence.  This might induce him to repair the church, and perform sundry other acts of charity and beneficence.  Whilst the work was going on, Lady Elizabeth Assheton, it is not improbable, surprised the builders at their pastime; and giving a broad hint that a part of her money was being employed in the erection, might desire that her arms should be fixed in the steeple, impaled with those of her husband.  The shape of an escutcheon, having a considerable resemblance to a spade-ace, in all likelihood was the origin of the fable.