 The manor of Ashley passed in 1312 from the Briweres to the Despensers, a family in league with another unsuccessful and unpopular king, Edward II of England.Hugh Despenser the Younger was an infamous favourite and counsellor of King Edward II of England, after whose overthrow in 1326 he was found guilty of high treason and hanged, drawn and quartered.Despite this fall from grace, Ashley was shortly afterwards restored to the Despensers, only for history to repeat itself in 1400 when Thomas Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester, a supporter of another unpopular King, Richard II of England, was beheaded for his part in the Epiphany Rising against King Henry IV of England.