The Ravenhill family occupied Ashton Gifford House (sometimes known as Ashton House at this time) from 1850 until the 1870s. John Ravenhill was a banker, the Chairman of the North Wiltshire Banking Company. As a Warminster magistrate he had read the Riot Act at Hindon during the riots of 1830 (this was before he took possession of Ashton Gifford). He served as the first Chairman of the Warminster Board of Guardians and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 10th company, Wiltshire Volunteer Rifle Corps at the end of May 1860. He was also a member of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. John Ravenhill was Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire, and (in 1870) High Sheriff of Wiltshire. Ravenhill became friends with his neighbour Prince Leopold and Prince Leopold's wife the Duchess of Albany. The Duchess helped John Ravenhill's granddaughter Alice Ravenhill in her career.