ASHLAR  , also written ASHLER, ASHELERE, &c . (probably from

Lat. axilla, diminutive of axis, an a5de), hewn or squared stone, generally applied to that used' for facing walls . In a contract of date 1398 we read—" Murus Brit exterius de puro lapide vocato achilar, plane incisso, interius vero de lapide fracto vocato roghwail . Clene hewen ashler " often occurs in medieval documentg; this no doubt means tooled or finely worked, in contradistinction to rough-axed faces . An " ashlar piece " in building is an upright piece of timber framed between the common rafters and the wall plate .