Maureen,

Wrong William!

Marriage to Alice Adshead in 1891 shows Williams' father as William Ashcroft (as per my earlier reply)

1901 Census:
"Your" William, still single with mum Ellen

Name: William Ashcroft
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Mother: Ellen Ashcroft
Birth Place: Kirby, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Kirkdale
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Registration district: West Derby
Sub-registration district: Kirkdale
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Piece: 3468
Folio: 40
Page Number: 22
Household schedule number: 138
Household Members:
Name Age
Ellen Ashcroft 69
William Ashcroft 35
Henry Ashcroft 26
Herbert Roberts 7
William Roberts 5.

Whereas:

Name: William Ashcroft
Age: 36
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Spouse: Alice Ashcroft
Birth Place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Everton
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Registration district: West Derby
Sub-registration district: North Everton
ED, institution, or vessel: 07
Piece: 3474
Folio: 53
Page Number: 28
Household schedule number: 176
Household Members:
Name Age
William Ashcroft 36
Alice Ashcroft 30
James Ashcroft 6
William Ashcroft 4