Aston Hall & Park - a Birmingham Gem!

Aston Hall and Aston Park can be found in the heart of Aston and is host to many community events. The house is Grade I listed and the Park is recognised with a Green Flag award.


Aston Hall, built in the Jacobean style, is a fabulous community museum, managed by Birmingham Museum Trust and contains several period rooms which contain furniture, paintings, textiles and metalwork from the collections of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.  The house is less than 200 yards from Aston Villa Football club stadium.

 

History of Aston Hall

Aston Hall was built between 1618 and 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte. It was an early Jacobean house. The hall suffered damage during the English Civil War in 1643. The house remained in the Holte family until 1817 when it was sold to James Watt Jr (son of the famous engineer James Watt). It was then bought by a private company in 1858 to run as a public park and museum. The Birmingham Corporation bought it in 1864 and was the first historic country house to pass into municipal ownership.

Aston Hall

Isometric View of Aston Hall. Painted in 1860 by Allen Edward Everitt. Public domain work from the collection of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

 

The Hall passed into the ownership of the Birmingham Museums Trust in 2012.

Some years during Birmingham Heritage Week each September, there would be a variety of events on, such as the Civil War Siege which took place in 2017.

 

Trains can be caught to either Aston Station or Witton Station, just a short walk away from the park. The closest main bus routes include the 7 on Witton Road, or the 65 or 67 from Lichfield Road.

 

Winter at Aston Hall & Park

Aston Hall & Park

A snowy scene at Aston Hall & Park (January 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Spring at Aston Hall & Park

Aston Hall from Aston Park

Aston Hall from near the Outbuildings (April 2019). Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

Autumn at Aston Hall & Park

Aston Hall & Park

Formal Gardens and the Pan statue (minus it's head) at Aston Hall & Park (September 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Interiors of Aston Hall

Aston Hall

Great Drawing Room at Aston Hall (September 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Aston Hall

Long Gallery at Aston Hall (April 2019). Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

Events at Aston Hall

Aston Hall is host to many events, guided tours and activities both in the house and outside in the grounds and park. Here are a few examples of events held over the years at Aston Hall.

 

Civil War Siege

The Civil War Siege of 1643, was a re-enactment of an event when Royalist Troops arrive to confront Sir Thomas Holte. Will the hall hold? This was part of Birmingham Heritage Week on the 16th September 2017.

Civil War Siege

In the Great Hall during the Civil War Siege 1643 at Aston Hall (September 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Civil War Siege

Sir Thomas Holte during the Civil War Siege 1643 at Aston Hall (September 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In Memoriam by Luke Jerram

A temporary memorial on during May 2021 in memory of those lost during the Covid-19 pandemic and in tribute to the NHS. In the shape of a cross made of white and blue bed sheets.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park (May 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Sport

The field here is good for football and cricket.

Cricket in Aston Park

Game of Cricket in Aston Park (September 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

05 Aug 2018 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Environment & green action, Modern Architecture

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Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com

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Art; Culture & creativity
10 May 2021 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park

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After a week of rain and hail on and off. Finally some decent sunny weather on Sunday. So I travelled up by bus to Aston to see In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park. It's a free open air tempoary art installation, in memory of those lost during the pandemic and in tribute to the NHS. On for a couple of weeks in May 2021.

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In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park





After a week of rain and hail on and off. Finally some decent sunny weather on Sunday. So I travelled up by bus to Aston to see In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park. It's a free open air tempoary art installation, in memory of those lost during the pandemic and in tribute to the NHS. On for a couple of weeks in May 2021.


In Memoriam is a temporary artwork by artist Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park, for a couple of weeks in May 2021. They are made out of bed sheets, white and blue. In memory of those lost during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic, and in tribute to the NHS.

There is an NHS Covid-19 QR code to scan to check in while you are there and hand sanitiser.

Aston Hall opened at 11am, and I popped into the courtyard to have a coffee. After that a look around Lady Holte's Garden again. Nice decent spring like weather. Note that the actual hall itself is not open to the public at this time. A one way system into the courtyard (NHS Covid-19 QR codes to scan as you go in, and in the cafe).

 

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Lady Holte's Garden

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Bus: 65 or 67 to Lichfield Road (catch it from The Priory Queensway). Or 7 to Witton Road (catch it from Livery Street near Birmingham Snow Hill at Colmore Row).

Train to Aston or Witton station's (from Birmingham New Street).

Car parking is also available in Aston Park.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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Environment & green action
07 Oct 2019 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Aston Hall and Park in autumn and winter

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A look around Aston Park, the home of Aston Hall. The estate of Sir Thomas Holte in the 17th century. Later home to James Watt Jr. The park in the winter of January 2010 and December 2016. The autumn of September 2017. The park is also quite close to Villa Park, home of Aston Villa FC.

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Aston Hall and Park in autumn and winter





A look around Aston Park, the home of Aston Hall. The estate of Sir Thomas Holte in the 17th century. Later home to James Watt Jr. The park in the winter of January 2010 and December 2016. The autumn of September 2017. The park is also quite close to Villa Park, home of Aston Villa FC.


Aston Park is located on the Trinity Road in Aston, and is mainly known for Aston Hall at the centre of the park. Not far away is Villa Park, home of Aston Villa Football Club. The park is reachable on foot from both Witton Station and Aston Station. As well as various local bus routes.

I first travelled to Aston by bus in January 2010, getting off at the Six Ways Island near the Birchfield Road. At the time there was a lot of snow in the area. My full Flickr album: Aston Hall and Park.

January 2010

Approaching Aston Park from the Trinity Road, already I could see that the grounds were all covered in snow. The North Lodge and Stables were visible in the background.

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Now heading up the main road into the park, with so much snow, I couldn't see where the road or the grass was! The stable block is the entrance to Aston Hall, but as it was winter (January 2010) it was closed.

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First look at Aston Hall in this winter scene from January 2010. It is a Grade I listed building designed by John Thorpe and built between 1618 and 1635, for Sir Thomas Holte. A Jacobean mansion, the house was bought in 1864 by the Birmingham Corporation, becoming the first historic country house to pass into municipal ownership. It is still owned by Birmingham City Council, but is now run as museum by the Birmingham Museums Trust.

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The North Lodge and stables. Also a Grade I listed building as the Stable Range to North of Northern Lodge, Aston Hall. Dates to the middle of the 18th century. The entrance to the courtyard is through the gatewat in the middle of the former stabels range.

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Turning around (I think this was still near the stables range) looking at the snow covered Aston Park. I was heading back down to Trinity Road, where I would then have a look around Villa Park. This was the only time I saw Aston Park with snow, and since then, I've not seen the park with snow.

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December 2016

A walk that started at Dartmouth Middleway ended at Aston Park. I went up Chester Street towards Park Circus (was some sculptures to see along the way). Headed into the park via Frederick Road near this playground. By the looks of the map, I missed seeing King Edward VI Aston School.

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A look at Lady Holte's Garden at Aston Hall through the gate. I would have to wait until September 2017, during Birmingham Heritage Week, before having a good explore of this garden.

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Another view of Lady Holte's Garden during winter 2016/17. Completely empty as the hall is always closed during winter. It's normally open from Easter to the end of October.

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A path in the park near Witton Lane. It might have been winter, but looked very autumnal at the time with the leaves on the ground.

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One of the paths that runs alongside Trinity Road. No snow, so the main road up to the hall was clear to see. An Aston Hall sign with opening times. My next visit to the park would be around 9 months later when I heard about the Civil War Siege event during Birmingham Heritage Week. After I left the park, I walked to Aston Station to get a train back into Birmingham City Centre (wasn't going to walk back).

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September 2017

Follow this link on the Civil War Siege, which was the main reason at the time for going back to Aston Park.

A look around Lady Holte's Garden. This water feature at the time was dry, maybe there is water in here in the summer? A fountain in the shape of a cross.

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The far left side of Lady Holte's Garden. Plenty of trees and flowers to see in the middle of September 2017. The side of Aston Hall. During the Civil War Siege, I had time to explore the inside of the hall, before it go too busy.

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I noticed that a cricket match was underway in Aston Park, at the same time as the Civil War Siege event (not related in any way). So around Aston Hall were Civil War re-enactors. And down on the cricket pitch, cricketers!

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The back of Aston Hall, many flower beds with yellow and orange coloured flowers. The Pan sculpture in the middle. It has been missing it's head for many years now. There was also stone vases by famous Birmingham sculptor William Bloye.

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A path round the back of Aston Park. After the Civil War Siege, had a look around the gardens, before heading down this path towards Trinity Road, and heading back to Aston Station.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

 

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