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Conservation Areas in Birmingham
Aston Hall and Church Conservation Area
 
The Aston Hall and Church Conservation area contains Aston Hall, an early Jacobean mansion built by Sir Thomas Holte in 1618-1635; most of Aston Park, which provides a backdrop to the hall; and Aston parish church.

The A38M Aston Expressway, which is raised on stilts, commands excellent views of the church, park and hall.

 
Map of Aston Hall and Church Conservation Area
 

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Aston Hall
 

Aston Hall. Original image Tony Hisgett. image (cropped and resized brumagem) licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License

Aston Hall is an early red-brick Jacobean mansion designed by John Thorpe and built by Sir Thomas Holte in 1618-1635. It stands on a rise in Aston Park, overlooking Villa Park football ground.

The main body of the house, which faces east, is flanked by projecting wings capped by square turrets, domes and spires. An axial tower, behind the slightly-protruding main facade, increases the sense of space.

Although essentially baroque, the hall also possesses typical Dutch vertical features such as the large bay windows and stepped Dutch gables that contrast with its horizontal roof balustrades and open parapets.

Aston Hall was sold by Mary Holte to James Watt Junior in 1817; after his death, it became a private leisure park and museum.

Queen Victoria, who opened this new venture, complained to the Mayor of Birmingham after the scandalous death of a glamorous trapeze artist in the park. He bought the hall for the city so that it might be properly supervised; it is now a grade one listed building.

 
Guide Aston - Conservation Areas in Brum
 
Aston Church
 

Aston Church on Witton Lane, which is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, is the only church in Birmingham that is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086).

It was almost entirely rebuilt in sandstone by JA Chatwin in the 1880's and consists of an apsidal chancel, seven-bay nave with aisles illuminated by a clerestory, a south porch, west tower and spire.

Only the 15th century tower and spire, and some 14th century stonework in the south aisle, predate the Victorian rebuild.

The interior contains monuments to the Holte, Erdington and Devereux families who were once the respective lords of Aston, Erdington and Castle Bromwich.

 
Guide Aston - Conservation Areas in Brum
 
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