Aston Hall - The Review!

It's true that Birmingham is full of history. You don't have to go far to get the Black Country, that came to prominence in the Industrial Revolution or centrally you can visit Gas Street Basin where the canals provide a living history, the Custard Factory - where Bird's custard was produced and The Mail Box - a regenerated Post Office. In Bourneville you have the world famous Cadbury's World and in Aston you have Aston Hall, located by the impressive Aston Villa football ground.

It was Aston Hall that we discovered recently courtesy of Laura's Dad and Birmingham museums open days. It is one of the last great Jacobean style homes in the country and only open at certain times so you have to book on a tour to get in. Our visit was on the first Sunday of January.

On arrival you can't fail to notice the grandeur of the house. Sat in well maintained gardens, on top of a hill that provides an impressive view of the surrounding countryside. We thankfully had a bright day for our visit so we could make the most of it.

The visit starts in the cafe, where the tour guide shares a brief history about the three most prominant owners - Sir Thomas Holte, who commissioned and built the house to highlight his status as a Baronet, Sir Thomas's sons who inherited the property and James Watt Junior who was the last person to live in the property (he was son of James Watt who built steam engines).

As you approach the house the symmetry - typical of Jacobean designs - is clear. If you cut the house in half, each half would be identical. An impressive feat for a building built in 1618!



Depending on when you visit - wrap up. If it is cold outside, it will be cold inside. While James Watt Junior modernised the house while living there, he left before central heating was a thing. You are protected from the elements but in a winter coat it was still chilly.

Starting in the great hall you are taken on a tour of the main living quarters, the entertainment rooms, the long hall (longest in the region), the bedroom, servants quarters, kitchen, pantry and a room dedicated to the civil war. As the house was attacked during the war, there are articles on display that were found in the grounds. You also get to see where a cannon ball went through the stair case!

Dinner is served

The Long Hall

Just being in the house you get a sense of how it would have been when Charles I visited. The grandeur hasn't been lost, even after all this time. 

We wouldn't recommend taking kids that are too young - unless they have a love of history - but for anyone who loves architecture, history, getting to know the local area or days out that teach you something, this will tick a lot of boxes.

Having studied the Civil Wars for A'Level history, I was in my element. The views from the house itself are also well worth checking out.

Turns out Birmingham Museums also have other properties available to visit, including Sarehole Mill that inspired J.R.R.Tolkien author of Lord of The Rings. You can check out venue details here.

The hot chocolate in the cafe was exactly what was needed to warm up!