Aston Hall

Aston Hall is a Grade 1 listed Jacobean house designed by John Thorpe and built by Sir Thomas Holte in 1618 to 1635. In 1643, it was besieged by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War. The great oak staircase still bears the scars of this bombardment.

In 1818 the hall was sold and was let to James Watt Junior, the son of James Watt the engineer, who lived there until his death in 1848. In 1858, the hall was purchased by the Aston Hall and Park Company and opened as a place of public entertainment. Queen Victoria was invited to perform the opening ceremony, the first of only two visits she made to Birmingham as Queen.

Birmingham Corporation bought the hall in 1864. It is still owned by Birmingham City Council, and managed by Birmingham Museums Trust.

The Hall is open to the public during the summer months.