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Aston
can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086
where it gets a mention as having a mill, a priest
and lands consisting of woodland and ploughland.
Aston used to be part of Warwickshire and was
only incorporated into Birmingham as recently
as 1911. Aston has an interesting and historic
past. Once the 300 acre deer park of Sir Thomas
Holte would have dominated the landscape and been
of great influence over the surrounding townsfolk.
Great expansion occured in the nineteenth century
when factories, workshops and mills sprang up
in response to the industrial revolution.
Aston Hall was damaged in 1643 by Parliamentarian
forces during the civil war. The oak staircase
still bears the evidence which is plain to see
for all those that visit Aston Hall whilst it
is open during the summer months. Aston Hall is
now owned by City of Birmingham. For more information
about Aston Hall click
here
Aston benefited from its proximity to the Birmingham
& Fazeley canal and the network of canals around
Birmingham. Rail links followed and gave room
for further expansion of workshops and factories
and fuelled the demand for new housing. In 1897
the Aston Villa football club occupied the grounds
of Aston Hall. Villa Park has certainly been an
influential factor in making Aston a well known
area of the West Midlands.
Other well known names and landmarks in Aston
include Aston University, the HP sauce factory
with its viaduct across the expressway, Aston
Manor Brewery the last of the breweries in Aston
and the new Aston Science Park complex with its
modern and yet pleasing design which lends itself
to the canal that runs alongside.
Being so close to the city centre its not suprising
that Aston has changed rapidly with the times.
Many older buildings have gone and new housing
has appeared to cater for the expanding needs
of the community. With Aston University and the
nearby University of Central England, this area
is noted for its high proportion of students.
The Millenium Point and city centre is within
easy walking distance of the centre of Aston.
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