Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the English West Midlands. Generally regarded as England's "second city", it is the largest of England's core cities. The city's reputation was forged as the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, a fact which led to Birmingham being known as "the workshop of the world". To this day over a quarter of the UK's exports originate in the greater Birmingham area. Except the fact that Birmingham is the second and the largest of England's core cities, it is often described as having more miles of canals than Venice. Near the centre of Birmingham there is one of such canals systems - BrindleyPlace - a large mixed-use canal-side development.
At the height of Birmingham's industrial past it was the site of factories, however, with the decline of Britain's manufacturing, the factories closed down and the buildings lay desolate for many years. Birmingham City Council had an intention to create an environment of water features, walkways and new office and leisure buildings that would open out onto the adjacent canal. Nowadays the development of the surrounding canal apartments is being completed at an estimated cost of around 400 million pounds.
Being the large industrial centre, Birmingham is also one of the most beautiful and extraordinary cities of England. One of its sightseeing is Aston Hall - a Jacobean-style mansion in Aston, Birmingham, England.
The city itself has a rich history. Aston's history goes back to the Domesday Book (1086-7) - under the name "Estone". The manor of the city also passed through several hands until it came to John Atte Holte on his marriage in 1367. The Holtes were to live at Aston for nearly 200 years. The City acquired the Hall in the 1860s, following a fund-raising drive.
The Aston Hall manor was started by Sir Thomas Holte, 1st Baronet and head of one of the most prominent families in the region, in 1618 and completed by 1635. One must have much wealth to build a house of this style and ornate character. The Holtes were well off and had the resources to undertake such a building project. It was severely damaged after an attack by Parliamentary troops in 1643; some of the damage is still evident. Aston Hall remained with the Holte family until 1817 when it was leased by James Watt Jr, son of the world-famous industrial pioneer James Watt. The house was then purchased by the Birmingham Corporation in 1864.
It was visited by Washington Irving, who wrote about it as Bracebridge Hall, taking the name from Abraham Bracebridge, husband of the last member of the Holte family to live there.
Aston Hall is now the property of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, managed by Birmingham City Council, and is open to the public. It is an impressive property that has been furnished in keeping with 17th and 18th century style. It takes pride in a series of period rooms which have furniture, paintings, textiles and metalwork from the collections of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
Aston Hall by Candlelight is a popular event which takes place in the superb surroundings of this Grade 1 listed building every two years. The mansion is lit by over 500 candles each night with actors helping to recreate 17th Century Christmas festivities.
Every visitor can take delight in the impressive 41-metre long gallery, with elaborate ceilings and large-scale 17th-century tapestries; the beautifully-kept 50-acre park - perfect for walks or picnics and the 14th-century oak chest, the oldest object in the house, made out of a hollowed oak trunk and bound with iron.
No doubt about it: Aston Hall is the pearl of Birmingham.