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Aston Hall Reminiscences

RosieB

proper brummie kid
Dear all,

I work at Aston Hall as a Community Learning Officer and have been reading these forums with great interest for all the stories about Aston that appear!

As I'm sure you all know, Aston Hall is currently closed for a major redevelopment project. All is going well with the redevelopment and we are on track to reopen next year.

As part of the redevelopment, we are bringing the once-derelict Stables Range back into life. The top floor of the Stables will contain an exhibition about Aston, past and present; putting the Hall into context and discussing some of the major industries, fascinating stories, and interesting people Aston has produced.

As part of this exhibition, we are looking to find people with links to the Aston area who would be willing to be recorded in an informal interview. Clips from the interviews would be used in the exhibition. We're looking for people with a long history of links to the area - people who grew up here, or whose families have long lived here; people who have moved away; and people who have only recently arrived in the area.

I am hoping that some of the people on here would be willing to share their memories with us, to include in the exhibition, or might know people who would be willing to do so. I think some of you will have met my colleague Rachel West, at the meet up at the Barn on Monday, so I hope you all know a bit about the project by now!

If anyone on here would be willing to be interviewed - in a place where you feel comfortable (e.g. your own home if you prefer, or somewhere else), we would love to hear from you. We're really looking for stories about life in Aston, so no specialist knowledge required!

If anyone would like to contact me, I can be emailed on [email protected] or phone on 0121 327 0062 and ask to speak to myself or Rachel.

Hopefully I'll get to meet some of you soon, and if not, I hope you enjoy Aston Hall when we reopen.

Many thanks
Rosie
 
Rachael I have a magazine dated 1938 called pageant in the park containing some wonderful photo's. I lived in Holte road and spent many a day in the park. My uncle went into our ancestry and found that we were descendents of the Holte family. Someone on my nans side born out of wedlock. I would love to meet up but at the moment can't commit myself. In about four weeks time I would be able to if that is not too late?. Regards Jean Smith. [Mrs] Some examples enclosed.
 
Hello Jean,

Thanks for the (very speedy!) reply and brilliant pictures!

I should have said that we're looking to do interviews over the next few months - probably into the autumn - so that wouldn't be a problem at all.

If you want to email or give me or Rachel a ring, we can perhaps get your phone number and then arrange a date for August or early September if that will be most convenient to you.

Many thanks again
Rosie
 
Hi Nick,

Thanks for that - there are so many stories going around about the Hall's ghosts (not surprising given the age of the building I suppose!). I know the Hall's halloween tours, which feature the stories, are always very popular (and you can hear the screams a long way off!)

At the moment we are just looking for stories about the area - living and working here - but I'll keep your details in mind for the future if that's OK? As I say, we do halloween events every year (probably not this year as it's such a building site) so new information would always be welcome.

Many thanks
Rosie
 
When I was a small boy living in Aston in the thirties, we used to play in the grounds of Aston Hall, mostly over to the right where the swings were and later on, when doing a bit of courting, in any place that was quiet. There was a story told of Thomas Holte locking his daughter up in a turret and bricking the wall up because she wouldn't marry a man he'd chosen for her. There was also a bloodsatained handmark in Aston Church supposedly after a drunken murder. Last but not least there was also a tunnel from Aston Hall to Aston Church. When I made enquiries on my last visit to England I was met with blank stares to all my queries. Any ideas or has there been a new image created?
 
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David, If you put Aston Hall tunnel in the search box at top of page there is quite a lot about it.
 
Wow, that brings back memories. I was a Pea Pod in that pageant and got quite upset at being laughed at. Not sure if I'm gratefull or not at the reminder:D. Kindest regards, David Weaver, Gladstone Street, just around the corner.
Rachael I have a magazine dated 1938 called pageant in the park containing some wonderful photo's. I lived in Holte road and spent many a day in the park. My uncle went into our ancestry and found that we were descendents of the Holte family. Someone on my nans side born out of wedlock. I would love to meet up but at the moment can't commit myself. In about four weeks time I would be able to if that is not too late?. Regards Jean Smith. [Mrs] Some examples enclosed.
 
Thanks Young Fella, will do. Do you know anything about the escaped lion from the Onion Fair , next to Aston Church, they captured it in the churchyard and mom said it was looking for bones but I reckon that part was a joke. Regards, David.
=mike-g;114397]David, If you put Aston Hall tunnel in the searchbox at top of page there is quite a lot about it.[/quote]
 
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