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Thought I'd help replace a lost photo (i.e. Lyn's first photo of the almhouses - hope that's OK Lyn!). And I'm adding a nice 1858 engraving of the almshouses too. I like the dutch gable on the building, they reflect the design of the Holte's Aston Hall and is a feature found on a number of buildings around the Aston/Perry Barr area. Viv.
And a little info.....
The Almshouses were founded in 1655-1656 by Sir Robert Holte Bart. His grandfather, Sir Thomas Holte, left £300 for their building
and endowed them with £127.12s yearly, charged on his estates in Erdington and Aston. It was invested in the names of trustees and ground rents. The houses maintained five men and five women.
Anyone know where this was exactly ? The view in post #9 is annotated with 'looking from the tavern', Would the Tavern have been the Witton Arms ? So is #1 Streetview below the correct position for post #9 ?And was post #11 the #2 Streetview today ? Not too sure, can't make it out other than the Almshouses were somewhere on Aston Lane.
If I remember rightly in those times Witton Road extended over the river Tame. Aston Lane began at Witton Square, so Witton Arms would be in Witton Road ?
Historic Aston Lane in “Aston village”
In the 1800s, what is now Aston Hall Road / part of Lichfield Road was often referred to in sources as Aston Lane or Aston Street, running past Aston Tavern, Holte Almshouses and close to Aston Hall & St Peter & St Paul Church.
Hopefully Ive got this right. Here's another view (1868) of the Almshouses (left) with the church in the distance, behind the Aston Tavern. And the modern, corresponding view. The Almshouses must have been to the left on the modern view with the church just in view behind Aston Tavern. It's difficult to get more of the Almshouses site (to the left) into the modern view without losing the church as reference (which becomes obscured by the modern flyover).