Some more about the Lower Grounds, taken from a few different sources.
The Aquarium at Aston Lower Grounds was opened July 10, 1879. The principal room has a length of 312 feet, the promenade being 24 feet wide by 20 feet high. The west side of this spacious apartment is fitted with a number of large show tanks, where many rare and choice specimens of marine animals and fishes may be exhibited. On a smaller scale there is an Aquarium at the "Crystal Palace" Garden, at Sutton Coldfield, and a curiosity in the shape of an "Aquarium Bar" may be seen at the establishment of Mr. Bailey, Moor Street.
This land laid out with the beautiful pleasure grounds laid out by Mr. H. G. Quilter, known as the Aston Lower Grounds, a third local theatre (The Holte) was established in April 1879. A handsome block of buildings (on the model of the Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill,). Have been erected by the Lower Grounds Company, in the centre of the increasingly popular grounds. Comprising a large and complete aquarium, with a series of Fine Art Galleries over it, and (at right angle therewith), a great hall 220 feet long, by 90 feet wide, suitable either for concerts or theatrical performances. On three sides of this splendid hall are broad galleries, and at the further end is a handsome stage, suitable for either for modern comedy or the elaborate spectacular pieces. When the building is used for the theatrical performances the floor is raised, and about three fourths of the hall enclosed, leaving the portion nearest the entrance as a commodious vestibule or promenade.
By this means the theatre proper is shut of from noise and interruption, and the acoustic properties of the house are thereby greatly improved.
When Aston Villa moved there in 1897 the site was already a major focus for sport in the Midlands, having staged athletics, cycling and football since the 1870s. During that period it was just one element the Aston Lower Grounds, one of Victorian Britain's most important pleasure gardens, with its own zoo, skating rink, boating lake and mineral water manufacturing plant. The Byzantine-style aquarium later became the club offices.
Peter