Aston Hall

Aston Hall in Birmingham is one of England’s finest Jacobean mansions, a dramatic red‑brick house completed in 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte. Its most famous story is the Civil War attack of 1643, when Parliamentary forces stormed the hall; a cannonball hole still scars the staircase, and the “Cromwell’s Room” preserves damage from musket fire. These tangible traces make Aston Hall unusually rich in authentic historical atmosphere. Inside, visitors can explore more than 30 period rooms arranged across grand state apartments and intimate private chambers. The Long Gallery, stretching almost the full length of the house, is a highlight with its ornate plasterwork and sweeping views over the grounds. The Great Dining Room showcases Jacobean craftsmanship, while the Withdrawing Room displays fine textiles and carved oak furniture. Aston Hall also reveals the lives of its later residents, including Georgian and Victorian families who adapted the house to changing tastes. Exhibits include portraits, domestic objects and architectural fragments that chart its evolution from aristocratic home to civic landmark. The servants’ quarters offer a contrasting perspective, showing the routines that kept such a vast household running.