Aston Hall near Birmingham

A topographical carte-de-visite showing a view of Aston Hall, a Jacobean house near Birmingham.

Built for Sir Thomas Holte, the house remained in the family until 1817 when it was sold and leased by James Watt, son of the industrial pioneer. The house was then purchased in 1858 by a private company (the Aston Hall and Park Company Ltd) for use as a public park and museum. After financial difficulties it was then bought by the Birmingham Corporation in 1864 becoming the first historic country house to pass into municipal ownership.

Photographer unidentified.