GEORGIAN TIMES

There were two stands of timber, Little Oaks and a clump at Upper Sutton Street/Clifton Street. Elsewhere scatters of trees suggest old hedge lines, and there were the fine chestnut and sycamore avenues and ornamental plantations east and south of the hall.

Near Dovehouse Pool were two long buildings that may have been the Home Farm, with the dovehouse itself at one end. Lozells Road was an ill-defined lane as far east as Birchfield Road. Potters Lane ran beside a large farmhouse on Park (Wall) Lane. Few crofts had names which would label Victorian streets.

Ryknild Street was a hedgeline down to the Furnace pool, where the last of Lozells Wood survived, a small copse: two closes alongside retained the name. In the village were the vicarage and almshouses facing tavern and smithy. Westbrook house had acquired a Georgian facade. The old hall moat was still well defined. Where Priory Road is now was Priory Close and a possible small moated site, next to Holyoak Moor and Close. No road-names were given, 'New Road' being a description rather than a name. Later in the century the Vine Inn (Sandy Lane/Lichfield Road corner) had 'Cremorne Gardens' behind it, down to the brook. The name was borrowed from the Thames-side resort. At the Apollo Inn were Bridgmans Gardens. Concerts, displays, fireworks, balls, were advertised at both.

In 1776 the church spire was rebuilt, and the Poor Law Union of Aston Parish (with Sutton, Curdworth, Minworth and Wishaw) built its Workhouse for ninety persons on Gravelly Hill in Erdington. Sir Lister Holte married Ann Legge, daughter of the Earl of Dartmouth. Through her, after the death of Sir Charles Holte (living at Erdington Hall) and the Dowager Lady Holte (at Aston Hall), the Hon. Heneage Legge acquired the estates, valued at £600,000, and lived at the Hall. He was a childless widower, and when he died the property reverted to Sir Charles's daughter Mary and her husband Abraham Bracebridge.