Hello everyone. It has been a beautiful sunny week here, and I hope you enjoyed the sun wherever you live.
It's not quite an armchair visit this week, as we have visited this place several times over the years, and it used to be somewhere we went on school trips when I was a child.
Aston Hall is a listed building in Aston Birmingham. The Holte family built it in 1618, and they were supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War. Aston Hall is also known as a 'Prodigy' property. These were places of great extravagance for the wealthy and those whose ambitions were to rise higher in the royal court. The aim was to entice the monarch to visit, giving the hall owner great prestige.
Well, it worked because Charles did indeed stay for one night before the Battle of Edgehill.
The house was severely damaged when it came under attack from over 1000 parliamentary forces. However, the story goes that the siege took three days against only a few musketeers inside the building before the enemy took the house. It must have been a little embarrassing for the Parliamentarians, even though they ultimately won the day! How true the story is - I don't know.
Perhaps the most famous damage inflicted was to an oak staircase, which now bears a cannon ball-sized hole. Oak was used extensively in this house as it was another symbol of wealth. A lot of glass was also used for the same purpose, although the individual panes were small.
When we visited, we were treated to a musket gun demonstration of how the weapon would have been prepared for use and fired.
If you want to armchair visit Aston Hall, here is a 360-degree tour.
Back at home, we have made more progress at the bottom of the garden. I have moved some hosta from pots into a new position, edging the pond in the hopes that the slugs will not want to encounter the army of frogs nearby. Foxgloves have also been added along with more ferns, an astilbe, ligularia and heuchera, all from other parts of the garden - slowly, the space is filling up with plants.
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| Hosta shoots just breaking through |
As well as the frogs returning to the pond, I noticed some solitary mining bees that have taken up residence around the pond. These bees excavate small tunnels into the ground leaving a volcano shaped mound at the entrance.
And finally, my onions are ready for planting out.
Happy days to you all, and have a lovely week.
B x
It's all looking great in your garden. I've some spinach coming up, but everything else seems to be on a go slow. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. Progress in the garden is slow at times and I can be a bit impatient to see new shoots emerging. Then of course all the seedlings come through at the same time!! It has been lovely this week but as our school holidays are only just starting the weather is changing. I'm sure D and I will find plenty of things to do this week though. Have a lovely week x
DeleteI wish I'd known about Aston Hall when we lived in Shirley when Barry was at Birmingham University. It looks so interesting.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is coming on beautifully. I envy you your frogs - ours deserted us a few years ago, though we do have a toad in the garden, somewhere.
I'm sure you would have enjoyed Aston Hall. I have friends who have always lived in Birmingham and haven't visited the hall, so you are not alone - maybe one day. I hope the frogs come back to your garden. We've never had a toad so that is something special. I wonder where he is hiding?
DeleteSounds like a good place to visit and lots of growth in your garden, well done.
ReplyDeleteAston Hall has an interesting history which we all enjoy in this family. Gardens are wonderful outdoor spaces and I love mine and feel very blessed. I'm looking forward to seeing what garden surprises I might find this year.
DeleteI appreciate and admire your talent.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda for your kind words. Many times I feel like a small fish in a big pond of many talented bloggers, all with their own special gifts and talents to share. We have a lovely community.
DeleteHasn't the weather this past week been wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLooks a very nice visit to Aston Hall and the musket gun demonstration must have been interesting.
Your garden is coming along so well, you must be very pleased.
I think the weather may be on the change this week, but I do wish you an enjoyable one.
All the best Jan
Aston Hall is a good place to visit if you enjoy that period of history but the guides make the experience so interesting for visitors. Our musketeer was very knowledgeable and explained everything clearly.
DeleteAlthough the weather looks changeable I shall still be in the garden and if it does rain I can spend time in the greenhouse sowing a few more seeds. Whatever your plans are for the week, have a good time.
What a very grand building. I always wonder about the people who built such places, don’t you? Must’ve taken an age!
ReplyDeleteI love to see the Hostas popping through the soil. I’ve just planted some near our new pond, in a shady spot, and every day I marvel at how much they’ve grown. Have a wonderful week! Sal 😁
My hostas have survived well over the last few years in pots with gravel and copper tape. As of this morning, they are still happily settling in next to the pond. Thank you frogs.
DeleteAston Hall is a magnificent house and I wonder what the Holte family were like. The house remained in the family for 200 years .
Whatever the weather, have a great week.
Aston Hall looks wonderful, it sounds like you had an good day there. I've always been interested in 17th century history especially the civil wars, it started when I read Children of the New Forest as a child. Your garden is looking good, I hope the Hostas enjoy their new place near the pond. The weather has been wonderful these last few days. Enjoy the rest of the week:)
ReplyDeleteI think you would enjoy Aston Hall, Rosie.
DeleteThe Hostas are growing a little each day as they start to unfurl their fresh new leaves. If it rains this week everything will be putting on lots more growth in the rest of the garden. Have a lovely week.
What a magnificent building, they certainly knew how to show off their building skills back in the day. Your pond area is going to be fabulous, it's nice to see a project from scratch right through to completion.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful building to visit and the volunteers we met were very informative.
DeleteI'm looking forward to sitting by the pond with a cooling drink watching life go slowly by. Still a few things to add but everything is going well. A little rain this week will help everything settle in nicely.
Aston Hall, what a beautiful house, full of history. It's wonderful to visit such houses.
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful how the garden is now sprouting and thriving.
You can practically watch everything grow...
many warm greetings to you all.
Viola
After seeing the wondeful photos of buildings on your blog, I think you would enjoy Aston Hall, Viola.
ReplyDeleteEveryday there is something new in the garden to see. It is a lovely time of the year.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend x
Such pretty things added to the garden. So, what do you think of those mining bees? I know how important they are...oh but I am afraid of bees! Thanks for an armchair snippet of a visit (I like that idea - an armchair visit - but don't think I have heard it before!):) Have a wonderful weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is wasps that I dislike more. Bees of any kind I find facinating, although a lot of swarming bees would not be good. These ones are solitary bees. I have more plants to add to the garden over the weekend - some highly scented narcissus and some native primroses. Armchair visits are a fun way to visit a place you may physically never go to but get a feel for a place from your own home and the interenet.
DeleteGod bless and have a wonderful Easter weekend x
Sounds an interesting place. Enjoy your gardening x
ReplyDeleteIt is a good place to visit. We are off out this morning to visit another NT place if the weather holds out. Have a happy Easter weekend.
DeleteLove the history, gotta figure some of the story is true. The place is HUGE! Your garden is really coming a long. All we've got going currently is the Daffodils. They bloomed much nicer this year than last; though I don't know why; but with all the rain and wind and frost we've had they're all done in. Didn't last as long as the sometimes do. The hole the bees made is interesting. Do you have trouble working the garden with the bees there?
ReplyDeleteAston Hall is a great place to visit and such an interesting history. I always have lots of plans in the garden and so far I am really pleased with how things are going this year. I only noticed a few holes that the bees made so really not a problem for me to work around them. I had mostly finished planting where their holes are anyway. Happy Easter weekend to you, Sandy.
DeleteIt looks like your garden is doing well!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nikki. The woodland and pond area of the garden are my current favourite places to sit and enjoy a cuppa when the sun is shining. A little rain today so more planning the next steps in the garden from my armchair. Happy Easter weekend to you.
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