Aston
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aston | |
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| Population | 26,972 (2001 Census) |
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| - Density | 10,833 mile² (4,185 km²) |
| OS grid reference | |
| Metropolitan borough | City of Birmingham |
| Metropolitan county | West Midlands |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| European Parliament | West Midlands |
| List of places: UK • England • West Midlands | |
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the formal district of Ladywood.
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[edit] History
Aston was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 as "Estone", having a mill, a priest and therefore probably a church, woodland and ploughland. The church of St. Peter & Paul was built in medieval times to replace an earlier church. The body of the church was rebuilt by J. A. Chatwin during the period 1879 to 1890; the 15th century tower and spire, which was partly rebuilt in 1776, being the only survivors of the medieval building.
The ancient parish of Aston (known as Aston juxta Birmingham) was large. It was separated from the parish of Birmingham by AB Row, which currently exists in the Eastside of the city at just 50 metres in length. It was partly included in the borough of Birmingham in 1838, and a further part, Saltley was added in 1891. An Aston Manor urban sanitary district was formed in part of the parish. In 1894, under the Local Government Act 1894, the parish was split up, with Castle Bromwich, Erdington and Water Orton becoming separate parishes, as did Aston Manor. The Aston parish now was entirely within Birmingham. Aston Manor was granted the status of municipal borough in 1903, and was then annexed to Birmingham in 1911, along with Erdington. Castle Bromwich and Water Orton remain outside Birmingham's city limits to this day.
Besides the church and Aston Hall, Aston village consisted of few houses, taverns, farms, a mill and Aston Furnace. The Holte almshouses completed in 1656 and a fine Georgian rectory which were demolished despite objections when Aston Expressway was constructed.
The Grand Junction Railway was built in 1837 although Aston railway station was not built until 1854. A branch from Aston to Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield was opened later, this eventually became part of the Birmingham Cross-City Line.
On October 5, 1892, Victoria Road Baths were opened by the Aston Local Board. They comprised of first and second class swimming baths and first and second class private baths for men and women. Several hundred spectators could be accommodated in a spectators' gallery in the first class bath. During the winter months, a floor was fitted over the first class swimming baths so that the area could be used for gymnastic training.
Old buildings which became popular within Aston included the Aston Hippodrome and the Bartons Arms public house.
[edit] Politics
The 2004 Council Election was marred by vote rigging by the Labour Party candidates who were subsequently removed from the Council. In a subsequent by-election, all three council seats were gained from Labour by Liberal Democrat candidates. In 2006 Labour recovered one of the three seats it lost as a result of the affair and one of the remaining Liberal Democrat councillors, Abdul Aziz, defected to the Respect Party. Aston is therefore now represented by one Labour, one Liberal Democrat, and one Respect councillor.
Aston has adopted a Ward Support Officer with the current holder of the title being Pat Whyte.
[edit] Demographics
The 2001 Population Census found that 26,972 people were living in Aston with a population density of 4,185 people per km² compared with 3,649 people per km² for Birmingham. Aston has an area of 6.4 km². Aston is a very diverse community, ethnically, with 70.6% (19,030) of the area's population being of an ethnic minority compared with 29.6% for Birmingham.
[edit] Features
- Aston Expressway
- Aston Hall
- Aston University
- Aston Villa Football Club
- HP Sauce
- Spaghetti Junction
- King Edward VI Aston
- Former Norton motorcycle factory
[edit] Notable residents
[edit] Trivia
- Location of the famous 'Venus Baby' case of Cynthia Appleton (87 Fentham Road) in the late 1950's.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- The City of Birmingham Baths Department 1851 - 1951, J. Moth, 1951
[edit] External links
- The History Of Aston by Aston People
- Aston Ward
- Aston Library
- Aston History a brief look at the past
- Birmingham History & Genealogy Forum
- Birmingham's Industrial History Website
| Birmingham council constituencies and wards |
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|
Edgbaston : Bartley Green | Edgbaston | Harborne | Quinton | Erdington : Erdington | Kingstanding | Stockland Green | Tyburn | Hall Green : Hall Green | Moseley and Kings Heath | Sparkbrook | Springfield | Hodge Hill : Bordesley Green | Hodge Hill | Shard End | Washwood Heath | Ladywood : Aston | Ladywood | Nechells | Soho | Northfield : Kings Norton | Longbridge | Northfield | Weoley | Perry Barr : Handsworth Wood | Lozells and East Handsworth | Oscott | Perry Barr | Selly Oak : Billesley | Bournville | Brandwood | Selly Oak | Sutton Coldfield : Sutton Four Oaks | Sutton New Hall | Sutton Trinity | Sutton Vesey | Yardley : Acocks Green | Sheldon | South Yardley | Stechford and Yardley North |
