Walk 1/2011 - Aston Hall

We revisited Aston Hall- so that I could incorporate the A-Z challenge aswell. It was bitingly cold- but the sky was such a vivid blue. A lot of the photos were coming out overexposed on both cameras- I think it was the contrast between the bright sky and the Hall which is quite a dark building!

Aston Hall is a Jacobean Mansion built for Sir Thomas Holte. It was completed a fair number of years after he moved in. It was the first house of it's type to be handed into municipal hands. They had to sell a lot of the land to be able to afford the upkeep- and part of the land is where Aston Villa Football club ground sits.

Every two years they hold Aston Hall by candlelight as Christmas time. I say every time that we must go- and must make sure that we do one day! The hall is lit by 500 candles and actors set the scene.

A pretty view through the trees.

A huge urn at the back of the property.

I love the spires on the roof- it looks like a mosque.

We must make the effort to take a tour of the Hall- as the gardens are probably very pretty in the summer.

I loved the view of the chimneys- side view of the hall. Look at that brilliant blue sky.

Holly in front of the Hall. She's ok with 'car' walks- but we are having trouble with her on local walks. She has become freaked out by buses- and used to come with me to the bus stop with Emma in the morning and the afternoon. It started in the summer when she was at Tamworth Castle whilst they were having a war re-enactment and had muskets fired. It took ages to coax her back outside again. I manage to get her happy to walk again- then something loud happens and she wants to be home straight away. Before Christmas she managed to slip her collar and run home when I was at the bus stop. I had to call the bus guide to say I had to go and check she was at home! It's not like her- and so sad that she's become so nervy. The bus issue started when the bus 'hissed' and then the doors slammed by her- and since then she's disliked them!

The church by Aston Manor. Guy thought it was a really ugly church and refused to get out of the car to take a photo of it!

On the way home we revisited another site from our 52 walk challenge last year. This is Spitfire Island in Castle Vale. The Spitfires were built in what is now the Jaguar plant- and then they were rolled across the road to take off from the aerodrome.

Aston Villa Football Ground