Aston Hall

Aston Hall is a small country house built in 1735 for Robert Holden, later converted to hospital use. The building was substantially altered and extended during the early 19th century and underwent further remodelling in 1907 by Edward Holden, with minor additions and alterations continuing through the 20th century.

The main early 18th-century structure is painted red brick with hipped plain tile roofs. Stone plinth, stone band at first floor level, moulded stone cornice and low parapets are distinctive features. The early 18th-century part employs gauged brick and stone dressings. The later additions use brick or painted stone dressings, with brick first and second floor bands. Dentilled eaves appear on the east and north elevations, while the west front displays wide bracketed eaves.

The building has an irregular plan. The early 18th-century core comprises five bays by three bays with three storeys; the remainder is three storeys plus attics. The east front features a slightly advanced central bay. Ground floor contains large 19th-century bays of full height with pilastered tripartite openings and sashes on either side of a projecting glazed conservatory. Above this, the central bay has an early 18th-century moulded Venetian window with glazing bar sashes, flanked by pairs of glazing bar sashes beneath flat gauged brick arches with stone keyblocks. Upper storeys contain similar but smaller windows, and a central glazing bar sash in a moulded stone surround with corniced keystone, flanked by smaller sashes in raised surrounds with keystones.

A recessed early 19th-century four-bay wing is attached to the north, with later additions along the ground floor and glazing bar sashes below rusticated wedge lintels to first and second floors. Three later roof dormers punctuate this elevation. The north elevation displays segment-headed windows to ground and first floors, with flat-headed two-light windows above.

The west elevation of the early 18th-century house mirrors the east elevation but features a central Ionic columned porch flanked by pairs of glazing bar sashes below gauged brick arches with stone keyblocks at ground floor level.

Projecting additions to the north, dating to circa 1907, contain two-storey bay windows with leaded cross windows and bracketed cornices.

The interior preserves numerous early 18th-century features. The hall contains early 18th-century panelling with carved overdoors, and bolection moulded fireplaces. Two original staircases survive: the main staircase features knopped balusters with tapering columns on vases with twisted fluting, a ramped moulded handrail with large wreath at its base, and elaborately carved cheekpieces. The opposite wall displays dado panelling with fluted pilasters. The back staircase has simple knopped tapering column balusters and a ramped handrail. Most original early 18th-century six-panelled doors remain throughout. The attics contain three rooms with 17th-century panelling.

The first floor central room retains early 18th-century panelling and cornice, whilst the southern room features a good early 19th-century Adam-style ceiling. Two similar early 19th-century plasterwork ceilings appear in the north-west range. Two good early 19th-century Adam-style fireplaces and two 18th-century fireplaces of coloured marble with attached columns are present. Three 17th-century-style overmantles, composed of assorted 17th-century carved pieces, survive, alongside good quality early 20th-century fittings in the remodelled wing.