Looking After Aston Hall

Introduction

Aston Hall is a superb red brick mansion built 400 years ago for Sir Thomas Holte. It was lived in as a home until the nineteenth century.

In 1858 Queen Victoria officially opened Aston Hall as museum. Aston Hall was the first country house to be opened for the ordinary public to visit.

It has been owned, and run as a museum, by Birmingham City Council since 1862.

An amazing number of people are involved in looking after Aston Hall.

Students from a local school spent an afternoon discovering who does what!

Who works at Aston Hall all the time?

A Curator/Manager

An Assistant Curator Manager

An Education Officer

2 Senior Museum Assistants

Museum Assistants

The Curator/Manager at Work

Planning room displays ……..

…. and providing information

The Curator/Manager and Assistant

Curator Manager in Their Office

Researching information …

…booking in coach parties…

…and answering letters.

The Assistant Curator Manager at

Work

Protecting displays from light damage …

…ordering new stock for the shop.

The Education Officer at Work

Teaching school groups…

…and producing teacher resources.

…organising role play…

The Senior Museum Assistants at Work in the Open Season

Vacuuming inside…

…sweeping outside…

…polishing and dusting all over the house.

The Senior Museum Assistants at Work in the Closed Season

… and they check the house is securely locked and alarmed.

… and re-painting walls …

They do a lot of heavy cleaning including removing chewing gum …

The Museum Assistants

…and someone has to clean the toilets!

Greeting and helping visitors…

…serving in the tearoom and shop…

Who looks after Aston Hall and its contents?

Architects

Pest Control Officer

Safety and Security Officers

Conservators Fire OfficerSecurity Alarm EngineersSmoke Alarm EngineersFire Service

Conservators at Work

They use specialist cleaning methods …

… and they are trained in a variety of professional restoration techniques.

Architects Check the Building

… look for signs of insect damage.

They regularly examine existing gaps and cracks …

… and plan alterations fitting for a Grade I listed building.

A Pest Control Officer Visits Regularly

He looks for evidence of rats and mice, and puts down poison …

… he identifies insect life in the house.

Safety and Security Officers

A Fire Safety Officer frequently checks the extinguishers and smoke detectors …

… and the house and room alarms are serviced by a specialist security alarm company (recently floorboards were taken up to re-new the cables).

Who Keeps the Building in Good Repair?

A Variety of Maintenance Contractors

Glaziers

Carpenters

Electricians

Roof contractors

Graffiti Operatives

Repairs in progress

… and a contractor re-news the roof tiles.

Expert plasterers patch up the walls …

Dealing with Vandalism

The glazier replaces broken panes …

… and an operative removes graffiti.

What else happens at Aston Hall?

Aston Hall By Candlelight

The Asian Ladies Textile Group

Book Fair

Meetings

Re-enactments

Filming

Theatre Groups

Events

Exhibitions

 

Historical re-enactments take place here and the Hall and Park are used as a background for films and television …

… and there is a changing programme of exhibitions – above is a recent display of modern decorative glass.

Aston Hall Hosts Lots of Events and Exhibitions

… and for car rallies, book fairs and wine tasting. Fires and candles are lit for ‘Aston Hall by

Candlelight’ …