Erdington Hall

Description

King records a possible castle site described as 'a strong moated place' by Dugdale.

principall seat (of the de Erdingtons), was strongly fortified with a large double moat, on the front and two other sides thereof; having the River for its better defence on the back part; within which moat was also an ancient Chapell peculiar to the House, as by its ruines may be seen (Dugdale)

ERDINGTON HALL occupies the site of the old mansion of the De ERDINGTONS, and presents externally the characteristics of Charles II's time. The entrance is by a bridge over the long since dried-up moat (PastScape–ref. Everit, 1880)
The site of a house, strongly fortified by a double moat, on the front and two other sides. The river served as defence at the back. A documentary source refers to a chapel within the moat. No trace remains of either hall or moat. The last hall on the site was built in the 17th century (possibly the second half of that century) and demolished in 1912 during the construction of a road. Images of the hall from a private collection show it to have been a three storey brick building with steep gabled roofs and curved "shaped" gables parralel to the roof; there was a lower two storey gabled wing. There was some debate in the press in the early 20th century as to whether it incorporated earlier architectural features from an earlier medieval house and also speculation as to whether this was the site of a Saxon- and then medieval manor house indicated in Doomesday and later baronial court records. (PastScape)

The powerful De Erdington family came to prominence around 1166 when Henry obtained the manorial rights from Gervais Pagenal of Dudley, thus beginning a long association between Erdington and the De Erdington family which lasted until 1467, when the family died out. Their tomb can still be seen today at Aston parish church.
During the subsequent years the manor of Erdington changed hands many times, the Duke of Clarence and SirThomas Holte from the famous Holte family of Aston Hall being among the more notable landowners.
Erdington Hall was built in the mid 1600s and was the manor house for Erdington until its demolition in 1912 to make way for the construction of the Tyburn Road. The prominent owners of the Hall included the Jennens family who lived there until the eighteenth century, Sir Lister Holte and William Wheelwright, who is believed to have given his name to Wheelwright Road. (Birmingham City Council)