Life at Aston Hall in Sir Thomas Holte's Time
Aston Hall was built by a man called Sir Thomas Holte nearly 400 years ago.
He wanted an impressive looking house to show that he was rich and important.
Important people who came to see Sir Thomas were greeted in this grand hall before being swept up the main stairs to lovely rooms on the first floor.
It was also used as a dining room by the 40 servants.
Sir Thomas Holte’s picture hangs on the top half of one wall.
Sir Thomas and his family ate in here.
He married twice and he had 16 children altogether.
This type of stairs which turns around an open stair well (with nothing to hold it up on the outside) is called cantilevered .
The First Floor Landing (the hole in the staircase)
Sir Thomas Holte’s new house was attacked in 1642 during the seventeenth century Civil War. A cannonball hole remains from that attack.
Great Dining Room
Guests were given sumptuous feasts and entertained here. The food would have included roast swans, peacocks and amazing pastry dishes. This would have been followed by fantastic plays, jesters, music and dancing.
King Charles’ Bedroom
This was the best bedroom for the most important visitor.
The Green Drawing Room
Sweetmeats like marchpane (marzipan) or suckets (sugared fruit) were eaten in here after the main meal.
Long Gallery
This long room was used to walk up and down when the weather was wet.
This is where 10 to 15 of the servants slept on straw on the floor.
The Kitchen
The kitchen was changed after Sir Thomas died but the table, meat chopping block, meat safe (to keep cooked meat cold) and the sink are much the same as in his day.
Ailyse Hancock, Schools Liaison, Aston Hall.
