Ashted
Encyclopedia
Ashted is an area of Birmingham
in the United Kingdom
, within the ward of Nechells
.
John Ash
, who leased the property from Sir Lester Holte and in 1771 built a grand house surrounded by fields, gardens and orchards. He never occupied the house, selling the lease to John Brooke
, a Birmingham attorney. Brooke laid out streets and divided the property into parcels with the intention of bringing wealth to the area; many affluent entrepreneurs were living in Birmingham during the Industrial Revolution. In 1791, after Brooke added a cupola, Dr. Ash's house was opened as the church of St James the Less. The Ashted Barracks were erected next to the church in 1791 following the Priestley Riots
. In 1809, the church passed into a trust and was consecrated in 1810.
Thirty-eight years later, in 1848, Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England counted the population as approximately 25,000, and stated that the settlement's proximity to the city centre gave huge advantage to trade and industry.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the status of the area dropped and it became a high-density working class
area, with many slums.
The church was demolished in 1956, having sustained heavy bombing during World War II
.
district, and forms the western extremity of Duddeston
. It is within the boundaries of Nechells Green, and provides mainly estate
and high-rise
residences.
provides water transport under the A47 (Jennens Road)
.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, within the ward of Nechells
Nechells
Nechells is an area in inner-city Birmingham, England, with a population of 27,969 . It is also a ward within the formal district of Ladywood. Nechells local government ward includes areas, for example parts of Birmingham city centre, which are not part of the historic district of Nechells as such...
.
History
The settlement takes its name from the physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
John Ash
John Ash (physician)
-Life:Ash was born in Warwickshire, and educated at Trinity College, Oxford; was B.A. in 1743, M. A. in 1746, M.B. in 1750, and M.D. in 1754. He settled at Birmingham, and soon acquired a large practice. The general hospital at Birmingham was founded chiefly through his influence, and he was its...
, who leased the property from Sir Lester Holte and in 1771 built a grand house surrounded by fields, gardens and orchards. He never occupied the house, selling the lease to John Brooke
John Brooke (1755-1802)
John Brooke was a Warwickshire politician who developed the Ashted estate near Birmingham and is principally known for his role during and after the Priestley Riots of 1791....
, a Birmingham attorney. Brooke laid out streets and divided the property into parcels with the intention of bringing wealth to the area; many affluent entrepreneurs were living in Birmingham during the Industrial Revolution. In 1791, after Brooke added a cupola, Dr. Ash's house was opened as the church of St James the Less. The Ashted Barracks were erected next to the church in 1791 following the Priestley Riots
Priestley Riots
The Priestley Riots took place from 14 July to 17 July 1791 in Birmingham, England; the rioters' main targets were religious Dissenters, most notably the politically and theologically controversial Joseph Priestley...
. In 1809, the church passed into a trust and was consecrated in 1810.
Thirty-eight years later, in 1848, Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England counted the population as approximately 25,000, and stated that the settlement's proximity to the city centre gave huge advantage to trade and industry.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the status of the area dropped and it became a high-density working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
area, with many slums.
The church was demolished in 1956, having sustained heavy bombing during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Present-day
The current Ashted is located near to the city's EastsideEastside, Birmingham
Eastside is a district of Birmingham City Centre, England currently undergoing a major redevelopment project. The overall cost when completed is expected to be £6–8 billion over a period of ten years which will result in the creation of 12,000 jobs. 8,000 jobs are expected to be created during the...
district, and forms the western extremity of Duddeston
Duddeston
Duddeston is an inner-city area of the Nechells ward of Birmingham, England. It was part of the Birmingham Duddeston constituency until that ceased to exist in 1950.-Etymology:...
. It is within the boundaries of Nechells Green, and provides mainly estate
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
and high-rise
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
residences.
Geography
The area is located approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) north-east of Birmingham City Centre, around the site of Ashted Circus on the Birmingham Middle Ring Road. Ashted Tunnel on the Digbeth Branch CanalDigbeth Branch Canal
The Digbeth Branch Canal in Birmingham, England is a short canal which links the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Aston Junction and the Grand Union Canal at Digbeth Junction in Digbeth....
provides water transport under the A47 (Jennens Road)
A47 road
The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:...
.