Aston: History and the Waleswood Walk

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Aston, local highlights can help you plan your trip. The Church of All Saints brings together medieval architectural features and the story of a rescued stained-glass window. Other historic buildings, a visitor attraction, and the Waleswood Walk offer different points of interest. You can consider whether you would rather spend your time exploring architectural history, local history, or going for a walk.

Church and historic buildings

The Church of All Saints in Aston-cum-Aughton is a Grade I listed building. It preserves arcades from the late 12th century; the porch was built in the 14th century. These different dates place the architectural features in their historical context and show that the church’s building history spans several centuries. This gives travellers interested in cultural history a specific point of interest.

A medieval stained-glass window in the Church of All Saints was rescued from the Darcy family home—now Aston Hall—when it burned down. The church therefore also connects the history of the house with a specific object. If you would like to visit the church, check its opening hours beforehand.

Another historic building is the house known as the William Layne Reading Room. It is Grade II listed and opened as a school in 1743. While the church’s individual medieval architectural features take centre stage, the year 1743 gives the Reading Room a specific connection to the history of education. This means you can encounter different aspects of architectural and local history in Aston.

The history of Aston Hall is also tied to a specific date: the present building was constructed around 1772 by John Carr and is now Aston Court Hospital. Together with the older architectural features of the church, it provides a broad timeline for the area’s history.

Walks and local history

For some time outdoors, consider the Waleswood Walk around Rother Valley. From Aston, you can join the three-mile route at the Aughton Lane/Worksop Road junction. Knowing the access point and route length can help you fit the walk into your day. Trail conditions and access may change; check the information before setting out.

Aston Springs Farm is a visitor attraction in Aston. It offers another named place to visit, in addition to the historic buildings and the walk. If you do not want to focus your trip solely on architecture, you can also consider including this attraction.

Another way to explore Aston’s history is through the Aston-cum-Aughton History Group. It meets on the first and third Monday of each month at the William Layne Reading Room on Aughton Lane in Aston; new members are welcome. The meeting place links the group’s present-day activities with a building that opened as a school in 1743 and is Grade II listed. If you would like to plan your trip around a meeting, check the date in advance.

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