The Bartons Arms, 152 High Street Aston has stood as a landmark for over 100 years.

The present building dates from 1900/1901 and was designed by Mr Brassington of James, and Lister Lea for Mitchells & Butlers. Prior to being rebuilt in 1901the previous building, also called The Bartons Arms, was sold by F.S.Poole 2nd June 1899 for £13,292 freehold.

Over the years this fine building as gone through many changes of moods from the highs to the lows. Many famous names have passed through it's doors, music hall acts, playing at the nearby Hippodrome. Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, and Snooker Player, Joe Davis have been amongst those great names.

The building was threatened with demolition in 1969. The brewery managed to save this fine building from the bulldozers, and were able to refurbish it. The interior was opened out to provide bigger rooms, this caused some damage to the precious tiled floors and walls, although the surviving walls are still richly decorated to this day by the Minton Tiles.

In latter years the "Bartons" had it's heart and soul, ripped out and was left to fall in to disrepair. It's salvation has come in the name of Oakham Ales to aid its rebirth and refurbishment to its Old Glory days.

A management team of Colin and Teresa Smith are supervising this mammoth task. A couple who have come to this grand old place. They have fallen in love with its fine structure and are working to bring this plan together for its resurgence to its former glory with much help from the partners of Oakham Ales.

We have had the opportunity to have a conducted tour of this magnificent construction, to enjoy the silent history of this empty building. I await the day its doors are thrown open and life is allowed back in with laughter and the voices of people again enjoying The Barton Arms in our old Aston.

John Houghton

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Architectural Plans for Bartons Arms

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Bartons Arms Building Inspectors Certificates

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