St James the Less' Church, Ashted, Warwickshire

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Contents 1 Ashted 2 St James the Less Church 3 The Churchyard 4 Sources

Ashted

The hamlet of Ashted in Warwickshire was developed from an estate previously owned by Lister Holte MP (1720-1770) but is now a part of the city of Birmingham. The MP had leased his estate to Dr John Ash, a wealthy surgeon who was one of the founders of Birmingham's General Hospital. Dr Ash built himself a large house on the estate but moved to London, never having lived in the house.

The County Coroner and Temple Bar member, John Brooke bought the estate and adjoining land, with the help of investors, for a development which he named Ashted in honour of the surgeon.

This was to be a prestigious out-of-town development but as the city grew and the prevailing winds directed pollution over the area, along with the cutting of a canal, with associated wharves and buildings reduced Ashted's status.

St James the Less Church

The church was originally founded in 1789 and John Ash's house was converted to house it. Known then as Ashted chapel, it opened for divine service on 9th October, 1791.

Rebuilding commenced in 1809 and the building was fitted with a nave, vestries, vestibule, porches and a semi circular vestry. There was also a circular cupola-tower which contained a set of eight of Harrington's tubular bells. It was consecrated in 1810.

When the Reverend Josiah Allport was appointed in 1829, he arrived to find the church closed and without a roof. Before this time the church seems to have only had seats for those who paid for them, but the church was repaired and the seating altered to include 150 free seats for the local poor.

The church was enlarged again in 1835 providing 850 free seats.

In 1853 St James the Less became a parish church, the parish being created from an area previously within the Parish of Aston.

By 1887 the roof was again in danger of collapse and was repaired 1887-1888.

The final blow came for the church when it was damaged during an air-raid in the Second World War in November 1945 and finally demolished in 1956.

The Churchyard

The churchyard remain as a parkland in Ashted. The graves were not removed and the gravestones were laid flat in to the ground and some are still visible. Images of a few of them are posted on the Brummages Blogspot (accessed 20 February 2023).

Burial Index - St James the Less Churchyard, Ashted, Warwickshire

Sources

Ashted - A History of Birmingham : accessed 20 February 2023

St James the Less, Ashted - Wikipedia : accessed 20 February 2023

'Religious History: Churches built before 1800', in A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7, the City of Birmingham, ed. W B Stephens (London, 1964), pp. 361-379. British History Online : accessed 20 February 2023

Discussion about the church and churchyard Birmingham History Forum : accessed 20 February 2023

See Also - Birmingham, Ashted - The Church Bells of Warwickshire