avenue of chestnut trees in 1852.  By degrees, the park was reduced to 370 acres, which, with the Hall, were offered to the town in 1850 for the sum of L130,000; but the Town Council declined the bargain, though less than one-half of the Park (150 acres) was sold immediately after for more than all the money.  In 1857 a “People’s Park” Company was started to “Save Aston Hall” and the few acres close round it, an agreement being entered into for L35,000.  Many of the 20s. shares were taken up, and Her Majesty the Queen performed the opening ceremony June 15, 1858.  The speculation proved a failure, as out of about L18,000 raised one-half went in repairs, alterations, losses, &c., and it would have been lost to the town had not the Corporation bought it in February, 1864.  They gave L33,000 (L7,000 being private subscriptions), and it was at last opened as a free park, September 22, 1864.  The picture gallery is 136ft. long, by 18ft. wide and 16ft. high.  In this and various other rooms, will be found a miscellaneous museum of curiosities, more or less rare, including stuffed birds and animals, ancient tapestry and furniture, &c.

Aston Lower Grounds, the most beautiful pleasure grounds in the Midland counties, cover 31 acres, and were originally nothing more than the kitchen and private gardens and the fish-ponds belonging to Aston Hall, and were purchased at the sale in 1818 by the Warwick bankers, who let them to Mr. H.G.  Quilter, at the time an attempt was made to purchase the Hall and Park “by the people.”  Adding to its attractions year by year, Mr. Quilter remained on the ground until 1878, when a limited liability company was formed to take to the hotel and premises, building an aquarium 320 feet long by 54 feet wide, an assembly-room, 220 feet long, by 91 feet wide, and otherwise catering for the comfort of their visitors, 10,000 of whom can be now entertained and amused under shelter, in case of wet weather.  Mr. Quilter’s selling price was L45,000, taking L25,000 in shares, and L20,000 cash by instalments.  The speculation did not appear to be very successful, and the property is now in private hands.  The visitors to the Lower Grounds since 1864 have averaged 280,000 per annum.

Asylum, in Summer Lane, was opened in July 1797, by the Guardians of the Poor as an industrial residence and school for 250 children.  It was dismantled and closed in 1846, though the “Beehive” carved over the door was allowed to remain on the ruins some years after.

Athenaeum—­For the “diffusion of Literature and Science” was established in March, 1839, but has long been merged in the Midland Institute.  In the building called the “Athenaeum”, top of Temple Street, some of the early exhibitions of paintings were held.

Athenic Institute, founded in 1841, was an institute of a somewhat similar character to the Athenaeum, though including athletics, and existed no longer.

Athletic Clubs.—­The first festival of the Birmingham Athletic Club was held in 1868.  On the 1st of March, 1880, an association was organised of many of the bicycle clubs, cricket clubs, football clubs, and similar athletic bodies in the town and neighbourhood, under the name of “The Midland Counties Amateurs’ Athletic Union.”