Witton, West Midlands

Witton is an inner city area in Birmingham, England, in the metropolitan county of the West Midlands. It was within the ancient parish of Aston in the Hemlingford hundred of the historic county of Warwickshire. It is probably best known as the home of Aston Villa Football Club at Villa Park.

According to William Dugdale, Witton was the property of a man named Staunchel (also spelled Stannachetel) before being seized by William Fitz-Ansculf following the Norman conquest of England. Staunchel became the tenant of Fitz-Ansculf, valued at twenty shillings per annum in the Domesday Book. William Futz-Ansculf nicknamed 'The Duke of Dumps' loved ponies. It was named in the Domesday Book as Witone. It was afterwards vested in the Crown. In 1240, King Henry III granted it to Andrew de Wicton, indicating that the name of the area had changed to Wicton. Andrew grew cautious of William de Pyrie, his neighbour who owned Perry and brought action against him for infringing his property. The dispute was settled by the Sheriffs of Staffordshire and Warwickshire by the King's request.

In 1290, Witton became the property of William Dixley and then the property of Richard de Pyrie in 1340. In 1426, Thomas East of Hay Hall in Yardley sold it to John Bond of Ward End of whose descendants William Booth purchased it in 1620. An heiress of Booth brought it by marriage to Allestree of Yardley. It was sold to John Wyrley in the 18th century and then by George Birch of Hamstead in the 19th century. In 1730, Witton contained 22 farms and three cottages, apart from Witton Hall at the north-west end of Brookvale Park. In 1559, the Earl of Warwick purchased to 80 acres (32 ha) of moor called Wichalmore in Witton.

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