Villa Park Redevelopment

[PeterWithesShin]

Pretty sure some of the lower North terrace is from the old Witton End.

[Crown Hill]

There was a wall at back of the lower north that was either the old trinity or even older than that. It is still there i think.

The depths of witton lane might also have some too.

Much older than that. It’s from the Lower Grounds Aquarium which pre dates Villa Park. It was behind that corner below what was the Corner Flag restaurant. I don’t know if they have plans to retain it. Probably not unfortunately. 

[aldridgeboy]

I think it’s the opposite corner Ads.

The first picture is Trinity side and then the second is North/Witton side.

Yes sorry, I meant the photo I posted.

[Drummond]

I quite enjoyed the Lower North. The basic nature of the concourse etc had an old fashioned charm about it. And now I shan't get to go in there again. Feels strange.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Hang on, there was an Aquarium? Maybe we could bring that back. And a Cheese Room.

[algy]

Hang on, there was an Aquarium?

Maybe we could bring that back. And a Cheese Room.

It’s in the right place for that too, right by the players tunnel. We could charge £1000 a head for folk to watch them line up in the tunnel, but through a fish tank so it’d look like they were underwater.

Could be a major attraction for day trippers.

Admittedly I don’t know anything about the hospitality industry and it probably shows.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Can't be many football teams with an aquarium. It's marketing gold.

[Drummond]

Cue the 'he's like a fish out of water' gags for players....

[Crown Hill]

Hang on, there was an Aquarium? Maybe we could bring that back. And a Cheese Room.

The Lower Grounds had an Aquarium, Great Hall, skating rink and ornamental lake.

The Aquarium became Club offices and Gym and I think survived until 1981.

A beautiful building. The only bit that survives is that wall. I doubt a wall can be protected and would probably obstruct the works on the North stand anyway. i've always loved the fact they found Bovril bottles dating to the 1880s when they excavated the North Stand.

[SaddVillan]

Out of interest, do we have any idea where the oldest part of Villa Park is now to be found? There must be a random wall from the 50s somewhere in there, surely?

I've got some bricks from the old Holte End in my garage.

[FrankyH]

Ive got one above the patio doors  ( header bricks on a steel lintel). And a couple built into walls in my back garden. I had two wooden turnstile door from the Holte End ( Trinity road side). Unfortunately , I didn't look after them very well and now long gone.

[UK Redsox]

Can't be many football teams with an aquarium. It's marketing gold.

The baseball stadium in Miami used to have a fish tank.

It’s been removed since my last visit

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/marlins/2021/03/18/marlins-park-fish-tanks-removed-2021-season/4753242001/

[aj2k77]

I quite enjoyed the Lower North. The basic nature of the concourse etc had an old fashioned charm about it. And now I shan't get to go in there again. Feels strange.

I've got fond memories of the Panini sticker swap shop in the North Stand at some games in the 80's. Stands shite though, my mates 6ft 5 and had to sit with his knees around his ears.

[algy]

Won't accept this slanderous talk of the North Stand.  It's not perfect, but it's got the best view in the ground by a long shot

(and also tends to be cheap enough that I can actually afford tickets there)

[eamonn]

Best view, huh? Explain pls.