Henry de Castel was a subsequent proprietor.  Dugdale supposes the village took its name from a castle, once on the premises; and that the castle-hill yet remains:  but this hill is too small, even to admit a shelter for a Lilliputian, and is evidently an artificial trifle, designed for a monument.  It might hold, for its ancient furniture, a turret, termed a castle—­perhaps it held nothing in Dugdale’s time:  the modern is a gladiator, in the attitude of fighting, supported by a pedestal, containing the Bridgeman arms.

Castle, probably, was added by the family of that name, lords of the place, to distinguish it from woody and little Bromwich.  They bore for their arms, three castles and a chevron.

Lord Ferrers of Chartley, who was proprietor of Birmingham in the reign of Henry the Sixth, enjoyed it by marriage; and his grand daughter brought it, by the same channel, into the family of Devereux, Lords of Sheldon.  Edward, about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, erected the present building, which is capacious, is in a stile between ancient and modern, and has a pleasing appearance.

The Bridgeman family acceded to possession about eighty years ago, by purchase, and made it their residence till about 1768.  We should naturally enquire, Why Sir Harry quitted a place so delightfully situated?  Perhaps it is not excelled in this country, in the junction of three great roads, a a desirable neighbourhood, the river Tame at its back, and within five miles of the plentiful market of Bimingham—­but, alas, it has no park.

The gentry seem to have resided in our vicinity, when there was the greatest inducement to leave it, impassable roads:  they seem also to have quitted the country, now there is the greatest inducement to reside there; roads, which improve their estates, and may be travelled with pleasure.  It may be objected, that “the buildings become ancient.”  But there is no more disgrace in an old house, than in an old man; they may both be dressed in character, and look well.  A gentleman, by residing in the family seat, pays a compliment to his ancestors.

PARK-HALL.

Six miles north-east of Birmingham, and one from Castle Bromwich chapel, is a spacious moat, with one trench, which, for many centuries guarded Park-hall.  This is another of those desolate islands, from which every creature is fled, and every sound, except that of the winds; nay, even the very clouds seem to lament the desolation with tears.

This was possessed by none but the Ardens, being part of their vast estate long before the conquest, and five hundred years after.  A delightful situation on the banks of the Tame; to which we are led through a dirty road.

We may consider this island, the treasury into which forty-six lordships paid their tribute.  The riches of the country were drawn to this center, and commands were issued from it.  The growth of these manors supplied that spot, which now grows for another.  The lordships are in forty-six hands; the country is in silence; the island ploughed up, and the family distressed—­At the remembrance of their name, the smile quits the face of history; she records their sad tale with a sigh; while their arms are yet displayed in some of the old halls in the neighbourhood.