In its early years, the ground was used for athletics meetings; in May 1908, Birchfield Harriers used the Hawthorns for their Spring Meeting, which included the end of the first marathon to be run in the Midlands.
The station shares its name with the local football ground, The Hawthorns, the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C., which it serves.
Under current Villa owner Randy Lerner, there have been discussions on changing the name of Witton Station to Villa Park as is the case with West Bromwich Albion's local railway station, The Hawthorns.
John Theodore Tussaud (1858–1943) the great-grandson of Madame Tussaud lived at The Hawthorns, 17 New Road, in the early years of the 20th century (c1902-1914).
In 2001 Burrows was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney, and spent several weeks away from The Hawthorns in order to recover from major surgery.