Posts

The Brickwork Revealed

Image
  The C onservation work continues at Astley Hall, though currently shrouded in plastic sheeting, as the work progresses under the careful management of “Bullen Conservation” A quick peep through a gap in the plastic shrouding reveals the stucco rendering has been removed revealing the 18 th century brickwork beneath and a chat with one of the craftsmen on site confirms that the brick is laid in English Garden Wall Bond. This pattern of brick work was rarely used outside the North of England and sometimes even used occasionally on garden walls. The Charnock family. had held land in the area since the 12 th century and when their home in Charnock Richard was damaged by fire in the 16 th century they moved to Astley then on the far boundaries of their lands. Locally this pattern was also used on other two properties that would originally have been on the boundaries of the Astley Estate and certainly within the original holdings of the Charnock family. Toy Farm Spout Hous
Post a Comment
Read more

The 12th Century Charnock Family

Image
  During the 12 th  century the Chernoc’s were one of the important Lancashire families, living in the village of Chernoc to which Richard added his own baptismal name to distinguish it from the nearby Heath Chernoc.  Over the centuries both names changed in spelling to Charnock as until the introduction of Dr Johnson’s dictionary in 1755 spelling was not fixed.  Scribes recording deeds would write them as they heard them, often changes occurred because of local accents. The Chernoc family later moved to Astley Hall. The name Richard or Ricardus, as it was written in the Medieval Latin of these documents, derived via Old French from an early Germanic language and is composed of ‘Ric’ meaning ruler, or king and ‘Hardu’ signifying ’strong or brave’ thus ‘strong ruler’. Several of these documents have been preserved in the Lancashire Archive in Preston and in Oxford’s Bodlieian Library.   One of the most fascinating deeds records the gift of the Chernoc estate ‘in soul alms’ to the Knight
2 comments
Read more

Talk for members of The Friends of Astley Hall

Image
The painting of Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria with their children is one of the paintings discussed in  the zoom talk free to members of the Friends of Astley Hall.  The speaker will reveal Henrietta Maria's connection with Lancashire and a member of the Brooke family whose cousins lived at Astley Hall. You can join at the Friends by downloading the application form from here  All members will be sent the easy to use  link to join the zoom talk on your computer or tablet You can support the work of the Friends of Astley Hall by making a donation from your phone: Text Astley 1 to 70085 to donate £1 Text Astley 2 to 70085 to donate £2 Text Astley 5 to 70085 to donate £5 or any amount you may choose Thank you so much for your help If you get a 'Network Error' message you may have a block on your account to prevent extra charges.  You will get an offer to pay with your bank card.
2 comments
Read more

The Cromwell Bed

Image
The 'Cromwell Bed' at Astley Hall, said to be where Oliver Cromwell slept after the Battle of Preston in 1648. Oliver Cromwell is reported to have slept off the stress of the Battle of Preston in this rather lovely bed, at Astley Hall in Chorley in 1648, which is now listed at grade I. Apparently Cromwell was so rested from his night of relaxation, he left his boots behind when he got up in the morning! Astley Hall, Astley Park, Chorley, Lancashire. English Heritage. Though its exact origins are unknown, it’s thought that the four-poster bed originated in Austria before migrating to England, where it grew in popularity; the first records and descriptions of four-poster beds date to the late 14 th  or early 15 th centuries. The style began simply: prior to the four-poster version, beds were often no more than a hard board covered in fur or quilts. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why the four-poster bed became the most coveted of luxuries. Canopies were first added to
Post a Comment
Read more

The year moves inexorably on

Image
  The route through Astley Park has formed part of my  daily walk on an almost daily basis and I regularly see visitors reading the notice on the south front of the building explaining the closure of the Hall and the planned work programme taking place over the next 20 months or so. Occasionally my longing to share the story of the Hall and its residents over the last 400 years or so gets the better of me and I stop to all them all about them. This often leads to them sharing their stories of historic buildings they have visited and loved. As a volunteer room steward in the Long Gallery I have welcome visitors from as far as Australia and been delighted to share 'selfies' with many as a reminder of their visit to Chorley.   Hopefully they have all felt their visit was enhanced by my tales that attempt to bring to life the families who have lived at the. Hall.    Reading the family trees of the 'Gentry' families of Lancashire reveals the very close connections with other
Post a Comment
Read more

The Charnock's Carved Shield

Image
The countless questions raised during my role as a volunteer room steward in Astley Hall's Long Gallery frequently revealed the gaps in my knowledge and prompted further research.  Several questions that taxed me were about the elements of the various shields displayed on the shields on view inside  the Hall and carved in the panelling and framework of the building.  This  drew me into the world of the Heralds who maintained the records of Arms from the time of the Crusades and throughout the medieval world. Over the centuries various Armigerous families bearing Coats of Arms beginning with the Charnock family have displayed there shield with pride in the fabric of the building be it glass, wood or stone and these materials have preserved them to this day. Then, as now, people adopted arms belonging to other families without right or permission.  Today this is very prevalent among internet companies purporting to provide your Arms but, in reality, simply selling you copies of t
Post a Comment
Read more

Thomas Charnocke. v. Sir Urian Leigh

Image
My family worked in the Lancashire coal mines and quarries and a great uncle, and namesake, left Lancashire for America on board the R.M.S.. Oceanic in 1901 to work in the coal mines at Frostburg in Maryland.  I like to reflect this ancestry in the unofficial coat of arms I designed for my family.   The two canaries facing each other on the black chevron are in honour of my grandfather breeding canaries to test for the lethal methane gas in the mines and the pick for his role as coal hewer. On leaving the mines he came to Chorley where he set up in business as a Bird Fancier’s supply stores and Corn Chandlers.   He served the people of Chorley as a Councillor, for many years. Because of this ancestry  it is of especial interest when visitors to the Long Gallery in Astley Hall regularly pose the question - "where did the money come from?"  The Charnocks of Astley Hall had been substantial land owners since the 13 th century and owned many acres of  coal bearing land w
Post a Comment
Read more