The Story of Astley Hall

The Story of Astley Hall

Photo: John Ball 

This history of the Hall takes us from the 12th century to the present day. Families who have taken significant roles in the County Palatine of Lancashire. whose stories will be told in instalments over the months.  Visitors are made welcome at the Hall, on special occasions by members of the 'costume team' bringing the history of this ancient Manor House to life.  Most open days volunteers from the 'Friends of Astley Hall' are on hand to help you imagine life for the families who lived here.  As one young visitor told me, "history at school was never like this'.

Astley Hall was gifted to the town of Chorley by the last owner of the Hall, Sir Reginald Arthur Tatton, to provide the town with a memorial to those who fell during the First World War.  The surrounding 108 acres of parkland were bought for the town thanks to donations by the people of Chorley.

The Charnock family had  lived in the area from the 12^th century.  They had owned a lot of land in and around Chorley, including a small house at Astley.   Most of the land had been given in ‘Soul Alms’ to the Knight Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. This was during the reign of Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England,between 1154 and 1189.  The family continued to occupy the land in return for a token rent of unum capellum rose,  a chaplet of roses, to be paid on Mid Summer’s Day, 24^th of June, the Nativity of St John the Baptist.  Later sources suggest the rent was changed to 12d. ( 5p ) or around £40 today.

In 1567 William Flower, Norroy King of Arms made a Visitation to Lancashire in order to record the local gentry families and their right to bear arms.  Amongst the local gentry he visited the Charnock Family of Astley Hall,  On behalf of the ‘College of Heralds’ he confirmed the Charnock’s right to bear arms, blazoned (described) as Argent, on a bend sable, three cross-croslets of the field.  The crest being a lapwing proper.  
In other words a silver coloured shield with a diagonal strip from upper right to lower left ( from the shield holders viewpoint} and three cross croslets on the bend (stripe).  
The three cross croslets indicated that the family were prepared to join a Crusade and the lapwing crest was a sign of a strategic thinker.  The lapwing in the wild would lead predators away from their nest.

The family had lived at Old Hall in Charnock Richard, close to land presently occupied by the Bowling Green Inn, and legend has it that their house was destroyed in a disastrous fire.  The family moved to Astley and began to develop the house. Astley is a corruption of the Old English ‘Est Lea’ meaning a clearing in the east, or to the east of their original home.

You can visit Astley Hall, please check http://astleypark.co.uk for details of opening hours.

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

The story will continue with the Charnock Family and their involvement with the people of Chorley.  Please visit again for the on-going saga of Astley.