Astley Hall

  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