The year moves inexorably on

 

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 Manor Houses dating back to the English Civil War and beyond,

John Ball in the role of
the fictitious John Brooke.

Much of this priceless heritage has been passed down to us thanks to marriage into families who brought dowries for heiress daughters  and on occasion sons who contributed their family's wealth to the development of the building.

The Lancashire properties with connections to Astley include Haigh Hall when Constance Bradshagh married Henry Charnock in the early 16th century.  The Bradshagh's themselves had marriage connections with the Norris's of Speke Hall.

The last permanent resident of Astley Hall was Susannah Brooke, widow of Thomas Townley Parker of Cuerden Hall who married secondly Sir Henry Philip de Hoghton of  Walton Hall and Hoghton Tower where I am currently a volunteer tour guide.

Susannah was the great, great grand daughter of Sir Peter Brooke of Norton Priory in Cheshire who came to Astley when. his son Richard married Margaret Charnock.  Sir Peter served as High  Sheriff of Cheshire in 1669 and of Lancashire in 1674.

Margaret was the last of the Charnock's who moved to Astley from Charnock Richard when their previous home was damage by fire.  Her father was Captain Robert Charnock, known as 'One-eyed Charnock' after losing an eye at the siege of Lathom House supporting the Royalist Earl of Derby.  

Among the opposing Parliamentarian forces fighting in Lancashire would have Major Edwrrd Robinsonne of Buckshawe Hall thought to have been the author of of the 'The Warre in Lancashire'. 

Buckshawe laid on the edge of the Astley Estates.

Acting as a fence post in Whinney Lane at Euxton is the remains of a carved marker post bearing the initials, E R, thought to be Edward Robinsonne with a partial date beginning  165-  which may have marked the the boundary of the Buckshawe estates. 

The Friends of Astley Hall very much look forward to the completion of the restoration programme and welcoming you back to this priceless heritage which, thanks to the generosity of Reginald Arthur Tatton who gave the Hall to the people of Chorley as a war memorial following the Great War and to those people of Chorley who donated sufficient to purchase the park it self,

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.