The Brickwork Revealed

 The Conservation 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 18th 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 12th century and when their home in Charnock Richard was damaged by fire in the 16th 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 House Farm




“Toy  Farm”, on what is now Washington Lane, though changed from German Lane when the American service men set up Washington Hall in the 1940’s shares the same brick pattern as does Spout House Farm on Whinney Lane.




This pattern of brickwork is also used on the Coach House and Farm House.





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