Editing Astley Hall, Chorley

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Astley Hall
| native_name = 
| native_language = 
| other_name = Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery
| image = [[File: Astley Hall after restoration.jpg|300px]]
| caption = Astley Hall in 2022, after restoration
| type = [[Manor house]]
| locmapin = Lancashire
| coordinates = {{coord|53.6595|-2.6453|region:GB|display=inline,title |format=dms}}
| gbgridref = 
| location = [[Chorley]], [[Lancashire]]
| area = 
| built = c.1570 onwards
| architect = 
| architecture = [[Elizabethan architecture|Elizabethan]] and [[Jacobean architecture|Jacobean]]
| governing_body = 
| owner = [[Chorley Borough Council]]
| designation1 = Grade I
| designation1_offname = 21 December 1966
| designation1_date = Astley Hall
| designation1_number = {{Listed building England|1362068}}
| designation2 = National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
| designation2_offname = Astley Hall
| designation2_date = 1 April 1986
| designation2_number = {{Listed building England|1000943}}
| designation3 = 
| designation3_offname = 
| designation3_date = 
| designation3_number = {{Listed building England|}}
| designation4 = 
| designation4_offname = 
| designation4_date = 
| designation4_number = {{Listed building England|}}
| designation5 = 
| designation5_offname = 
| designation5_date = 
| designation5_number = {{Listed building England|}} 
| website = [https://chorley.gov.uk/astleyhall chorley.gov.uk/astleyhall]
}}
[[File:Astley-Hall-992.JPG|right|thumb|upright=1.3|One of a pair of stone lions flanking the entrance.]]
[[File:Astley Hall Chorley.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3|The 17th-century stone entrance facade (before restoration to the original brickwork).]]
'''Astley Hall''' is a [[English country house|country house]] in [[Chorley]], [[Lancashire]], England. The building is now owned by the town and is known as '''Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery'''.  The extensive landscaped grounds are now Chorley's '''Astley Park'''.

==History==
The site was acquired in the 15th century by the Charnock family from the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem]]. The Charnocks built the original timber-framed house, around a small courtyard, about 1575–1600. In 1665, Margaret Charnock married Richard Brooke of Mere in Cheshire (son of [[Peter Brooke (17th-century MP)|Sir Peter Brooke]]), and they built the present grand but asymmetrical front range of brick with a pair of vast [[mullion]]-and-[[Transom (architecture)|transom]]ed bay windows. This front has a doorway with distinctly rustic [[Ionic order|Ionic]] columns, remarkable at such a late date.

The interior is notable for the staggering mid-17th century [[plasterwork]] in the ceilings of the Great Hall and drawing room, which have heavy wreaths and disporting cherubs.<ref name="chorley">{{cite web|url=http://chorley.gov.uk/Pages/AtoZ/Astley-Hall.aspx |title=Astley Hall|publisher=[[Chorley|Borough of Chorley]] |accessdate=28 February 2015 }}</ref> The ceilings are barbaric in their excesses, and the figures are relatively poorly modelled, although the undercutting is breathtaking. Not all the moulding is of stucco: there are elements of lead and leather too. The staircase is of the same period with a coarse but vigorously carved acanthus scroll balustrade and square newels with vases of flowers on top.

The lower parts of the hall are panelled with inset paintings of a curious selection of modern worthies, including Protestants such as [[Elizabeth I]] and [[William the Silent]]; Catholics such as [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] and [[Ambrogio Spinola]]; the explorers [[Christopher Columbus]] and [[Ferdinand Magellan]], and Muslim rulers such as [[Bayezid I|Bajazet]] and [[Mehmed II|Mohammed II]], Sultans of Turkey; it is thought this scheme might be rather earlier than the other work and date from the time of MP [[Thomas Charnock (MP)|Thomas Charnock]], who died in 1648.  The entire width of the house on the top floor is occupied by a long gallery which contains the finest shovelboard table in existence, {{convert|23.5|ft|m}} long.

The house contains a [[bird's-eye view]] by an unknown artist showing the house c. 1710, which depicts small tower-gazebos at the angles of its forecourt. In due course, the Brookes failed in the male line and the house descended to [[Robert Townley Parker]] of Cuerden, who added the south wing in 1825 and stuccoed the exterior, probably to the design of [[Lewis Wyatt]], who worked for Parker at [[Cuerden Hall]]. The dining room in the early 19th-century wing has inlaid 16th-century panelling brought in from elsewhere.

In 1864, the will of alkali manufacturer [[John Hutchinson (industrialist)|John Hutchinson]] of Widnes named one of his executors as "Thomas Part of Astley Hall in Chorley", although Thomas Part may well not have been the owner at the time.

In 1922 the house and its contents were given to Chorley Corporation by Reginald Tatton, as a memorial to the local men killed in [[First World War|World War I]]. It has since been maintained as a museum. The house contains fine oak furniture, [[Flanders|Flemish]] tapestries and wooden panelling. It is rumoured that [[Oliver Cromwell]] stayed at the Hall during the [[Battle of Preston (1648)|Battle of Preston]] in the 17th century, and reportedly left his boots behind. However, recent research shows that these may not be his own boots, although this does not rule out him visiting the Hall.  A wide range of temporary exhibitions are displayed in the art gallery throughout the season and events are organised throughout the year.

The plain classical brick stable block with pedimented centre is of c. 1800.

The grounds with a small lake were landscaped by [[John Webb (architect)|John Webb]] and feature a picturesque meandering stream running through a wooded ravine.

The Park, Coach House and Walled Garden have recently been renovated with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Chorley Council. An extensive project has seen the restoration of the 17th century [[ha-ha]], de-silting of the lake, felling of trees, moving the pets' corner and extensive renovation of the coach house and walled garden. The Coach House now houses a new art gallery and conference room on the first floor, with a café and gift shop on the ground floor.

In 2021, Speaker [[Lindsay Hoyle]] chose the Hall for the G7 Speakers' Meeting.

==Previous owners==
*Robert Charnock (d. 1616);
*Richard Charnock MP (d.1648–1653), 1616-48/53;
*Margaret Charnock, wife of Richard Brooke (1640–1715), 1648/53-1715;
*Peter Brooke, son (1673–1721), 1715–21;
*Thomas Brooke, brother (1684–1734), 1721–34;
*Richard Brooke, son (1717–48), 1734–48;
*Peter Brooke, brother (d.1786), 1748–86;
*Peter Brooke, son (1764–87), 1786–87;
*Susannah Brooke, sister (1762–1852), wife of Thomas Townley Parker (1760–94), 1787-?;
*[[Robert Townley Parker]], son (1793–1879), ?-1879;
*Thomas Townley Parker, son (1822–1906), 1879–1906;
*Reginald Arthur Tatton, nephew (1857–1926), 1906–22;
*[[Chorley Borough Council]], 1922–present.

==Present==
The Hall is owned and managed by [[Borough of Chorley|Chorley Council]]. It is used as a museum but can also be rented for functions and is open to the public at weekends. There is a £2.50 charge for adult residents of Chorley, and a £1.50 charge for local children, with prices higher for visitors out of the town.<ref name="chorley"/>

In September 2021 the hall was the venue for [[G7]] Conference. Attendees includes: [[Nancy Pelosi]], Speaker of the US House of Representatives; [[Richard Ferrand]], the President of the French National Assembly; [[Roberto Fico]], President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies; [[David Sassoli]], President of the EU Parliament, and representatives from Germany, Canada and Japan. The theme of the Speakers' G7 was "Secure versus Open Parliaments?" <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chorley.gov.uk/G7|title=G7 Speaker's conference coming to Chorley's Astley Hall|website=Chorley Council}}</ref>

=== Restoration ===
In 2020 work began to restore Astley Hall to the building's original state by removing the render that used to cover the building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iconic Lancashire hall re-opens after two years of restoration work |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/20174525.astley-hall-re-opens-two-years-restoration-work/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> The estimated cost of the restoration was £1.1 million, which covered the cost of both removing the render facade and restoring the interior of the building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restoration of Astley Hall |url=https://astleypark.co.uk/restoration/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Astley Park Chorley |language=en-US}}</ref> The building reopened on the 21st May 2022 after restoration works were completed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heeds |first=Chantelle |date=2022-04-13 |title=Chorley's Astley Hall gets reopen date after two years with new fee to enter |url=https://www.lancs.live/whats-on/whats-on-news/chorleys-astley-hall-gets-reopen-23668371 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=LancsLive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=Details released for re-opening of one of Lancashire's most iconic halls |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/20139668.details-released-re-opening-chorleys-astley-hall/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en}}</ref><gallery>
File:Astley Hall front view.jpg|Astley Hall pre-restoration.
File:Astley Hall after restoration.jpg|Astley Hall post-restoration.
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Astley Hall Stucco Room.jpg|The Stucco Room
File:Astley Hall Cromwell Room.jpg|The Cromwell Room
File:Astley Hall Oak Bedroom.jpg|The Oak Bedroom
File:Astley Hall Long Gallery.jpg|The Long Gallery
File:Astley Hall Ante Room.jpg|The Ante Room
File:Astley Hall Dining Inlaid Room.jpg|The Inlaid Room
File:Astley Hall Dining Room.jpg|The Dining Room
File:Astley Hall Courtyard.jpg|The Courtyard
File:Astley Hall Kitchen.jpg|The Kitchen
File:Astley Hall Morning Room.jpg|The Morning Room
File:Astley Hall The Great Hall.jpg|The Great Hall
File:Astley Hall Drawing Room.jpg|The Drawing Room
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Chorley]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* Sir H. Colvin, ''A biographical dictionary of British architects, 1600–1840'', p.&nbsp;1043
* ''Country Life'', 1922, vol. 51, p.&nbsp;284; vol. 52, pp.&nbsp;14, 50, 127; ''Country Life'', 1924, vol. 56, pp.&nbsp;339, 491; ''Country Life'', 1955, vol. 118, p.&nbsp;1214
* N. Cooper, ''Houses of the Gentry, 1480–1680'', 1999, p.&nbsp;321
* J. Harris, ''The artist and the country house'', 1985, pp.&nbsp;97, 143
* [[Timothy Mowl]] & [[Brian Earnshaw]] ''Architecture without kings'', 1995, p.&nbsp;174
* J.M. Robinson, ''The country houses of the north-west'', 1991, pp.&nbsp;154–155

==External links==
{{Commons category|Astley Hall, Chorley|Astley Hall}}
* [http://www.chorley.gov.uk/astleyhall Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery] - official site
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070221174336/http://www.mcrh.mmu.ac.uk/pubs/pdf/mrhr_12_museums_wright.pdf Manchester Region History Review, Volume 12 1998, ''Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery'', Nigel Wright]
* [http://www.chorley.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=272&p=0 Astley Park]

{{Borough of Chorley buildings}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chorley]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Country houses in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Grade II listed parks and gardens in Lancashire]]