16-576: (Redirected from Astley Park ) Astley Hall may refer to Astley Hall (Chorley) , country house in Lancashire, England Astley Hall (Stourport-on-Severn) , country house in Worcestershire, England Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Astley Hall . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
32-471: A long gallery which contains the finest shovelboard table in existence, 23.5 feet (7.2 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
48-636: 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 . The site was acquired in the 15th century by the Charnock family from the 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 Sir Peter Brooke ), and they built
64-779: The United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of Preston . He was the son of Thomas Townley Parker, Esq. of the cadet brand of the Towneley family of Towneley Hall . He inherited Cuerden Hall , near Preston, Lancashire and other such estates - including Astley Hall - on his father's death. He presented a petition related to the Maynooth Grant affair to prevent Roman Catholic Members of Parliament from Voting on Church matters, complaining about duties on English goods in France and Belgium. Townley Parker
80-558: The Hall for the G7 Speakers' Meeting. The Hall is owned and managed by 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. In September 2021 the hall was the venue for G7 Conference. Attendees includes: Nancy Pelosi , Speaker of
96-454: 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 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
112-496: 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
128-455: The Silent ; Catholics such as Philip II and Ambrogio Spinola ; the explorers Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan , and Muslim rulers such as Bajazet and 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 , who died in 1648. The entire width of the house on the top floor is occupied by
144-795: 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?" In 2020 work began to restore Astley Hall to the building's original state by removing
160-457: 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 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
176-476: 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
SECTION 10
#1732780605510192-512: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Astley_Hall&oldid=932699256 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Astley Hall (Chorley) Astley Hall is a country house in Chorley , Lancashire , England. The building
208-497: The present grand but asymmetrical front range of brick with a pair of vast mullion -and- transomed bay windows. This front has a doorway with distinctly rustic 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. The ceilings are barbaric in their excesses, and
224-406: The render that used to cover the building. 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. The building reopened on the 21st May 2022 after restoration works were completed. Robert Townley Parker Robert Townley Parker (1793–1879) was a Unionist Member of Parliament for
240-648: 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 World War I . It has since been maintained as a museum. The house contains fine oak furniture, Flemish tapestries and wooden panelling. It is rumoured that Oliver Cromwell stayed at the Hall during the 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
256-481: Was elected Guild Mayor of Preston in 1861–2. He was also a prominent Freemason. Whereas most Freemasons Lodges are named after areas or moral virtues, Townley Parker had the unusual honour of having not one but two Masonic Lodges named for him; namely Townley Parker Lodge 1032, which currently meets at Cunliffe Hall in Chorley and Townley Parker Lodge 1083, which meets in Manchester. In addition, he also has
#509490