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 and Ambrogio Spinola, the explorers Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan and Muhammadans such as Bajazet and Mohammed II the Sultans of Turkey. It is thought this scheme might be rather earlier than the other work and date from the time of Thomas Charnock MP, who died in 1648.
The whole width of the house on the top floor is occupied by a long gallery which contains the finest shovelboard table in existence, 23½ feet 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 him 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 John Hutchinson (alkali manufacturer) 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 World War I. It has since been maintained as a museum. The house contains fine oak furniture, Flemish tapestries and wooden panelling. A wide range of temporary exhibitions are displayed in the art gallery throughout the season and events are organised throughout the year.
The grounds with a small lake were landscaped by John Webb and feature a picturesque meandering stream running through a wooded ravine.
To Log This Cache:
Answer the following question to obtain the final location coordinates:
Which famous 17th Century person has allegedly stayed at Astley Hall?
William Shakespeare = N53 39.460 / W002 38.110
Galileo Galilei = N53 39.427 / W002 38.258
Johannes Kepler = N53 39.524 / W002 39.085
John Locke = N53 39.490 / W002 38.625
Isaac Newton = N53 39.391 / W002 38.426
Francis Bacon = N53 39.527 / W002 38.931
Oliver Cromwell = N53 39.447 / W002 38.518
Rene Descartes = N53 39.602 / W002 38.836