Tue 14 Jun 2022
| John Ball - Astley Hall - Its
Park and Its People. |
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John,
who is member of the Friends of Astley Hall, took us back as far
as the Bronze Age, the site of Astley Hall Farmhouse, where
evidence of a burial ground was excavated back in 1974
More recent in time, just 800 years
ago, Richard de Charnock gifted land, which included what is now
Astley Park, to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. |
John Ball. |
The family tree of the numerous owners
of Astley Hall was explored from the 17th century to when the
hall was given to the town as a war memorial following world war
1. Film footage, from the North West Film Archive, was shown of
the ceremony, which took place on 31st May 1924.
No less attention was taken of the
fabric of the hall. Both its exterior and a room by room look at
its paintings, panelling, furniture and historic connections.
It was a timely talk as it brought us
up to date with the extensive work that is now complete, that
has revealed the beauty of the original brickwork.
John's talk,
which also looked at the land the park includes, was well
supported by many images, both old and new.
So, no matter what you thought you
knew about a subject there is always something new to learn.
John's
talk, given with an obvious warmth and knowledge of the subject,
was no exception.
Peter Robinson |
Astley Village Community Centre.
Its good to have brewing facilities in our new venue |
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