Astley Hall
Astley Hall is Chorley 's 'grand old house' and it is situated on a Bronze Age burial ground. The hall itself, and the well-wooded park which surrounds it, was given to the town in 1922. Initially it was a half-timbered Tudor House first built by the Charnocks and in 1666 extensions and alterations were completed. Royalist troops retreating from the Battle of Preston in 1648 fought pursuing Parliamentarians in the Chorley are and you'll even discover a pair of Oliver Cromwell's own boots at the Hall!! The hall is open to the public but it is as well to check on the opening times. There grounds, which have scenic nature trails, are open throughout the year and the lake is a haven for wildfowl. The old stable-block has been converted into a cafe and inside the hall are ornate plaster ceilings and a shovelboard, which is more than 20 feet long and supported on 10 pairs of stout wooden legs. This was a game rather like an extension of shove halfpenny but maces, which were used like snooker cues, moved huge coins.