As part of the celebrations marking 100 years of Astley Hall being used as a museum and the Park being open to the public of Chorley, key events that have taken place in the Park are set out below.
The Opening of Astley Park 31st May 1924
Photos from: http://www.chorleyhistorysociety.co.uk/
1924 – Present War Remembrance
The Park was created primarily to provide a location for a First World War memorial cenotaph which was built as a fairly accurate replica of Chorley’s old market cross. Each year Remembrance services are held to commemorate the war dead from the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.
c1928 – c1964 Bandstand Performances
The first recorded presence of a bandstand in the Park dates to a map produced in 1928. The map showed the location of the bandstand being near to the Millfield Road entrance of the park. The Chorley Military Band was one of many local bands that performed on the bandstand. After 1964 the bandstand was taken down and placed into storage.
Chorley Military Band (Photo from: https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/)
c1930 – Present Football
In the early 1930s work was done to level part of the Park to create football pitches. Since then, apart from during the Second World War, many football matches and tournaments have been staged in the Park up to the present day.
1931 Chorley Golden Jubilee for the Founding of the Borough in 1881
Chorley Borough’s Golden jubilee celebrations for the Founding of the Borough lasted a week and a souvenir book, hardback and paperback editions, and a programme of events were produced. Schools were heavily involved, and floats took part in the pageant. This included the Rose Queen being crowned by the town’s Cotton Queen. Below are Jubilee photos from The Frank Sellars Collection.
1932 – 2005? Children’s Playing Pool
Thought to have been originally a toy boating pool, this feature became used as a children’s paddling pool in later years. It was located near to where the River Chor cascades under the main path from Park Road.
1940s Second World War use and recovery
The first five years of the 1940’s in Britain were consumed by the war, the last five by recovery. The war had a massive impact on Chorley and of course the Park and the Hall. Chorley Savings Committee asked for permission to use the Park during ‘Wings for Victory’ week (1943) and ‘Salute the Soldier’ week (1944) for parades and band concerts. The Park was turned over to vegetable production for the dig for Britain campaign and was used extensively by the armed forces, the home guard and the Air Raid Wardens for training. Air raid wardens patrolled, and a communal bomb shelter was built in the grounds. After the war the significance of the memorial nature of the Hall and Park came to the fore as the cenotaph was expanded to include those who died in World War II, in the Hall memorial plaques of all those who lost their lives fighting were created.
1946 Royal Lancashire Show
As part of the recovery from the War, this prestigious agricultural show was held in Astley Park.
1953 The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Events in the Park included exhibitions, band concerts, dancing and fireworks.
1953 – Present Sensory Garden
Work started to create what was originally known as the ‘Garden for the Blind’, particularly for use by men returning from the War. Over the coming decades the Garden was improved several times. However, in 2014 the Friends of Astley Park redesigned, rebuilt and replanted what then became the’ Sensory Garden’ so that it could be enjoyed by people who have other sensory impairments. Since that time this garden has been maintained by the Friends. Full details are available at www.friendsofastleypark.com
1963 – 1974 Archaeological Discoveries
The first evidence of human habitation in the vicinity of what is now Astley Park, and the oldest remains found to date in Chorley, was discovered in 1963. It is a Bronze Age ‘henge-like’ monument used for ritual burials. Not fully revealed by archaeologists until the 1970’s, the artefacts found include two burial urns (now part of the Astley Hall collection) dated to perhaps as early as 1400 BC. The discovery is marked by an inscribed slab at the rear of the Astley Farmhouse alongside the path leading from the Hall Gate carpark, however the actual site is under Oliver House School. Further information can be found in the Curiosities of Astley Park article at www.friendsofastleypark.com
1980 – Present Athletics and Fitness Training
Since the formation of the Chorley Athletics and Triathlon Club at the start of this decade various race events have been held in the Park. The Park is still used by the Club and many other groups including for organised fitness training sessions. Pictured is a Corporate Challenge 5km run for ‘works’ teams from 1998.
1980s – Present Bonfire and Fireworks
Once run by Chorley Lions and latterly organised by Chorley Council this annual celebration is always popular and well attended.
1987 – 2002 The Royal Lancashire Show
The Show returned to Chorley for the first time in 41 years. It comprised the judging of many aspects of farm activities including animals, produce and equipment. There was also entertainment and fairground rides.
Photos from: BYGONES: Taking a trip down memory lane at Royal Lancashire Show throughout the years | Lancashire Telegraph
2004 & 2012 The Transits of Venus
Only very rarely can the planet Venus be seen from the Earth when passing in front of the Sun, but it has happened twice in recent times, both were celebrated in the Park. The special local significance of the Transits is explained at www.friendsofastleypark.com
2004 – Present Music Concerts
Coinciding with the first Transit this Century there was a ‘Planets in the Park’ concert held as pictured where people came along in the evening to listen to classical music played by the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The evening culminated with a rendition of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, followed by a firework display. There have been numerous music concerts held since.
2005 Heritage Lottery Bid/Formation of the Friends of Astley Park
Chorley Council was successful in winning National Lottery funding in 2005. However, some of the original proposals were not supported by a group of local people who went on to form the Friends of Astley Park. As a result, the Council agreed to change the plans. Numerous improvements then went ahead including renovation of the Coach House to create a gallery space and café; the old wire fenced enclosed Pet’s Corner located near the lake became re-housed in a purpose-built structure behind the playing fields pavilion, and the diagonal path was created across the Park. Pet’s Corner is run by volunteers from Lisieux Hall.
2015 – Present Chorley Flower Show
Chorley Flower Show was held in Astley Park for the first time in 2015 and has been held there most years since. This prestigious three-day event attracts visitors from a wide area. This Chorley Council organised show has become an annual celebration of everything gardening and a place for family fun days out. Pictured below are the displays produced by the Friends of Astley Park for recent shows.
2021 Astley Park Trail
Using a grant secured by the Friends of Astley Park an unmade path along the northern and eastern boundary of the Park was properly surfaced. This enabled the creation of a 2 mile (3.3km) circular trail linking up the Park’s key features. Details are at www.friendsofastleypark.com
2021 G7 Speakers Conference
Speakers from the G7 countries were invited by Lindsay Hoyle to a conference at Astley Hall. They drove through the park in a cavalcade of cars. The United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the best-known participant at the Summit. Other guests included the President of the French National Assembly Richard Ferrand, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico, the President of the EU Parliament David Sassoli and colleagues from Germany, Canada and Japan.
2024 The Park continues to be used by a variety of people and groups.
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