Astley, Warwickshire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Astley is a village and parish within the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 219.

Astley is Knebly in George Eliot's Mr Gilfil's Love Story.

[edit] St Mary the Virgin

The parish church was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Astley in 1343. A Saxon carving of a sundial from an earlier church was preserved in the tower. Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset was entombed in the church in 1530. The present church dates from another rebuild in 1617 by the Chamberlayne family. It is mainly the chancel of the 1343 building and the original east window incorporated into the tower. Preserved in the church are effigies of the Grey family, 18 choirstalls painted with images of the prophets and apostles and, on the ceiling, 21 heraldic shields of Midlands families.

[edit] Astley Castle

Astley Castle, a Grade II* listed building, is the last of three castles built on the same site and using the same moat. The castle was held by the Newdigate family in the 19th century, latterly being the home of Lieut-Gen. Edward Newdigate Newdegate. It was later a hotel, but is now a ruin following the fire in 1978.