Morleys Hall, Historic mansion in Astley, England
Morleys Hall is a mansion with a U-shaped design and projecting wings, built from brick with slate roofing and timber framing integrated throughout. The building sits on a rectangular moated island fed by a natural spring.
The building is first documented in the 13th century as More-Leghe and passed through several families, including the Leylands and Tyldesleys, until 1755. Its long period of family ownership shaped its development across the centuries.
The Tyldesley family used the hall as a refuge for priests during the Reformation, making it a center for local Catholic worship when such practices were forbidden. Visitors can still sense how the building's layout provided shelter for these activities.
The site is located in the countryside near Astley on an elevated moated island setting, which affects how visitors can approach and explore it. Check current visiting conditions in advance since it is a protected monument.
The estate underwent successive major rebuilding campaigns by the Leylands and later the Tyldesleys, layering different architectural phases onto the structure. These overlapping building styles create a visible record of the property's long cycles of transformation.
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