In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Astley like this:
ASTLEY, a parish in Nuneaton district, Warwick: on the Sow brook, 3½ miles W by S of Chilvers-Coton r. station, and 4½ SW by W of Nuneaton. It contains a place called Soley-End; and has a post office under Nuneaton. Acres, 2,550. Real property, £3,820. Pop., 332 of Astley, one of whom fell on the field of Evesham fighting against Henry III., two taken prisoners on the field of Bannockburn, and one distinguished highly for military services in the time of Henry VIII.; it passed by marriage to the Greys of Ruthin, of whom were the Duke of Suffolk and his danghter, Lady Jane Grey, who suffered on the block for their claim to the crown; and it now belongs to N. ...
Newdegate, Esq., of the neighbouring grand seat of Arbury Hall. Astley Castle, the ancient residence of the Greys, rebuilt in the time of Queen Mary, was allowed to fall into neglect, and used as a farmhouse; but is now a renovated and elegant residence; and contains some old armour, and a portrait of the last Duke of Suffolk. The old parts of it are picturesquely clothed with ivy; and a moat around it has remains of massive masonry along the inner edge, and is overshadowed with fine trees. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Worcester. Value, £60. Patron,N. Newdegate, Esq. The church is part of an edifice built, in the time of Edward III., by Sir Thomas de Astley, for a dean, two canons, or prebendaries, and three vicars, and adorned with a tall spire, which servedas a landmark in the broad surrounding woodlands, and was popularly called "the Lanthorn of Arden;" but even what remains of the structure has been much injured by neglect and maltreatment. There is a free school.
Astley through time
Astley is now part of North Warwickshire district. Click here for graphs and data of how North Warwickshire has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Astley itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Astley in North Warwickshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/8533
Date accessed: 17th April 2024
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