Astley Family
The lands of Astley were granted by William the Conqueror to the Earl of Leicester whose successors held it for about 100 years. Eventually the lands passed to the Earls of Warwick who were descended from the Earls of Leicester. In the latter part of the 12th Century the manor was granted to Philip de Estley who held it, on the feudal principle, from the Earl of Warwick.
Philip was succeeded by his son Thomas who was in turn succeeded by his son Walter , and then by a second Thomas Astley. This Thomas forfeited the estate after opposing the king at the battle of Evesham in 1265 where he was killed. The estate was restored to his son, Andrew, after his participation in a crusade in 1270. The widow of Thomas was Edith Astley and she was allowed to remain at Astley, she was the second wife of Thomas, one of her sons being Stephen Astley.
Andrew Astley died in 1301 and was followed by his son Nicholas. Eventually Nicholas was succeeded by his nephew Sir Thomas Astley. Sir Thomas was probably born about 1300 and was the son of Giles Astley who died sometime before 1316. When Thomas' uncle, Nicholas Astley, died in 1325 without any children, Thomas succeeded him as Lord of the Manor of Astley. Thomas was the seventh generation of the family which had taken their name from the place in which they lived.
During the 1950's, whilst the foundations of the church were being strengthened by the Coal Board, a vault was rediscovered. Amongst the remains that were discovered were two skeletons that were presumed to be those of Sir Thomas Astley and his wife, Elizabeth Beauchamp.
Eventually, in the first half of the 14th Century the property passed to Joanna Astley, the heiress of Sir William Astley. Initially Joanna married Thomas Raleigh, but after his death, about 1450, she married Reginald, Lord Grey.
The lands of Astley were granted by William the Conqueror to the Earl of Leicester whose successors held it for about 100 years. Eventually the lands passed to the Earls of Warwick who were descended from the Earls of Leicester. In the latter part of the 12th Century the manor was granted to Philip de Estley who held it, on the feudal principle, from the Earl of Warwick.
Philip was succeeded by his son Thomas who was in turn succeeded by his son Walter , and then by a second Thomas Astley. This Thomas forfeited the estate after opposing the king at the battle of Evesham in 1265 where he was killed. The estate was restored to his son, Andrew, after his participation in a crusade in 1270. The widow of Thomas was Edith Astley and she was allowed to remain at Astley, she was the second wife of Thomas, one of her sons being Stephen Astley.
Andrew Astley died in 1301 and was followed by his son Nicholas. Eventually Nicholas was succeeded by his nephew Sir Thomas Astley. Sir Thomas was probably born about 1300 and was the son of Giles Astley who died sometime before 1316. When Thomas' uncle, Nicholas Astley, died in 1325 without any children, Thomas succeeded him as Lord of the Manor of Astley. Thomas was the seventh generation of the family which had taken their name from the place in which they lived.
During the 1950's, whilst the foundations of the church were being strengthened by the Coal Board, a vault was rediscovered. Amongst the remains that were discovered were two skeletons that were presumed to be those of Sir Thomas Astley and his wife, Elizabeth Beauchamp.
Eventually, in the first half of the 14th Century the property passed to Joanna Astley, the heiress of Sir William Astley. Initially Joanna married Thomas Raleigh, but after his death, about 1450, she married Reginald, Lord Grey.
