Damhouse

Damhouse
Damhouse in 2011
Alternative names	Astley Hall
General information
Type	Manor house
Coordinates	53°30′11″N 2°27′22″W / 53.503°N 2.456°W / 53.503; -2.456Coordinates: 53°30′11″N 2°27′22″W / 53.503°N 2.456°W / 53.503; -2.456
Owner	Morts Astley Heritage Group
Website
www.damhouse.net

Damhouse or Astley Hall is a Grade II* Listed building located in Tyldesley but considered to be in Astley, Greater Manchester, England. It has served as a manor house, sanatorium, and, since restoration in 2000, houses offices, a clinic, nursery and tearooms.

From medieval times Damhouse was the site of the manor house for the lords of the manors of Astley and Tyldesley and stands just within the Tyldesley boundary with Astley. Hugh Tyldesley was the first recorded occupant of the Damhouse in 1212. He was succeeded by his son Henry. The manors were separated after the death of Hugh's grandson, Henry, in 1301 and Damhouse became the manor house for Astley. In 1345 Richard Radcliff took possession of the hall and became lord of the manor in 1353. The Radcliffes remained in possession until the failure of the male line with William Radcliff's death in 1561 and his half sister Ann Radcliff inherited. Ann's husband, Gilbert Gerard, became lord of the manor. He was attorney general to Queen Elizabeth I and knighted in 1579. His son, Thomas Gerard, inherited the house and mortgaged it to James Anderton of Lostock.

Adam Mort bought the hall and 60 acre estate in 1595 and bought the manorial rights in 1606. Mort was a wealthy man and built a new house. He built Astley Chapel, the first chapel of ease to Leigh Parish Church and Morts Grammar School, Astley's first school. Adam Mort died in 1631 and was succeeded by his son Thomas who lived at Peel Hall, Little Hulton. Thomas's son, Adam, inherited Damhouse whilst a minor in 1638. The inscription over the lintel reads, "Erected by Adam Mort and Margret Mort 1650". Adam died in 1658 leaving the property to his son Thomas who was four years old. Thomas died unmarried in 1733. The property was bought by Thomas Sutton, a distant cousin in 1734. After Sutton's death in 1752 his cousin, Thomas Froggatt inherited the estate which was in turn left to his son, Thomas. After 1799 the house was occupied by tenants including George Ormerod who had inherited the Banks Estate of his uncle Thomas Johnson in Tyldesley.