A visit to Astley Hall is like a voyage into the past, to the time of Tudor and early Stuart England (1580-1650). The visitor has a rare opportunity to experience life in an English country house during this period. The hall is built around a central courtyard and contains a unique collection of furniture. In the Great Hall stands the Sir Loin Chair, which is reputed to have been used by King James I, when he knighted the Loin of Beef.