Pooley Hall

The present hall was built in 1509 by Sir Thomas Cockayne "The Magnificent", who was knighted at the Battle of Tournai by King Henry VIII.

It was built on the site of an earlier hall, and was one of the first examples in the country of a castellated brick-built manor house.

He was a famous Cavalier and Catholic; during the English Civil War he took the Royalist side, and in 1642 Charles I elevated him to baronet.

Sir Aston joined the future Charles II in exile for a time and chose to return to Pooley Hall to "lie low".

It was for some years the home of the now late Edwin Starr, an American soul and Motown singer who bought the premises in 1985.