Photo: Towneley Hall by Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Towneley Hall is a Grade I listed historic house in Lancashire, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Towneley Hall
Towneley Hall is a Grade I listed building in Towneley Park on the edge of Burnley, Lancashire.
The Towneley family held it as their seat for more than 600 years before selling it to Burnley Corporation in 1902.
It has operated as a museum and art gallery since 1903.
The hall's rooms include a medieval Great Hall, a Long Gallery and Regency interiors added during successive updates.
Burnley Council now owns and manages the building.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Towneley Hall
The Towneley family remained Catholic after the Reformation and paid heavy fines for recusancy, which barred many of them from public office until the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829. Richard Towneley, a 17th-century scientist from the family, conducted early experimental work in natural philosophy. Alice, Lady O'Hagan was the last family member to live in the hall, and several rooms have changed little since she moved out.
Architecture of Towneley Hall
The hall's surviving interiors include a medieval Great Hall, a Long Gallery and a sequence of Regency rooms added as the house was updated by successive generations of the family.
Worth knowing
The family included antiquarians and collectors alongside the 17th-century scientist Richard Towneley. Their long adherence to Catholicism after the Reformation brought fines and exclusion from public life for generations.
Gardens & grounds at Towneley Hall
The hall stands within Towneley Park, a large public park that was once the family's wider estate and now offers mature grounds and walking routes around the house.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Towneley Hall
Nearest station: Burnley Manchester Road Rail Station (1.3 miles)
Places to visit near Towneley Hall
Goodshaw Chapel
View Goodshaw Chapel on heritage mapMartholme
View Martholme on heritage mapWhalley Abbey
View Whalley Abbey on heritage mapOld St Leonard's Church, Langho
View Old St Leonard's Church, Langho on heritage mapHoly Trinity Church, Blackburn
View Holy Trinity Church, Blackburn on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Towneley Hall there are 1 historic properties, including 1 chapel.
Within 10 miles of Towneley Hall there are 4 historic properties, including 1 historic building, 1 chapel and 1 church, across English Heritage, Churches Conservation Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Within 20 miles of Towneley Hall there are 17 historic properties, including 6 churchs, 6 historic houses and 3 historic buildings, across Churches Conservation Trust, Historic Houses and English Heritage sites.
Facts
A Lancashire manor held by one Catholic family for 600 years before it became the town's own museum.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Lancashire, England
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