Towneley Hall

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Towneley Hall
Visit Lancashire, Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum

Burnley’s Towneley Hall and Park is a treasure trove of architecture and art. In place since the thirteenth century, the site has absorbed the remains of 15th-century Whalley Abbey, and a chapel with an Antwerp altarpiece of 1525. The house and its sixty-two acres have been run as a public amenity by Burnley corporation since 1901. You’ll find an amalgamation of turrets, battlements, and eccentric architectural caprices across the extensive house-and-park complex.

The recent recipient of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of several million pounds, the Park has been restored into a fine location for a family day out. Rooms are dressed in period style, making this a great learning experience for kids. The complex includes Burnley’s official art gallery featuring masterpieces by Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite artists. You’ll find paintings by Burne-Jones, Waterhouse, Alma-Tadema and Zoffany.

You’ll find an amalgamation of turrets, battlements, and eccentric architectural caprices across the extensive house-and-park complex

The extensive outdoor spaces include the Deer Pond, an important local nature reserve. The woods are graced with a sculpture trail and pleasant walking spots.

And if you’re really lucky, you might spot the local boggart, a sinister paranormal entity supposed to appear once every seven years, prophesying the death of one of the hall’s occupants. Allegedly this is the result of a curse placed on Sir John Towneley who oppressed the poor.

Towneley ParkBurnleyBB11 3RQ View map
Telephone: 01282477130 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Monday12:00pm - 4:45pm
  • Tuesday12:00pm - 4:45pm
  • Wednesday12:00pm - 4:45pm
  • Thursday12:00pm - 4:45pm
  • Saturday12:00pm - 4:45pm
  • Sunday12:00pm - 4:45pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

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