When you ask most people to tell you about Burnley, Lancashire, they might mention the town’s industrial past, its football team, or some of its many famous residents. What they are less likely to mention is the impressive green spaces and architecture of the town. Among these are Towneley Park and Towneley Hall, an impressive space within a mile of the town centre. The park covers 440 acres, and includes the Deer Pond (a nature reserve), a high school, and of course Towneley Hall.
Towneley Hall was the home of the Towneley family, although the male line died out in 1878, and in 1901, one of the daughters, Lady O’Hagan, sold the house and land to the Burnley Corporation. The hall opened to the public as an art exhibition, and is today a museum, as well as an art gallery. There is a cae there too, where those visiting can enjoy a coffee or some lunch.
Towneley Hall as an impressive façade, and when I visited, that seemed to be a popular place for people to sit and admire the architecture.
The grounds around the hall contain various other items that are worth seeing, including a sun dial, a cenotaph, and Foldy’s Cross, just behind the hall. The cross was apparently built in 1520, and contains the inscription “Pray for the soul of John Foldys, chaplain, who caused this cross to be made in the year of Our Lord 1520.”
Berta enjoyed a trip around the gardens – we stopped for a walk after a trip the previous day to Skipton Castle before heading back home – and of course, there was plenty of ground to explore.
So, if you find yourself in or near Burnley, do have a look at Towneley Hall and Towneley Park. Definitely a good place to spend some time, and definitely popular and being put to use of the Sunday morning that I visited.
