Thu 11 Jul 2013
Society evening visit (7pm) to Turton Tower.

A warm evening greeted Society members to Turton Tower. Two guided were needed to cope with the numbers and each party set off at opposite ends of the building.
The main tower is a Grade I listed building and dates back to around 1420 when it was a Pele Tower. Over the centuries the buildings have been altered and extended by the families of Orrell, Chetham Greene, Frere, Kay and Horrocks. The buildings are now owned by Blackburn with Darwen council.

Turton Tower

Dining Room

View of the mid nineteenth century Tower showing James Kay's Gothic extensions.

Above the staircase to the top-left of the photo can be seen a small window. This is an eavesdrop.
Eavesdrop a small low visibility hole near the entrance to a building (generally under the eaves) which would allow the occupants to listen in on the conversation of people awaiting admission. Typically this would allow the occupant to be prepared for unfriendly visitors.

Holcombe Hunt at Turton Tower 1905

Humphrey Chetham (1580 – 1653) bought the Tower in 1628.
He also left money to form the Chetham's Library, which included money to pay for the books. More libraries were constructed later on from this money