Turton Tower — Attraction in North Turton

TURTON TOWER EVOLVED FROM BEING A SIMPLE STONE PELE TOWER, WHICH WAS BUILT AROUND 1420 AS A DEFENSIVE FORTRESS, TO AN IMPRESSIVE AND COMFORTABLE RESIDENCE BY THE TUDOR AND EARLY STUART PERIOD. IS THE STONE PELE TOWER WHICH MEASURES 45 FEET IN LENGTH FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND IS 28 FEET WIDE. THE TOWER IS ABOUT 35 FEET IN HEIGHT WITH WALLS FOUR FEET THICK. IN THE NORTH-WEST CORNER OF THE TOWER THE SHAFT OF A GARDEROBE PROJECTS FROM THE MAIN STRUCTURE. THE TOWER HAD THREE LOW STOREYS AS EVIDENCED BY THE BLOCKED WINDOW OPENINGS. THE WALLS HAVE ROUGH WITH LARGE CORNER QUOINS. THE SIMPLE STONE STRUCTURE WAS ADDED TO WITH TIMBER EXTENSIONS BY THE ORRELL FAMILY TRANSFORMING IT TO A LAVISH HOUSE. IN DOING SO, HOWEVER IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THEY OVERSPENT AND WERE FORCED TO SELL. THE TOWER WAS PURCHASED BY HUMPHREY CHETHAM IN 1628. THE ORRELL’S CONTINUED TO LIVE ON AT THE TOWER RENTING THE TOWER FROM HIM. DURING THE CIVIL (1642-1650), THE ORRELL’S WERE CAVALIERS WHERE THE CHETHAMS SUPPORTED THE ROUNDHEAD AND THIS MUST HAVE MADE FOR INTERESTING TIMES AT THE TOWER WHEN CHETHAM GARRISONED HIS TROOPS WITHIN THE TURTON ESTATE! THE GREENE AND FRERE FAMILIES WERE THE OWNERS IN THE LATE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURIES AND THEY CONTINUED THIS TRADITION OF KEEPING HOUSES ELSEWHERE ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE WAS OCCUPIED FOR SOME TIME BY MEMBERS OF THE HORROCKS FAMILY WHO ARE STILL NUMEROUS IN THIS AREA. THE ARRIVAL OF THE KAY FAMILY IN 1835 SAW TURTON TOWER TRANSFORMED INTO A ROMANTIC GOTHIC BUILDING. THEY CHANGED THE SOUTH FRONT, BUILT A ‘MOCK TUDOR’ EXTENSION AND REBUILT THE SUMMER HOUSE WHICH IS NOW ON PRIVATE GROUND BUT CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE TOWER. THEY SUPPORTED THE BUILDING OF THE RAILWAY NEARBY AND CREATED A TENNIS COURT IN THE GROUNDS. THE KAYS DEPARTED IN THE 1890S AND, AFTER OCCUPATION BY SEVERAL MORE TENANTS, THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED BY SIR LEES KNOWLES AND USED AS A HUNTING LODGE AND WEEKEND RETREAT. ON HIS DEATH IN 1929 LADY NINA KNOWLES, HIS WIDOW, GAVE THE TOWER AND GROUNDS TO TURTON URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL TO USE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. SINCE THEN THE TOWER HAS BEEN USED AS COUNCIL OFFICES AND SINCE 1974 AS A MUSEUM AND HISTORIC HOUSE. TURTON TOWER IS NOW OWNED BY BLACKBURN WITH...

On Wednesday 16/10/19 I visited Turton Tower with a friend after hearing about it from a mutual friend. Lovely late 15th century house with later extensions and in its own grounds - including a large free car park - surrounded by the beautiful Lancashire countryside. We were too late for the tour (1pm - 3pm), so visited the Victorian Tea Room.(open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am - 4.pm) for a bite to eat. The tea room was clean and warm. I had the all day breakfast and my friend the home made soup of the day with crusty bread. The food was good and reasonably priced and service from the one woman working there was friendly and efficient. We finished with two pots of tea, a large coffee and two slices of home made apple pie and the bill was under £21.00. The negative side is that the tea room is very small and felt cramped and sits about 25 people. There's no view of the Tower from inside the tea room and the toilets are situated about 200 feet away outside the room and though basic, were clean. We finished our visit with a walk in the grounds and would recommend a visit here without hesitation. Note: The Tower closes at the end of October and reopens in the...

I was completely aware of Turton Tower and its location, but yesterday 01/08/23, was the first time I’d actually visited. An awesome example of Tudor architecture, however, meticulously and painstakingly restored, to as close as, I assume, it’s original glorious state. I was only able to observe the exterior of the building, and a small amount of its grounds. Because the day I visited, obviously 🙄, it was closed to the public lol. As far as I’m aware, the site closes at least two days a week, but there is a cute little café area that appears to sell home, baked goods, tray, bakes, teas, coffees, soft drinks, milk, sweets, crisps… and some souvenir items I think, and all of which I’m sure embossed with Turton Tower and logo! all sorts of gear actually. I can easily picture myself there, visiting on some other day, a day with amazing weather conditions, some good conversational type individuals, soaking up as much of its mediaeval charm as possible. During my visit, I thought… “I think this would be an amazing wedding venue” and on my departure, I discovered this is a service thats...