Turton Tower
| Turton Tower | |
| Lancashire | |
|---|---|
 Turton Tower | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 53°37’59"N, 2°24’27"W |
| Village: | Chapeltown |
| History | |
| Built 1596 | |
| Manor house | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Blackburn with Darwen Council |
Turton Tower is a manor house in Chapeltown in Lancashire. It is a scheduled ancient monument and a grade I listed building.[1]
The house was built in the late Middle Ages as a two-storey stone pele tower which was altered and enlarged mainly in late 16th century. The location is at the edge of the Pennines, and today it is just a few miles from the edge of Bolton: William Camden described it as being built "amongst precipices and wastes." A north wing and additions were made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and alterations were made during the early years of Queen Victoria.[2]
Structure
The oldest part of the building, which was probably built in the early 15th century, is the stone pele tower which measures 45 feet in length from north to south and is 28 feet in width. It 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. Its walls are rough with large corner quoins.[2]
During the early 16th century two cruck framed buildings were added to the tower and later an extension at the front of the house created the entrance with its imposing front door. Inside the building this Tudor architecture can be seen including part of the cruck structure along with exposed and restored sections of the wattle and daub and lath and plaster wall panelling.[3] The entrance and entrance hall belong to the rebuilding of 1596 when vast changes were made and the tower raised to its present height. The new upper storey was built in ashlar stone separated from the old rubble walling by a moulded string course. The old floors were removed and the walls raised to 45 feet to the top of the battlements. The narrow windows were blocked up, and replaced by large three, four, and five light mullioned and transomed windows, transforming the appearance of the old part of the building. During the 17th century the cruck buildings were clad in stone and the structure remained unchanged until the 19th century.
After 1835 the Kay's were responsible for Victorian renovations including the Dutch gable façade.[3]
Occupants
Turton Tower home to the lords of the Manor of Turton and around 1200 was part of the barony of Manchester by which time part of the manor was in the hands of the de Lathom family. It was inherited in 1420 by the Orrells who rebuilt the pele tower. In 1628 they sold Turton Tower to Humphrey Chetham, the Manchester merchant responsible for the creation of Chetham's Library and Chetham's School of Music. It passed to his descendants, the Bland, Green and Frere families who leased it to a succession of tenant farmers.[2]
The tower was sold in a state of disrepair in 1835 to James Kay who restored it. He sold the tower to Elizabeth and Anne Appleton who leased it to William Rigg, a calico manufacturer, whose daughter, Ellen, wrote "Victorian Children at Turton Tower". In 1903 the tower was bought by Sir Lees Knowles, 1st Baronet, MP for Salford West, for £3,875. After his death in 1929, his widow, Lady Nina Knowles, presented it to Turton Urban District Council in 1930, and it became the council chamber.
After local government re-organisation in 1974, Turton was split between two councils, and the tower ended up in the ownership of one and the administration of another (Lancashire County Museums Service). The latter has latterly given it up.
Outside links
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1241557: Turton Tower
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 [1]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Turton Tower Architecture, Blackburn Council, http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.48932, retrieved 2010-08-25
- National Heritage List 1241557: Turton Tower
