Townley Hall Bimble
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 3 Apr 2017 22:57
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Townley Hall Bimble with Vicks
and a Tribe
  We took Kaiser in our car and Vick
loaded Harley, Harry, Emmie, Sarah from next door and her two nieces. Just a
minute drive away and we were on a sweeping road up to a once-country-seat
called Townley Hall. We parked and set out to bimble the grounds. Harley didn’t
want to smile for a picture – so I sat on him and
then pulled his cap down.
 The formal
gardens were superb.
 As we rounded the
house........
 .............some very lovely bottoms came into view.
 Better have a
closer look.
   A grand
home of yesteryear.
 Townley
Hall
 Townley Hall and sixty-two acres
of land were sold by Lady O’Hagan (Alice Mary
Townley) in 1901, to be used by the people of Burnley. The park opened in
1902 and the hall in 1903. The sundial on the southern buttress of the hall
commemorates that, in the 1660’s Richard Townley set up a weather station at
Townley.
The Stables Cafe. In the former
coach house, was established in 1903, with the cafe refurbished in 1951, and a
verandah added when the stables in front of it were demolished. The fire escape
was added in 1976 to allow private functions to take place on the first floor.
During HLF improvements to the park (2005–2010), the verandah became a
conservatory.
Following World War I the War
Memorial was bequeathed by Caleb Thornber, while the Garden of Remembrance was
provided by the people of Burnley at a cost of one thousand, one hundred and
fifty four pounds, nine shillings and nineteen old pennies, including crazy
paving, and the reflective pool.
In 1929, the servants quarters
attached to the hall, were finally demolished and the stones from them used to
build three cottages in the woodland along the Causeway. 2001-2002 saw a new
block built on the footprint of the servants quarters, including a shop, toilets
and offices.
Although no plans or records
exist for the Ice House, it may have been built in the early 19th century, about
the time of Jeffrey Wyatt’s improvements to the hall, under the direction of
Peregrine Edward Townley. Leaving the hall along the Causeway it is found on the
right hand side, hidden behind its own earth mound. It was made safe in 1963,
with improved access in 1975, but it has become a bat roost and only people with
special permits can now enter.
 Time to bimble past the fountain and head down to the play park and have an ice
cream.
   Vicks and
Harley tried for the perfect picture of Emmie.
  We watched the
smile.
 A happy little
princess. Time to go home.
ALL IN ALL AN AMAZING OPEN
SPACE SO CLOSE TO TOWN
A VERY NICE FAMILY
OUTING |