The Towneley Hall Society for the Art Gallery and Museum

It is over 40 years ago that the Society was formed to stimulate interest in Towneley Hall and gardens. The Hall is known locally as "the jewel in Burnley's crown".

The Society meets regularly at the Hall and members enjoy a programme of interesting talks, film shows and live entertainment. Throughout the year we go on organised visits to places of historical interest. Previous trips out have included Astley Hall, Stoneyhurst College, the Tiffany glass collection at Howarth Art Gallery, Whalley Abbey, the Japanese Garden at Eastby.

Fundraising is an important part of our work. We support Towneley Hall's official programme of events and assist at social functions. Additional monies are raised through the Society’s collecting box at the Hall and by the sale of various interesting gift items at the well stocked shop. Our funds have been used to purchase many items for Towneley Hall including a sundial, security equipment, an oak coffer and a significant contribution towards the John Towneley portrait.

In the nine years to 31st March 2011, the Society has provided over £112,000 in gifts to the Hall, (including the Ashcroft legacy).

Please support our society so that our work can continue. Your subscription is both necessary and welcome.

Of interest..... »

Next Meeting : AGM followed by a talk by the local historian Roger Frost on the granting of Burnley's Charter of Incorporation. He will take us through the development of local government from the middle ages to present times.
Monday, May 14th 2012 at 1.30pm at the Hall
Towneley Hall - change of telephone number
The new telephone number for the Hall is 01282 477130
Please use this new number
Latest Newsletter »
April 2012. The April Newsletter is now comleted and will be sent by mail or by email to members with email addresses.
Archive>> In February 2004, an opportunity arose for the Hall to acquire a pastel of John Towneley by the celebrated French portraitist Jean-Baptiste Perronneau. This portrait, which once graced the the Long Gallery, had a price tag of £79,000. After negotiations, a sale to the Hall was agreed at £49,000 with a deadline of 30 days. Financial commitments were secured from the National Art Collectors´ Fund, The Victoria & Albert Museum and the Edward Stocks Massey Bequest. There was still a shortfall of £11,000. The Society launched an appeal where local organisations and people gave generously. The Society made up the shortfall and the purchase was secured.

Latest THS meeting, 16 April 2012

The Reverend Keith Richardson gave an extraordinary emotive talk to 30 Members of the Society. Rev. Keith began his story when at the age of 4 he was adopted by his mother's next door neighbours. In middle age he decided to find his birth mother, with surprising results. His mother had emigrated to Australia along with his half brother, also named Keith and shortly afterwards a girl was born and these two children were also put up for adoption. This story was taken up with the Australia television programme Find My Family reuniting the Rev. Keith, half brother Keith, his half sister Grace and their Mother, who then revealed that they had another sister who was also put up for adoption, but unfortunately up to the present time has been unable to trace. We were shown the television company's programme on a dvd making the story all the more amazing. The Rev. Keith's mother has subsequently died but the brothers and sisters have remained in touch. Mr. Tony Mitchell expressed our thanks to Reverend Keith for sharing his family history with our Group.

Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley, Lancashire, BB11 3RQ

Telephone (01282) 447130

Towneley's new Exhibition case
Robert getting ready for an Exhibition

A recent purchase by the Towneley Hall Society - March 2012

Towneley Flag purchased

Our Society has purchsed flags for the Hall since 2000

Conservation of Watercolours
. . . . | Our March 2011 visit| . . . .

A fascinating visit to Lancashire Conservation Studios, Preston was a great success

Friends Of Towneley Park (FOTP)
FOTP has a new website at http://www.fotp.btck.co.uk/

FOTP have set up equipment for the public to use. It's in the park on the old school site. Photo by Burnley Express

Registered Charity No. 515939

Updated 1 March 2012

Website sponsored by Crystal Doors

Society Information »

Committee Members

2011-2012

Sir Simon Towneley - Patron

Colin Sanderson - President

Tony Mitchell - Chairman

Rita Walsh - Hon. Secretary

Peter Woodhead - Hon. treasurer

Louise Chesbrough - Member

John Hagan - Member

Michael Hewitt - Member

Pauline Roberts- Member

Cynthia Sanderson - Member

AIMS of Towneley Hall Society

The Towneley Hall Society was formed in 1965 to help stimulate interest in the Hall and to protect, preserve and enhance the amenities of the Hall and gardens.

If we are to retain the Hall and Park for the benefit and enjoyment of local residents and visitors to the area, the Society’s aims are just as important now as they were in 1965.

The Society meets, usually on the third Monday of each month, from September to May at the Hall for a programme of lectures, film shows etc. Visits are arranged to other places of interest during the summer.

The programme also includes social events that help raise money to provide amenities for the Hall. In addition, funds are raised through the Society’s collecting box at the Hall and by the sale of various gift items at the Reception Desk.

|*| Annual Membership is still only £12.50 |*|

Funding Towneley

Towneley Park is Burnley’s most visited and treasured park across East Lancashire. Only Pendle Hill is more visited. Events attract over 20,000 visitors a year to the park.

The restoration project has taken several years to obtain final approval from the Heritage Lottery Fund. An initial restoration plan which identified over 100 proposals to improve the park was published in 2001 following which the council submitted a bid for funding. In March 2004 the council obtained outline approval and has spent the last year working up the restoration proposals in greater detail and developing a 10-year management and maintenance plan for the park.

The restoration plans have been developed following careful research into the history of Towneley Park by landscape restoration experts and project staff have consulted park users from across the borough and worked closely with the Friends of Towneley Park in drawing up the restoration plan.