Towneley Hall was the historic home of the Towneley family from the mid thirteenth century. I looked into the heirs of the Towneley and came accross a Richard Henry Towneley who was the last male heir but he died before he could inherit Towneley and the estates. Eventually the inheritance was divided between co-heiresses, with the Hall passing onto a lady called Alice Mary Towneley and a Lady O'Hagan. Lady O'Hagan was the last resident there before the Hall was opened as a museum.
In 1901 it was sold to Burnley Corperation. The family left in March 1902 and in June the park was opened to the public. A year later the Great Hall and the South Wing of the house were opened for a temperory art exhibition.
After the division of Towneley estates, Lady O'Hagan lived in the Hall. She became interested in many aspects of social and educational work, served on the local Education Committee, was a County Magistrate and President of the Ladies Committee of the Victoria Hospital. She supported the Legue od Social Serives. She opened a schoolfor mothers in 1914, which was hoped would reduce the mortality rate.
Lady O'Hagan died in November 1921.
During 1903 when the Great Hall and the South Wing were opened, exhibits were displayed in a 'W. T. Tayor'. This man, first name William, worked as a prominent electrical engineer involved in travel all over the world. Between 1908 and 1913, he sent exhibits from Mexico, Peru, Eygpt and Kashmir to Towneley Hall to be displayed. Some KAshmir embroideries were made especially for the museum.
Today the musuem has a variety of displays that you can explore. These include natural history, eygptology, local history, textiles, decrotive art and regional furniture. Its definately worth a visit...
