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Turton Tower is a distinctive English country manor house located in the small village of Chapeltown, North Turton on the edge of the West Pennine Moors. It is a scheduled ancient monument and a grade I listed building (English Heritage Building ID: 440684 Link British Listed Buildings).

The house was originally built ca1420 by William Orrell as a two-storey stone pele tower. The simple stone structure was later significantly altered and added to with timber extensions by the Orrell family transforming it from a defensive fortress into an impressive and comfortable residence by the Tudor and early Stuart period. 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. The tower was also raised in height when a third storey was added in 1596. 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 falling into decline during the Georgian era, the tower was sold in a state of disrepair in 1835 to James Kay who restored it. The Kay family made dramatic changes to the building’s appearance and built a ‘mock Tudor’ extension; they were responsible for many Victorian renovations including the Dutch gable façade. In 1903 the tower was bought by Sir Lees Knowles and, following his death in 1929, his widow, Lady Nina Knowles, 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, now administered by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Link The Friends of Turton Tower