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The date when the family settled in the neighbourhood is 
unknown. The original home of the Towneley family was 
Whalley ; and in the reign of King John is found a grant 
of the land relating to that family and place. The family 
is said to be an old Saxon family and able to trace its lineage 
back for at least two centuries before the Conquest. The 
left wing of the Hall goes back to 1350 or earlier. The Hall 
has undergone considerable alteration since it was first built. 
In 1700 another part existed, joining the two wings in front 
and containing a gateway, chapel and library. This portion 
was removed in 1700 and re-erected in another position. 
The Hall is notable as being the birth place of some of the 
most eminent and worthy of Lancashire’s sons, who have 
distinguished themselves in the realms of religion, literature 
and war. Charles Towneley died fighting for his king on 
Marston Moor in July, 1644. At the trial of the Lancashire 
Gentry in Manchester in 1694, it was stated that the Towneley 
family were deeply implicated in the design to seize the castle 
at Liverpool, the Tower of London, and to assassinate the 
king, and that they were among the plotters who had brought 
soldiers from Ireland and had brought arms into the district 
for the arming of the local families. Later, in 1746, Francis 
Towneley was executed for his share in the Stuart rising of 
1745. Towneley has, in troubled times, been the centre of 
much of the intellectual life of Lancashire. Even while 
engaged in the plots already mentioned, the two brothers, 
Richard and Charles Towneley, were in correspondence with 
the leading astronomers of the time and with the scientist 
Boyle. The family has included several who suffered for 
their religion, the most eminent being John Towneley, who 
died in 1608, aged 79. His portrait is included in the family 
portrait gallery. Before 1601 he paid £5,000 in fines, owing 
to his continuing a Roman Catholic, and had been in many 
prisons. His grandson, Christopher Towneley, the great 
transcriber, was born in 1604, and was the brother of the 
Charles Towneley who fell at Marston Moor. Christopher 
died in 1674 and was buried in St. Peter’s Church, Burnley. 
Quite near to the Lodge (until recently) stood Fullege 
House, built in 1576, formerly the residence of a family named 
Ingham, and of whom there are many entries in the Parish 
Registers (1562 to 1652). 
Royle, one of the residences of the Towneleys, dates back 
to the time of Elizabeth. Like a large number of other houses, 
the roof is said to have been made three-pointed so as to 
resemble the letter E, in compliment to Queen Elizabeth. 
Sir Henry Hoghton once occupied the house. 
