Towneley family

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The Towneley or Townley family are an English family whose ancestry can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon England. Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire, was the family seat until its sale, together with the surrounding park, to the corporation of Burnley in 1901. Towneley Hall is now a Grade I listed building and a large museum and art gallery within Towneley Park.

Early members of the branch of the family at Towneley Hall served as soldiers, some holding positions such as High Sheriff of Lancashire. However, they generally retained the Catholic faith, meaning that from the mid-16th century they were fined and imprisoned for recusancy and banned from public office until the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829.

Other branches of the family were based at Hurstwood near Towneley, Royle on the opposite side of Burnley, and later Littleton in Surrey, Dutton close to Ribchester, Barnside near Colne, and Carr Hall and Stonedge near Barrowford.