Turton Tower is a Grade I listed building as well as a scheduled ancient monument. It will open to ghost hunters for the first time this year; after refusing access to Most Haunted over concerns that filming equipment would damage the property.
It is believed that the de Lathom family occupied Turton Tower around the year 1200 – when it was part of the barony of Manchester. The famous pele tower was rebuilt by the Orrells in 1420. In 1628 Humphrey Chetham bought the tower. A few years later (1642) the Civil War broke out; Chetham sided with the Roundheads and allowed troops to be garrisoned inside the estate. The Orrells, however, were Cavaliers.
It is now owned by the Blackburn with Darwen Council.
In November and December of this year small groups of visitors will be given ghost tours. The tours range from 3am and 4am visits and are for 18+ only.
Hauntings at Turton Tower
It is said that two skulls are kept in the Towers that have been linked to previous hauntings elsewhere – in particular the appearance of two ghostly men who appear to be duelling.
A woman dressed for mourning is said to stalk the staircase of the tower, sobbing and shuffling slowly. A security guard is reported to have gone to the aid of a woman leaning against a fence – only for her to disappear as he got close.
In Pure Spirit
Have you been to Turton Tower? Do you think it’s haunted? Do you think the council are doing the right thing, raising money for its keep by letting ghost hunting tours inside?
The problem is that with most "haunted" buildings the owners or councils will charge an ridiculous price because most groups who want to investigate will sell overpriced tickets to the public. As the founder & leader of a small back street non-profit making team based in the Leigh Lancs i have contacted Turton Towers (Fiona is who i dealt with) and when i explained that we have to pay between ourselves and offered her £300 for an ovenight investigation i was told to "ring back when you have saved up a bit" this stuck up and snotty attitude is typical of there and there really is no need for it. But the confusing thing is the ridiculous price they quoted me was to "cover staff costs" well if the staff are on that amount of money for a night then i want a job there :-) as far as im concerned Fiona can shove Turton Towers where the sun dont shine… You need us more than we need you
id pay fiona £300 just to say hello to me
I agree with Scooby. I myself used to work at the tower between April 1998 and April 2000 on a casual contract as a visitor service assistant when it was run by Lancashire County Council Museum Service,whilst studying at Bolton Institute. This is a real shame! I remember the then curator (MRD) opinions, rules and regulations. The above seems to have been left the previous rule book. I can not understand how an organisation as such as this can expect to survive in this economic climate with this attitude. The friends of Turton Tower might as well as give up the ghost! No pun intended. On the subject, I never experienced anything whilst my time at the tower apart from the then curator (MRD). Good luck to Scooby on other projects.