Hoghton Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hoghton Tower |
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| Location | Hoghton, Lancashire, England |
| OS grid reference | SD 623,264 |
| Elevation | 560 ft (170 m) |
| Built | c, 1560–65 |
| Built for | Thomas de Hoghton |
| Restored | 1862–1902 |
| Restored by | Sir Henry de Hoghton Sir Charles de Hoghton |
| Architect | Paley and Austin, James Bertwistle, Robert Dudley Oliver |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 22 October 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1072532 |
Hoghton Tower is a strong, castle-like country house located about 1 kilometer (2/3 of a mile) east of Hoghton, Lancashire, England. It sits on top of the highest hill in the area. The de Hoghton family has owned this special place since at least the 1100s. The house you see today was built around 1560–1565.
Hoghton Tower was damaged during the English Civil War in the 1600s and became a ruin. However, it was carefully rebuilt and made bigger between 1862 and 1901. The house is considered a very important historic building, known as a Grade I listed building. The large barn nearby, built in 1692, is also Grade I listed. Other smaller buildings on the grounds are Grade II listed. Today, you can visit the house and its gardens at certain times. A charity called the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust looks after it.
Contents
A Look Back: Hoghton Tower's History
Hoghton Tower stands on a hill at the edge of the Pendle Hill area. The de Hoghton family has owned this land for a very long time, since at least the 12th century. The current house was built for Thomas de Hoghton between 1560 and 1565. It replaced an older house that was there before.
Royal Visit: King James I at Hoghton Tower
King James I visited Hoghton Tower from August 15 to 18, 1617. He came with many people and was joined by important local families. A famous painting by George Cattermole shows the king's visit. On August 16, the king visited nearby mines and went hunting.
During the king's visit, there was a disagreement in Lancashire. Some people, called Puritans, wanted strict rules about what could be done on Sundays. Others, including many Catholics, wanted more freedom for fun activities. The king listened to both sides. He then made a statement that allowed "liberty to pipeing and honest recreation." This idea later became a national rule called the Declaration of Sports. It made rules about sports and games that people could play.
A list of food for the feasts on August 17 and 18, 1617, still exists. This list is linked to a fun story about how the term "sirloin steak" supposedly came to be. The story says King James I was so impressed by his beef that he knighted it "Sir Loin." However, historians say this is just a myth. There is no real proof it happened.
The English Civil War and Its Impact
In 1643, Hoghton Tower was damaged during the English Civil War. Forces loyal to Parliament attacked the house in February 1643. The house had only about 30 to 40 soldiers defending it. They gave up on February 14.
When the Parliamentary soldiers entered, a gunpowder storage area in the old tower exploded. This terrible accident killed over 100 Parliamentary men. The central tower was never rebuilt after this explosion.
A Place of Worship and Restoration
From 1662, for over a hundred years, Hoghton Tower was used for nonconformist church services. Sir Richard Hoghton, who owned the house, became a Presbyterian. The house became a center for different Protestant groups in the area. It is said that John Wesley and Charles Wesley, famous religious leaders, preached there.
Between 1692 and 1702, Sir Charles de Hoghton carried out repairs and rebuilding work. King William III often visited the house because he was a friend of Sir Charles.
By 1768, the de Hoghton family moved to another property and rented out Hoghton Tower. By the mid-1800s, the house was falling apart. Sir Henry de Hoghton, the 9th Baronet, inherited the estate in 1862 and decided to restore it. The famous writer Charles Dickens visited in 1867. Even though the house was in bad shape, it inspired him to write a short story called George Silverman's Explanation.
Many architects worked on restoring the house. Paley and Austin from Lancaster were involved from 1876. They restored the gateway tower and worked on other parts of the house. Later, James Bertwistle worked on the stables. From 1896 to 1901, Robert Dudley Oliver added new rooms like a smoking room and a large drawing room.
Hoghton Tower's Design and Features
Hoghton Tower is built from sandstone and has stone slate roofs. It has two courtyards, one outside and one inside. You enter the outer courtyard through a large gatehouse on the west side.
The Gatehouse and Courtyards
The gatehouse has battlements, which are like the tops of castle walls. It has two main floors, with a central tower rising even higher. Above the archway, there is a carving from the 1500s showing Samson and the Lion. On each side of the gate, walls with battlements lead to square corner buildings.
The outer courtyard has two levels, with the eastern part being higher. A wall separates the levels, and steps lead up to a gate with beautiful iron gates from the 1700s. In the northeast corner, there is a well house from the 1600s. This is where the original tower, destroyed in the Civil War, once stood.
The inner courtyard has a west gateway. The great hall and kitchen are on the north side. State rooms are on the east, and living rooms are on the south and west. Most of these buildings have two floors.
Inside the Tower
The house has a Tudor-style well house. The well is 36.5 meters (120 feet) deep and uses a horse-drawn pump to bring up water. The State Bed in the State Bedroom was made in the mid-1500s. The ballroom was decorated in the 1800s. The banqueting hall has 4,000 stained glass panes from the Netherlands. The house is also known to have three priest holes, which were secret hiding places.
Gardens and Grounds to Explore
You reach Hoghton Tower by a long, straight road that goes east from the A675 road. About 180 meters (200 yards) west of the house, you pass through a pair of gate pillars. Between these gates and the outer courtyard entrance is a grassy area called the Tilting Ground. This area was once used for medieval games and tournaments.
On the east side of the house is a walled garden called the Wilderness. On the south side are smaller walled gardens, including the Rose Garden and the Rampart Garden. The Great Barn, built in 1692, is made of sandstone with a slate roof. It has decorative ball shapes on its gables. To the northwest of the house are the coach house and stables, built in the 1600s or early 1700s.
Hoghton Tower Today
Hoghton Tower and the Great Barn were officially recognized as Grade I listed buildings on October 22, 1952. The coach house, stables, and the gate pillars on the drive are listed at Grade II. The gardens are also listed as important historic parks and gardens.
In 1978, the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust was created. This charity works to protect the house and support education and research. They earn money by charging visitors, holding events, offering holiday stays, and renting out the house for weddings, filming, and parties. The house and gardens are open to the public at certain times. Inside, you can see a collection of dolls' houses. There is also a tea room and a gift shop. You can even stay overnight in a converted building that was once a garrison.
Hoghton Tower has been used as a location for filming movies and TV shows. Parts of the TV series Last Tango in Halifax (2012) were filmed here. The 2005 drama Cassanova, starring David Tennant, was also partly filmed at the house.
Since 2015, Elena Faraoni, whose father is the current 14th baronet, has been leading the team that manages the house and estate.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Hoghton
- List of non-ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
