Towneley (family)

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

Richard de Towneley was born circa 1323. By 1345 he had married Ellen. Richard served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire from 1374 to 1377. He was selected as the member of parliament for Lancashire in 1361 and 1371. He died on 16 April 1381.

Married Isabella de Rishton, probably in 1382.

Married Alice. Man-at-arms at the battle of Agincourt.

Married three times however only had children with his second wife Isabel Sherburne

Son of John and Isabel. Married Joanna Southworth in 1472. Knighted at Hutton Field in 1482, during Richard Duke of Gloucester's (later King Richard III) Scottish Campaign that captured Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Son of Sir Richard and Joanna. Married Isabel Pilkington in 1480. Was knighted on 30 September 1497 by the Earl of Surrey. Probably at Ayton when the peace treaty was signed with Scotland after the Perkin Warbeck skirmishes. Established the 1100 acre, Hapton Park making it the second largest in Lancashire after Knowsley. High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1532.

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