Facilities
- Limited accessibility
- Toilets
- Lunch facilities
- Linked loans boxes
- Coach parking
- Gift Shop
- Outreach sessions
Turton Tower
Turton Tower (house) is currently closed to schools and public in line with the national lockdown. However the gardens and woodlands remain open to the public and there are outreach, virtual sessions and discovery boxes available for schools.
Turton Tower is a unique historic house set in extensive garden and woodlands that has been evolving over the last 600 years. From a medieval stone tower house built in the 1400s, the alterations and adaptations to the building and the interior have suited the needs and tastes of those who have lived here over the centuries.
Today it still captures the spirit of ages long ago; this former family home is the perfect setting for our range of historical and creative educational sessions.
Learning Sessions
WW2 Home Front
Outreach Session
Find out about the Home Front of World War II and what life was like for people living at home in the ever-present shadow of the conflict. This outreach session is presented by Ally Hodgson, Education Officer at Turton Tower.
We have developed this session to make it easier for schools to access fun museum learning in Covid times. Let us come to you!
For booking please contact Ally at the details opposite.
Mysterious Tales
(Full day) KS2
The session will ignite the imagination of pupils as they begin to create their own ‘Mysterious Tale’. This fun, exciting session explores the mysterious side of Turton Tower by introducing the classic ‘antiquarian tales’ of M.R. James and use the Tower itself and the unexplained experiences of the staff who have worked there, to serve as the spur for pupils’ own creative writing for this topic.
Meet the Tudors
(Full day) KS2
Come and meet our costumed interpreters as we go back to Tudor times and experience how life was lived at Turton Tower. The Tower house was a home to the Orrell family during this period and pupils will explore the house as it was and learn about aspects of daily life including dressing and bedtime, handle replica objects from the period and learn a Tudor dance! View and download the session’s risk assessment here.
Homes from the Past
(Full day) KS 1/2
The Tower House was a family home for some 500 years and pupils will take an interactive tour around the rooms exploring Tudor building techniques, ancient toilets,studded doors and beds with curtains. Take-away worksheets will help pupils compare and contrast; showing the way in which homes have changed.
View and download the session outline and risk assessment here.
Visit the Victorians
Pupils will meet a member of the Kay family who lived at Turton Tower during the reign of Queen Victoria and will explore aspects of daily family life. Discover the useful and sometimes strange household objects that helped the Kay family around the house, experience home schooling and enjoy a pastimes playtime with Victorian toys, some of which have adapted and are still played with today.
Additional Activities
Special Events Week
Victorian Christmas 2021 (dates tbc)
Traditional games, pastimes and Father Christmas.
Wholesome Forest School
Delivered by our Outdoor Education partner – CommuniTree over a minimum of two terms. These full day, play based session are child led and suitable for all ages and abilities. Maximum group size is 18.
Contact Ally Hodgson at the details opposite.
