Witton Hall
Above a picture of witton old hall (left) and the remains of the main fireplace (right)
FACT:
Witton House was built in 1800 by Henry Feilden; the hall was situated overlooking the Blakewater River not far from its convergence with the river darwen.
FACT:
Witton hall was later acquired by Joseph Fielden.
Witton Old Hall, the former residence of the Feilden family, was built in around 1800 AD. The family, local dignitaries of the Blackburn area were inhabitants of the place from the 1800’s until the 1950s. Around that time, they moved out of the hall, like their Feniscowles Old Hall relations before them, leaving their home, like its neighbour on the Darwen, to rot and decay. Sadly, now, little other than rubble and the odd stone working remains of this once-great mansion.
Witton Hall was built 1800 by Henry Feilden; the hall was situated overlooking the Blakewater River not far from its convergence with the river darwen, later it was acquired by Joseph Fielden and past on after his death in 1944 to brigadier Fielden.
The hall had its own milk farm, conservatory and a saw mill at nearby Coo Hill (the ruins of which lie in the grounds of Witton Park High School.
In 1924 the corporation apparently approached Major Fielden with a vision to purchase around 100 acres of land to be used as a cemetery, however the major felt this would be damaging to the area and refused to sell, in 1925 Major Fielden rejected an offer of £35,000 for 407 acres of land which would leave 70 acres for himself to develop.
Apparently in 1927 the corporation discussed the possibility of buying Billinge wood and Yellow Hills but no bids or offers where made.
After the second world war there was negotiations to buy Witton Hall at a price of £55,000 suggested by the corporation but General Fielden asked for £65,000 plus the value of timber that was on the estate and so in 1946 both parties appointed valuers, the corporation later made an increased offer of £62,000 following the valuers report which the general still rejected and furthermore he wanted to retain 11 and a half acres of fronting at buncer lane to develop for himself.
Later the corporation was informed that a local benefactor was willing to give £35,000 to the purchasing price in order to guarantee that Witton Park would be advantageous to the local town’s people, the generous gift changed the corporation’s position and then a purchase price of £64,000 was agreed for the Witton estate which covered 485 and a half acres in total, the agreement was made in 1946 and all papers and contracts where all signed in 1947.
The question then was what should be done with estate a big problem in 1947 was a large number of financial priorities due to the Second World War as the park was one problem and the hall was another, a great many uses were suggested for its use e.g. a Museum, School, nursing home, adult education centre, old people’s home and an agricultural college to name but a few.
Two major Developments in the lower part of the Witton estate during the 1950’s were the athletics arena with pavilion and the building of Witton Park High School which in 2012 underwent a major rebuild with a new school and a redevelop of the surrounding lands which include the demolishing of the old school buildings known as North and South wing.
Above another picture of witton hall from the left (westside)
So what happened to Witton hall hmm....?
Witton hall itself is rather a sad story unfortunately because as early as 1947 it was being voiced that a partial demolition might be necessary so it could function to its full capacity, whatever use it would be put to. Its large size was a problem but worse was still to come as it was discovered that dry-rot have made substantial advances and the necessary repairs would cost around £11,000 and so in November 1952 it was decided that the hall should be demolished and so this was done. Fortunately many of the outbuildings still remain and help give a great deal of indication of past splendours of Witton Old Hall.
The Witton hall stables, the private gardens and lily pond are the outbuildings and areas that do still exist today the old stables however is now a popular visitors’ centre, with a collection of local creatures for free viewing and a museum of Fieldens history and possessions and the old vehicles and carts used by the Fieldens. This is especially busy in summer, as is the cafeteria and local pavilion.
