Birchley Hall

Birchley Hall is a three-story Elizabethan country house on Birchley Road featuring traditional architectural elements and solid stone construction typical of the 1590s. The building displays the characteristic construction methods of large rural residences from that era in Lancashire.

The house was built in 1594 by James Anderton and later extended by his brother Thurston, with an inscription stone marked TA 1594 on the facade documenting these origins. It subsequently became an important location for religious activities during England's period of faith persecution.

The hall served as a refuge for Catholics during a period of persecution and played an important role in the local religious community. Visitors can still sense how the building functioned as a place of sanctuary for faith-based activities.

The building holds Grade II* listing status and is subject to preservation guidelines that visitors should respect given its protected condition. It is advisable to check current access conditions before visiting, as private houses of this type are not always regularly open to the public.

In 1920 a concealed lookout point was discovered behind a hidden door that originally served to monitor approaching visitors. This secret structure reveals the security measures homeowners felt compelled to take during the era of religious persecution.