Pendle Heritage Centre

About the museum

Pendle Heritage Centre occupies Park Hill, a historic Lancashire farmhouse in Barrowford at the edge of the Pendle Hill landscape. The house dates from the 15th century and was a working farm for most of its life. The museum explains how it grew from a medieval timber-framed building into the house seen today.

The Bannister family settled at Park Hill in the 1400s, and the Swinglehurst family later occupied part of the house from the late 18th century and added the Georgian extension. The museum also tells the story of Sir Roger Bannister, a modern descendant of the family and the first athlete to run a mile in under four minutes.

Other displays cover the Pendle witches and their notorious trial of 1612, and George Fox, whose vision on Pendle Hill helped inspire the Quaker movement. The centre is run by the Heritage Trust for the North West, whose conservation work is also part of the exhibition. Outside there are a cottage garden, an 18th-century walled garden with a small garden museum, and Bluebell Wood. The tea room overlooks the walled garden.

Highlights

• Story of the Pendle witches and their 1612 trial
• History of Park Hill, a 15th-century Lancashire farmhouse
• The Bannister family, including the runner Sir Roger Bannister
• George Fox and the origins of the Quaker movement
• 18th-century walled garden with a small garden museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Park Hill: a historic Lancashire farmhouse – How a medieval timber-framed building from the 15th century developed into the farmhouse of today.
• The story of the Pendle witches – The accused women of Pendle Forest and the trial of 1612.
• The Bannister and Swinglehurst families – The families who lived at Park Hill from the 1400s, and the Georgian extension built by the Swinglehursts.

Founded

1977

Operated by

Heritage Trust for the North West

Visitors per year

approx. 100,000

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The centre is on Colne Road in Barrowford, about 1 mile from the M65. It sits at the gateway to the Pendle Hill area and next to Barrowford Park, and the Pendle Way walking route starts at the centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Tea Room overlooks the walled garden and serves breakfast, lunch, home-made cakes, soups and traditional Lancashire dishes, with vegan and vegetarian options. There is a small courtyard seating area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The medieval cruck barn can be hired for weddings; enquiries go to the centre.