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Chatting at the preview of the Turner Exhibition are from left, Coun. Mrs. I. Cooney, Mrs. J. Walmsley, the Mayor, Towneley curator Mr. H. Rigg and the Mayoress.
Back in 1799 Charles Towneley of Towneley Hall invited the young artist J.M.W.Turner to come to Lancashire to illustrate the first book his friend from the Holme, Cliviger, was writing. Now for the first time all the engravings and a number of the original watercolours for the illustrations of the works of Thomas Dunham Whitaker can be seen at a special exhibition at Towneley Hall. The book Dr. Whitaker was writing was The History of Whalley which was published in 1800 to 1801, followed by The History of Craven, 2nd Edition in 1812, The History of Leeds, 1816, and the History of Richmondshire, 1819.The exhibition organised by the Friends of Towneley is entitled “Turner and Dr. Whitaker” and is on display at the Hall until September 5th. The guests at the preview included the Mayor of Burnley, Mrs. Mary Durkin, the Mayoress Mrs. Enid Tate, officers and representatives of Burnley Borough Council, members of the Northern Turner Society, guests from other museums and organisations and the Towneley Hall Society members. The exhibition included watercolours of Towneley Hall, Stonyhurst, Kirkby Lonsdale, Harewood, Fountains Abbey, Richmond and Hornby Castle, as well as engravings and sketches of Whalley Abbey, Whitewell, Farley and other views.