This week, with CLIFFORD SPENCER

CLIFFORD Spencer, chairman of Burnley Garrick Club, and his wife Dorothy have lived near Towneley Hall, Burnley, for more than 40 years but still enjoy visiting its grounds and the magnificent museum.

Mr Spencer, who has been busy over the past few weeks as director of the club's latest theatrical production Kindly Leave The Stage -- being performed at Burnley Mechanics tonight -- said he and his wife enjoyed visiting the 18th century hall and extensive park.

He said: "It is quite a natural park and then there is the hall, which is undergoing all sorts of improvements with National Lottery money at the moment.

"We go there quite regularly. We have always been fond of the countryside and it is such a lovely park."

Towneley Hall grounds are open 52 weeks of the year but currently, because of the rebuilding work, only parts of the hall are open to the public.

Visitors can still tour the Regency Room, the Long Gallery and the Great Hall, but the entire building will not be ready for the public to view until the restorations are completed in the summer.

Towneley Hall, originally owned by the Towneley family who remained loyal to the Catholic faith and suffered for their belief, is home to many fine pictures and 17th century furniture as well as intricately embroidered medieval priests' vestments from Whalley Abbey.