Rockhaven Castle

Rockhaven was once one of the most impressive features of the Horwich landscape and its silhouette dominated the skyline behind Brinks Row and the rabbit infested Brinks wood. The property was developed by Richard Brownlow who moved in during 1840 and during the 1880's he added parapets. This was the reason that Rock Haven became known as Rockhaven castle. Many people also referred to the castle as Torney Brownlows as Richard Brownlow was an attorney of law who had offices in Bolton.

Richard Brownlow was born in the Manor house at Wilderswood in 1841 and owned a considerable amount of land and properties in Horwich. He was a keen horseman and before the purpose built race course was built at Old Lords he along with Mr. Mundy of Preston founded the Horwich races. The first annual races were staged at Wilderswood in the fields below the Manor house which were once Blackrod reservoir before being filled in. Richard Brownlow was subject to many local rumors due to a facial disfigurement which he suffered from caused by erysipelas and he chose to wear a face mask while hosting the occasional functions at the castle but most of his later life he was considered something of a recluse. He died in 1899 at the age of 85. Following Richard Brownlows death Lord Leverhulme bought Rockhaven castle. One of the tenants in the early 1900's was Mr. Hignett a local antique dealer who had premises in the Prince's Arcade in Horwich. Mr. Hignett opened up the glass conservatory on the castle as a public tea-room.

Rockhaven castle was demolished in 1942 possibly because it provided an ideal marker for German bombers trying to target the Loco works in Horwich. Some of the stone from the castle was used to build a bungalow in Lytham while some stone travelled to America in the form of ballast in the grain ships. The grounds around the castle used to be worked as a colliery and also include a quarry. The land was quickly afforested with pine trees after the demolition and is now perhaps better know as the pine Forrest by locals.

Rockhaven

Rockhaven site of

Latitude: 53.60868

Longitude: -2.531