In the fourteenth century, Crown Point road was used as an access road to the common and as a "salt way" connecting Rochdale, Burnley and Clithero. Later it become "liners-way" transporting limestone, coal and other goods.
It is believed that the name "Crown point" evolved from the time the British army recruited men from Burnley area to fight the French. They were paid sixpence a day. There was also conflict in Canada and America and the French sent military leaders to Canada (General Montcalm), the British Commanders were defeated. William Pitt, secretary of State, instigated an expedition against Quebec and enlisted General Wolfe under his command General Jeffery Amherst lead the attack against forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain. It is this associated that is thought to lead to the naming of Crown Point, Burnley.
The Singing Ringing Tree is Burnley’s panopticon, one of a number of pieces of public art scattered around Pennine Lancashire. As defined by the dictionary a panopticon “is a structure, space or device providing a comprehensive or panoramic view.” This one at Crown Point certainly fits the bill. Designed by award winning architects Tonkin Lui it is constructed from galvanised steel tubes and shaped to suggest a windblown hawthorn tree. The pipes are tuned to produce a melodic hum when the wind catches them. It is a piece of art that deserves to be recognised in much the same way as Anthony Gormley’s “Angel of the North” and well worth visiting in its own right. It is a fascinating piece of artwork.
