Gawthorpe Textiles Collection

About the museum

The Gawthorpe Textiles Collection was begun by Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth (1886 to 1967), the last member of the Shuttleworth family to live at Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham. She was a maker, teacher, philanthropist and social activist, and she collected textiles and craft items from as early as 1912 to support her teaching. Most of the objects came as gifts from family, friends and acquaintances, and some of the most important pieces were made by Rachel herself.

She built up about 11,000 items in her lifetime, among them lace, embroidery, woven and printed textiles, costume, accessories, books and tools from around the world, spanning five centuries. She meant the objects to be handled and used for teaching, not just looked at, and she opened Gawthorpe Hall as a craft house where she taught. Her handwritten labels, often in green ink, add to the value of the collection.

The collection has kept growing through donations and now has more than 30,000 items. It stayed at Gawthorpe Hall until 2023, when it moved to Northlight, a refurbished 19th-century mill in Brierfield. A changing selection is still shown in gallery rooms at Gawthorpe Hall, which is managed separately by Lancashire County Council.

Highlights

• More than 30,000 textiles and craft objects spanning five centuries
• Lace, embroidery, costume, accessories and tools from around the world
• Study visits and curator-led guided tours at Northlight
• Changing selection on show at Gawthorpe Hall

Operated by

Gawthorpe Textiles Collection (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Northlight has step-free access and accessible toilets, and the adjacent car park has marked accessible bays. Visitors with access needs are asked to get in touch in advance. The displays at Gawthorpe Hall are on the first floor, which has no lift.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The postcode BB9 5FL is new and some sat-nav systems do not find the correct entrance, so the collection recommends searching for Gawthorpe Textiles Collection on a map.

Amenities & dining

Northlight houses the collection stores, offices and a study and workshop space. There are no visitor facilities such as a café.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit