Pictures of Gawthorpe Hall

a Museum in the town of Padiham, in the county of Lancashire

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About Gawthorpe Hall

Gawthorpe Hall, home of the Shuttleworth family for several centuries lies close to the traditional Lancastrian market town of Padiham, in the heart of Bronte Country. A frequent visitor to the Hall was Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) one of the famous Bronte sisters.

The original house was built in around 1330. The present mansion was built around an earlier house during the late 16th-century. It is a handsome house, built to wonderful Elizabethan lines. There are gorgeous bays set with stone mullion windows covering the front of the property, the whole being set off by an imposing square turreted tower, appearing as if thrust from the roof-top.


Behind the re-creation of the principal rooms is the genius of architect, Sir Charles Barry who designed The Houses of Parliament, he is known to have worked upon some of the grandest houses in the land.

The last surviving member of the family was The Honourable Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, who during her lifetime built up an amazing collection of textiles that today are considered to be of national importance. A skilled needlewoman, she left behind her many fine examples of intricate lace and embroideries that she herself had worked. Her desire was to pass her considerable knowledge to others, she did not consider her pieces as museum exhibits but felt they should be looked at and thought over in a practical manner. She felt strongly that her work should be used to inspire rather than simply be admired. It is a fascinating collection, one that is of interest to everyone. There are textiles from many periods of history and from many lands that are a pleasure and a joy to be seen.

In the Hall you can also see engaging settings of life as it was centuries ago; see Lady Blanche Shuttleworth in discussion with her butler and cook/housekeeper making arrangements for a weekend house party in 1895. This illustrious family lived in this grand house until the 20th-century when, in 1970 it was given to the National Trust. It is now leased to Lancashire County Council.

Interesting museums telling of life in the area can be found in both Burnley and Clitheroe. The wonders of the glorious Bowland Forest are all within reasonable driving distance of Padiham, making it an interesting centre from which to explore this famous region.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Gawthorpe Hall.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Gawthorpe Hall

Forest of Burnley Country Park Millennium Site	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction E)	Pictures
Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum	(3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Pendle Hill	(4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
The Ribble Valley	(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Clitheroe Castle	(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Sawley Abbey	(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
Wycoller Country Park	(8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
Blackburn Cathedral	(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Darwen Tower	(10.3 miles, 16.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Bold Venture Park	(10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Gawthorpe Hall

Padiham, in the county of Lancashire (0.7 miles, 1.2 km)
Padiham is a thriving Lancashire town lying on the Calder River. It is most famous as the home of Gawthorpe Hall, a noted...
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Accrington, in the county of Lancashire (4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction SW)
Some of the town's loveliest architecture comes from the Victorian era, this can be seen in the elegant Victorian Market Hall with its clock and rich display of sculpture.
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Oswaldtwistle, in the county of Lancashire (6.1 miles, 9.9 km, direction SW)
This is a large, typical Lancashire village lying close to the urban sprawl of Blackburn and Accrington.
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Waddington, in the county of Lancashire (7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction NW)
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Hurst Green, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (7.9 miles, 12.8 km, direction W)
This pretty Lancastrian villages the setting for historic Stoneyhurst, a noted school which was founded in the 16th-century.
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Ribchester, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (9.7 miles, 15.5 km, direction W)
A picturesque village in the Ribble Valley
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Todmorden, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction SE)
Todmorden lies on the historic border between Yorkshire and Lancashire in an area of the Calder Valley ringed by the hills of the Pennines.
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Ramsbottom, in the county of Greater Manchester (10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction S)
The countryside surrounding the town offers lakes, woods and hills, with distant Winter Hill rising to a height of 456 feet.
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Edgworth, in the county of Lancashire (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction S)
This attractive hillside village occupies a pleasant rural location close to two pretty reservoirs and the historic house known as Turton Tower.
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Hebden Bridge, in the county of West Yorkshire (12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction E)
This beautiful old town grew up close to the River Hebden at the point where a stone bridge was built as part of a pack-horse route in the 16th century.
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Nearby travel help

M65 Junction 9	(1.1 miles, 1.8 km)
Rose Grove Station	(1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction SE)
M65 Junction 10	(1.3 miles, 2.2 km, direction SE)
Burnley Barracks Station	(1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction SE)
Leeds Bradford International Airport	(26.2 miles, 42.1 km, direction E)
Blackpool Airport	(30.3 miles, 48.7 km, direction W)
Gawthorpe Hall to London	(183.0 miles, 294.4 km, direction SE)

Accommodation & Hotels near Gawthorpe Hall

Hotel Name
Higher Trapp Country House Hotel	(2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction NW)
The Sparrow Hawk	(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction E)
The Keirby Park Hotel	(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction E)
Oaks Hotel	(2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction E)
The Alexander Hotel	(3.1 miles, 4.9 km, direction SE)
Sparth House Hotel	(3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction SW)
Clarion Hotel Blackburn	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)
Holden Vale Hotel	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction S)
Eaves Hall Country Hotel	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction NW)
Moorcock Inn Hotel	(9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction NW)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts