Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is an internationally renowned collection of global textiles located in the heart of Pennine Lancashire. 

Founded by the Honourable Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth (1886-1967), the collection was amassed to educate, inspire creativity, support wellbeing and to preserve traditional craft skills by sharing knowledge, skills and expertise across cultures. 

The Collection is an accredited museum and independent registered charity with an ambition to develop a centre of excellence for textile learning based on its collection of over 30,000 items, one of the largest textile collections in the UK and the only collection of its kind in Lancashire. The majority of the collection is available to view and study by appointment only, but a selection of items can be seen on display at Gawthorpe Hall.

News

by Alex Hallissey 9 April 2025
Get your copy of the new biography celebrating the life and work of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth
17 February 2025
Remembering Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth on her birthday - 17 February.
3 February 2025
We're proud to announce the forthcoming publication of a new biography of our founder, Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth.
19 November 2023
The Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is on the move to ensure the legacy left by Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth MBE lives on for future generations. A collection of over 30,000 textile and craft items that has been housed at Gawthorpe Hall for more than half a century has been carefully relocated to Northlight in Brierfield. The charity will retain its public gallery space within the hall, which is undergoing a redisplay as part of the investment in the collection’s future, so visitors can continue to enjoy the internationally renowned collection of global textiles in Padiham. The collection’s new home is a redeveloped cotton mill which has stunning historical features of its own as well as a textile heritage. Northlight offers the space and flexibility to store and continue to grow the collection, as well as providing a modern, fit-for-purpose workshop space to increase public access to this important educational collection. Linda Drury, Director of Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, said: “When I joined the charity last year the trustees were already considering moving the collection from the hall as moisture and damp building up in the storage area was starting to impact on some items within it. “Northlight offers us a more practical space and we are looking forward to welcoming people through our doors once the unboxing process has been done! “Moving a collection of such enormity and value has taken a lot of logistical planning and we are very grateful to all of our wonderful staff and volunteers who have played their part in making it happen.” Lord Shuttleworth, Chairman of Trustees and Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth’s great nephew, explained: “Rachel wanted to use creativity and craft for the good of the community as she believed it was the key to unlock health, social and economic prospects for those most in need. “Her dedication led her to open her home in Gawthorpe Hall to the public and she campaigned tirelessly to raise the funds needed to secure its future during her lifetime. “While Rachel’s work is synonymous to Gawthorpe Hall, it felt like the right time to move the collection to ensure its longevity for generations to come. "Our vision as a charity remains to develop a centre of excellence for textile learning based around the collection and this move is a significant step in achieving that. “We cannot thank the team enough for working tirelessly to make this happen and we look forward to a bright future at Northlight.” Recent funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Key Fund’s Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund have helped support the move.
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Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is registered charity The Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth Textile Collections (No.1182054) and we wouldn't exist without the generous donations which help us to continue to care for and use our heritage collection for public benefit. Each year we need to raise a minimum of £100,000 to carry out our work. We welcome individual, group and corporate donations, as well as people taking part in fundraising activities or organising events.

As a small local charity, we make sure that our administration costs are kept low so you can be sure that as much of your donation as possible goes towards our charitable work. Even as little as just £3 a month (or 10p a day) makes a big difference in helping us to continue caring for the collection. 

Find out more about the ways that you can support us, or make a donation using the button below. 

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