Accessibility options: Text only | Listen | Access keys
Skip to start of page content

Opening Times

  31 Mar - 4 Nov
Mon CLOSED
Tue CLOSED
Wed 12 - 5pm
Thur 12 - 5pm
Fri 12 - 5pm
Sat 12 - 5pm
Sun 12 - 5pm

Open bank holidays 12 - 5pm

We suggest you allow at least 1.5 hours for your visit.
Last entry to the Hall 4.30pm.

Admission Charges

Save money with our Xplorer multi-pass tickets

Adults £ 4.00
Concessions £ 3.00
Accompanied Children FREE
National Trust members FREE*

* A charge to enter grounds may apply on special event days.

Events at Gawthorpe Hall

Download our 2012 guide:

Facilities

  • Free parking for cars and coaches
  • Tea room serving light refreshments
  • Limited access for disabled users
  • Visitors with guide dogs welcome
  • Family events and activities

Contact the museum

Gawthorpe Hall
Padiham, Nr Burnley, BB12 8UA.
Tel: (+44) 01282 771004
Fax: (+44) 01282 770178

Our venues

Gawthorpe Hall

An Elizabethan Gem in the heart of East Lancashire.

This magnificent 17th century country house rests in a beautiful riverside setting amongst woodlands and landscaped gardens. It was the family home of the Shuttleworths for over 300 years.

Although still showing original features such as plasterwork ceilings and oak panelling, Sir Charles Barry, renowned architect of the Houses of Parliament, was employed to remodel the interior in the 19th century.

The house now displays grand period rooms reflecting the lifestyle of an aristocratic Victorian family and the nationally important Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth textile collection which includes stunning examples of needlework and costume. A famous figure who stayed at the Hall was Charlotte Bronte.

Gawthorpe Hall is managed by Lancashire County Council on behalf of The National Trust.

Volunteer opportunities - do you have a love of historic houses and some spare time? We are always looking for more volunteers to help out at Gawthorpe Hall, call us on 01282 771004 for more information.

Things to do

Gawthorpe Hall Museum Man and Girl in tudor costume

Activities for Schools

Information for teachers. Discover the wealth of educational activities available at Gawthorpe Hall museum.

image

Arts and heritage in Pennine Lancashire

To find the best arts and heritage in Pennine Lancashire visit the Arts Map.

Explore the museum:

Gawthorpe Hall museum architecture

Architecture

It has been suggested from studying the design of Gawthorpe that it was Robert Smythson, the architect of Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire and Longleat in Wiltshire, who was employed to design the new hall.

Gawthorpe Hall Shuttleworth Textile Collection

Collections

Gawthorpe is renowned for holding the finest collection of textiles outside of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Fabulous period furniture graces the rooms and a number of 17th century paintings are displayed which are on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.

Gawthorpe Hall museum garden grounds

Grounds

The house and estate are set at the end of a grand, long driveway on the banks of the River Calder.

Gawthorpe Hall museum collections

Interior

The Hall displays a number of extravagant period rooms. It retains many original Elizabethan and Jacobean features that were fused with contemporary Victorian styles during the refurbishments carried out by Sir Charles Barry between 1850 and 1852.

Gawthorpe Hall museum people

People

The Shuttleworths were an influential family owning extensive lands in the North West. Several family members were awarded high offices; however one of the most noted Shuttleworths was Colonel Richard Shuttleworth (1587-1669). He was High Sheriff of Lancashire twice and a Member of Parliament for Preston and a commander in the Parliamentarian Army during the Civil Wars.