Gawthorpe Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gawthorpe Hall
Gawthorpe Hall from the front
Location	Ightenhill, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8UA
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Gawthorpe Hall and surrounding balustrade
Designated	1 April 1953
Reference no.	1237626
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Gawthorpe Hall is a beautiful old country house in Lancashire, England. It was built in the Elizabethan era, which was a long time ago, around the early 1600s. The house sits by the River Calder in a place called Ightenhill, near Burnley.

People think the famous architect Robert Smythson might have designed it. Later, in the mid-1800s, another famous architect, Charles Barry (who also designed the Houses of Parliament), helped rebuild parts of it. Gawthorpe Hall is a "Grade I listed building," which means it's a very important historic place. Since 1970, the house has been looked after by the National Trust and Lancashire County Council, so everyone can visit and enjoy it.

The Story of Gawthorpe Hall

The history of Gawthorpe Hall is quite interesting! Some people believe it started as a strong tower called a "pele tower." This tower was built by the Shuttleworth family in the 1300s to protect themselves from invaders. The Shuttleworths had lived nearby since the 1100s!

The grand Elizabethan house we see today was built around this old tower. Richard Shuttleworth started the plans, but his brother, Lawrence, finished the work after Richard passed away. The first stone was laid on August 26, 1600.

You can find special messages and the initials "KS" (for Kay-Shuttleworth) all over the house. These initials are on the front door and even on the fancy plaster ceilings.

A very special person named Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth lived at the hall from 1953 until she died in 1967. She was known as "Miss Rachel" by local people. She loved textiles and crafts and started a huge collection to help teach others. This collection is now the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, kept right at the hall!

In 1970, Rachel's nephew gave Gawthorpe Hall to the National Trust. Now, the National Trust and Lancashire County Council work together to manage the house, keeping it safe for future generations.

What Gawthorpe Hall Looks Like

Gawthorpe Hall is a great example of Elizabethan architecture. It has a unique look with its tall tower and many windows. When the house was almost falling apart in the mid-1800s, Charles Barry helped to fix it up. He made sure it kept its historic charm while making it strong again.

Important Buildings Nearby

Gawthorpe Hall isn't the only important building here. Several other buildings on the estate are also listed as historic.

• The Great Barn was built around the same time as the hall (1602–1604) and is also a Grade I listed building.
• The old farmhouse, now used as offices, was built in 1605–1606.
• Other buildings like the coach house and gatehouses are also protected.

Gardens and Grounds

Behind Gawthorpe Hall, there's a lovely ornamental garden. It was designed in the 1850s and looks out over the River Calder. The river itself was moved away from the house a long time ago because of pollution.

After World War II, the family had to dig up the formal garden. It had become too expensive to maintain. But even today, if you visit on a dry summer day, you can still see the outline of where the garden used to be!

Gawthorpe is also a starting point for the Brontë Way. This is a long walking path, about 43 miles (69 km) long. It crosses the South Pennines and goes all the way to Haworth, where the famous Brontë sisters lived.

Burnley F.C. Training Ground

Did you know that a famous football club trains nearby? In 1955, the chairman of Burnley F.C., Bob Lord, bought 80 acres of land from Gawthorpe. This made Burnley one of the first football clubs to have its own special training center.

Over the years, the training facilities became a bit old-fashioned. But in 2017, Burnley F.C. opened a brand new, modern training complex. It cost £10.6 million and is now the main base for their senior team and young players in the academy.

Famous People from Gawthorpe Hall

Many interesting people from the Shuttleworth family lived at Gawthorpe Hall over the centuries. Here are a few:

• Colonel Richard Shuttleworth (1587–1669): He was a Member of Parliament and a High Sheriff of Lancashire.
• Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth (1804–1877): He was an important person who helped improve education in England.
• Rachel Beatrice Kay-Shuttleworth (1886–1967): She was a talented embroiderer and lace maker. She also cared a lot about helping others and started her amazing textile collection at the hall.

Gallery

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  The back of Gawthorpe Hall, with a bit of the gardens

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  The Great Barn, coach house, and old farmhouse near the hall

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  Burnley F.C.'s training facility, completed in 2017