Things to do at Gawthorpe Hall

The south-facing entrance front at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire — The south-facing entrance front at Gawthorpe Hall | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Gawthorpe Hall is an Elizabethan gem. Explore its impressive textile collection, historic garden and extensive woodland.

Explore the garden

Why not take a leisurely stroll around the formal garden with its views of the River Calder? The ornamental terraced garden to the north of the hall and landscaped garden to the south are an ideal place to pause and relax.

Walk through the woodland

There’s over 40 acres of woodland to explore at Gawthorpe. Discover hidden pockets of quiet woodland, listen out for the birds filling the trees with song, reflect beside a pond or take in the inspiring views across to Pendle Hill.

Circular walk

If you'd like to discover Gawthorpe and the surrounding area, embark on this fascinating circular walk which takes you through the historic parkland of Gawthorpe Hall, past the ancient woodland of Hagg Wood and through Grove Lane Plantation. Find out more here - Gawthorpe Hall Circular Walk, Lancashire | National Trust

Visitors climbing steps in the south garden at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire in summer — Exploring the south garden at Gawthorpe Hall in summer | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Discover the Brontë connection

Gawthorpe Hall is the final stop on the long-distance walking route ‘The Brontë Way’. Novelist Charlotte Brontë visited Gawthorpe in 1850 to stay with Sir James and Lady Kay-Shuttleworth. She described Gawthorpe Hall as ‘...grey, stately and picturesque, a model of old English architecture.’

Volunteer room guide talking to visitors in the Long Gallery at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire — Discover more about the Long Gallery from the room guides at Gawthorpe Hall | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Inside Gawthorpe Hall

Step inside the Elizabethan Gawthorpe Hall to discover rooms filled with Victorian Gothic furnishings and decoration. The house was restored in 1850-52 by Sir Charles Barry, the celebrated architect of the Palace of Westminster, and the architect and designer A.W.N Pugin. It is the only country house where these two giants of Victorian architecture collaborated.

See portraits and a magnificent fireplace in the Entrance Hall, admire the highly decorative Jacobean ceiling in the Drawing Room, delight in the Crace furnishings in the Dining Room and climb up the winding oak-panelled staircase at the heart of the hall to see the Long Gallery, Huntroyde bedroom, dressing room, and exhibition spaces.

Gawthorpe Textiles Collection

The Gawthorpe Textiles Collection was founded by the Hon. Rachel Kay Shuttleworth (1886-1967). It is an internationally renowned collection of textiles brought together to spark creativity and enable learning.

Curated highlights of the collection, which now contains over 27,000 items, can be seen during your visit to the hall.