Gawthorpe Hall

The last time we were in England we visited Gawthorpe Hall.  We were disappointed to find it was closed due to renovations.  We had checked online and it had made no mention of this on the National Trust site. They are really good at giving times open at certain times of the year and such.  We enjoyed viewing the outside then, but wanted to explore the inside, so we traveled to check it out again.

If you are traveling to England, be sure to pack your brolly (umbrella) as a shower can pop up at any time.  There is a reason it's so green there!  We were happy to see that the outside of Gawthorpe had been cleaned.  Here is a photo of the outside that I took in 2015.

2015

As you can tell it needed a good cleaning.  This is how it looked when we went back.

2017

Gawthorpe Hall was the home of the Shuttleworth family for over 400 years. It had its beginnings as a Pele Tower.  These towers were all over English and Scottish borders to warn of impending danger.  Later Gawthorpe was built around the tower to be a handsome Jacobean home by the Shuttleworth's in 1600.  Inside are Victorian rooms furnished with historical pieces.  There are beautiful plaster work ceilings, textiles and paintings.  I'm so glad we were able to return.

As we enter the Hall and check in we are directed to the Dining room.

The gallery from the dining room has the original paneling and carvings from 1605. 

As we go into the drawing room it is quite evident this is a grand and opulent home.  Notice the beautiful plaster ceiling and the old paneling.

I loved seeing this priceless inlaid tea box table.  Tea was very expensive and was kept under lock and key.

As we ascend the stairs we see the garden through the old leaded windows.

Upstairs is a very exciting part of the home that continues to serve the community as a craft center.

We viewed the most exquisite pieces.

The Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is one of the finest in Europe.  Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth collected lace, quilts, costumes, embroidery and many other pieces that interested her.

I love her vision and what it has brought to this community.

This lovely tribute wall hanging speaks to the love she had of the arts.

I apologize for the glare of the glass, but I'm finding it difficult to leave out these lovelies.

Imagine the hours spent making lace.

Flour sack material quilts.

The dresses were so lovely.

I loved seeing this old triptych painting of Gawthorpe Hall over the mantel.

The Gallery Hall was added to the home to allow the ladies of the house to be able to take their walks inside.  

The flags were set up for an event that was going to be held.

There were a few bedrooms open as well.

All of them so ornate and dressed in lovely bed coverings.

There is so much more, but I must show you the lovely gardens that surround this lovely home.

There are still a few roses in bloom and beautiful lush shades of green in the formal garden.

On our way to the car park there is the great barn, coach house and farm house.

We enjoyed our second visit to Gawthorpe Hall very much. It made our hearts happy to return.  Thank you for coming along with us.