Parish News

A new biography is casting fresh light on one of Lancashire’s most quietly influential figures. Undaunted, written by Jane Hellebrand and published by the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, tells the extraordinary story of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth — a woman whose life’s work in art, education, and public service resonates more than ever in today’s world.

Rachel spent much of her life at Gawthorpe Hall, the family’s ancestral home near Burnley. Drawing on a strong family tradition of philanthropy and public duty, Rachel became a pioneering figure in social work, the arts, and women’s education.

The biography, supported by years of research, new archival discoveries, and previously unpublished personal recollections, reveals a woman of deep conviction and astonishing drive. Rachel’s lifelong mission was to combine beauty and usefulness — to honour traditional crafts while making them relevant and accessible to all.

A life rooted in legacy

Rachel was the daughter of Lord and Lady Shuttleworth and grew up surrounded by examples of social responsibility. Her grandfather, Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth, helped found the national system of publicly funded education in England. Her father, Ughtred, served as Liberal MP for Clitheroe and later as the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, and her mother, Blanche, was deeply involved in community health and women’s welfare.

From an early age, Rachel was encouraged to use her talents to help others. Childhood embroidery lessons from her mother developed into a lifelong fascination with textiles — not just as decorative items, but as vessels of history, heritage, and personal expression. Her hands were rarely still, and her mind never far from a new project or initiative.

A woman of action

Although modest, Rachel was no background figure; she was well respected and deeply embedded in the social fabric of Lancashire. During the interwar years and the economic hardship of the 1930s, she set up support clubs for the unemployed and played a key role in establishing a coordinated system of social work in Burnley – one of the first in the country.

She was also a tireless volunteer. She served as a Justice of the Peace, President of the Padiham and District Nursing Fund (as well as Burnley’s House of Help, for unmarried mothers) and led the local Girl Guides for decades. She also set up what we now know as Burnley Pendle and Rossendale CVS. She believed in learning by doing, and in the power of practical skills – especially for women and girls – to build confidence and independence.

She was awarded an MBE in 1949 – “for services to Lancashire”. But those who knew her, say she was driven not by recognition, but by a deep and genuine concern for others.

The heart of Gawthorpe

As well as her public work, Rachel continued to build what would become one of the most significant collections of historic textiles in the UK. Her vision was to create a “Craft House”, a living museum where people could learn through looking, touching, and making. Gawthorpe Hall, her beloved family home, became the nucleus of this dream.

Today, that dream lives on through the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, a nationally important archive of over 30,000 items — from rare embroidery samplers to traditional garments and tools from around the world. Rachel believed that every thread told a story, and she wanted those stories to be shared.
She was, in many ways, ahead of her time. She recognised the value of global cultural exchange, the importance of women’s education, and the necessity of preserving traditional skills in a rapidly modernising world.

A story for now

Undaunted does more than just chart the life of an individual — it captures the spirit of a woman whose values feel strikingly contemporary. In an age where we increasingly seek meaning, connection, and sustainability, Rachel’s belief in purposeful work and mindful creation has never felt more relevant.

Her life was not without struggle. She lived through two world wars, endured personal losses, and navigated the constraints of a society that often underestimated women. But she met each challenge with grace and determination — undaunted, indeed.

In the words of Canon Geoffrey Williams, a friend and spiritual mentor who knew Rachel in her later years, “She was a great lady in every sense of the word… big-hearted, kind, generous, but deeply interested in people, and always striving for perfection.”

Now, thanks to this new biography, more people can get to know the woman behind the stitching — a woman who wove compassion, intellect, and courage into the very fabric of her life. The book is available to purchase online or in person at Gawthorpe Hall.