Pictures of Padiham

About Padiham

Padiham is a thriving Lancashire town lying on the Calder River. It is most famous as the home of Gawthorpe Hall, a noted country estate built early in the 17th-century for the Shuttleworth family, who owned the hall until 1970 when the house and grounds were given to the National Trust. It is now leased to Lancashire County Council.

The hall shows one of the finest textile displays in the country - the Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth collection. The Hon.Rachel (1886-1967) was a talented needle-woman who was skilled at the art of lacemaking and embroidery. During her lifetime she built up a unique collection, which as the last member of the family to live at Gawthorpe Hall, was left to the nation.

Padiham was originally a chapelry within the parish of Whalley. The Church of St.Leonard is one of the town's most impressive buildings. It was built in 1869 on the spot of a former church which was believed to have existed for several centuries. The church has a soaring clock-face tower, distinct from all areas of the town; whilst inside there are memorials to several noted families, and in the churchyard there are some magnificent tombstones from the 19th-century.

The town has curving streets where visitors can see some lovely old architecture, you only have to lift your eye's away from the tempting shop windows when a glance above will reveal three storey Georgian buildings with handsome sash windows. In an old corner of the town, curved stone steps lead up to what was quite possibly once a Victorian cottage.

The Calder River is the towns most delightful asset, it courses its way through a myriad of trees strung out along lush river banks. At the weir, close to the former power station it is no longer unusual to see Salmon attempting to leap on their journey upstream. Along this lovely stretch of water there are several idyllic spots where good fishing can be enjoyed.

Padiham is a short distance from Burnley and within easy reach of the Bowland Forest.