Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth

The Hon. Rachel Beatrice Kay-Shuttleworth MBE (1886–1967) was an English embroiderer, lace-maker, textile collector, teacher and philanthropist. Her textile collection is held at Gawthorpe Hall in Burnley, Lancashire, her family home.

Early life Kay-Shuttleworth was born on 17 February 1886 and was the daughter of Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, 1st Baron Shuttleworth (1844–1939) and Blanche Marion Parish (died 1924). She learned to sew, draw and paint in her childhood, and often visited the Victoria and Albert Museum when staying at her family's South Kensington home. Her collection is now maintained by a charity, The Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth Collections, operating under the name Gawthorpe Textiles Collection. It is held and in part displayed at Gawthorpe Hall, which is managed by Lancashire County Council and owned by the National Trust. Kay-Shuttleworth opened Gawthorpe to the community as a "Craft House" and worked to secure funding for its future.

Girlguiding Kay-Shuttleworth played a major part in the early days of Girlguiding in Lancashire. She was the first County Commissioner, appointed in 1916, and held that position for over 30 years. A sampler presented to her on her retirement included at least one stitch made by every Guide in the county. She was awarded the Silver Fish, Guiding's highest award, for her services.

Public service Kay-Shuttleworth was appointed as a Justice of the peace in 1934 and was on the county youth committee and the county records committee.

Death Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth did not marry, and died at Gawthorpe on 20 April 1967, aged 81.

Legacy Kay-Shuttleworth's collection, known as the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, is internationally recognised as a significant collection. The collection influences other designers: as examples, a flooring company has produced a "Gawthorpe" range of designs, inspired by items from the collection and named after members of Kay-Shuttleworth's family, and a knitting designer has created a design for a tam based on a coverlet in the collection, which was embroidered by Kay-Shuttleworth in honour of a 17th-century ancestor.

The Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Services (BPRCVS) headquarters building in Burnley is named the Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth building.