Lancashire Textile Gallery

Discover a world of textiles in one county…

Modern Lancashire was built on a strong heritage of textile manufacturing and global trade, shaping the lives of people and communities both at home and abroad. From machinery, tools, patterns and sample books to clothing, interiors, decorative and ceremonial textiles, Lancashire holds a vast and rich archive of world textiles.  The Lancashire Textile Gallery digitally brings together objects and collections held by museums, archives and manufacturers from across the county.

Today this textile heritage is a rich and diverse source of inspiration, learning and enjoyment for designers, artists, makers, students, academics and beyond. 

Explore themed exhibitions and stories bringing together objects from regional collections curated by museum professionals, artists, academics and community members.

Search the collections to find your inspiration and access audio, video and other media bringing the objects’ stories to life.

Interact by posting your comments; sharing your stories to help us to create new narratives and curate your own collection of favourite items.

Exhibitions

Digital exhibitions and stories shared and curated by artists, academics and community curators.

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Threadbare Narratives
Threadbare Narratives

In this digital exhibition artist Madhu Manipatruni explores the story of chintz and shares her own artwork as well as work created through block printing and embroidery community workshops held at Queen Street Mill alongside items researched at several museum collections that inspired her work.

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The Footwear Industry Shaped Me
The Footwear Industry Shaped Me

Artist Sharon Brown presents archival materials, embroidery and digital collages that explore and capture the personal experiences and memories of a Lancashire community’s industrial textile heritage.

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Collections

Browse the textiles that have been uploaded to see them in more detail and find out what collections across Lancashire have to offer.

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Rosebank Mill 'dairy book' of fabric samples and notes, 1832
Rosebank Mill 'dairy book' of fabric samples and notes, 1832

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Rosebank Mill 'Dairy Book' of fabric samples and notes, 1825
Rosebank Mill 'Dairy Book' of fabric samples and notes, 1825

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