Culture in South Lakes - Map & Attractions for you to visit

1 ABBOT HALL

Kirkland, Kendal, LA9 5AL • 01539 637940 www.abbothall.org.uk

2 ALLAN BANK (NATIONAL TRUST)

Grasmere, LA22 9QB 015394 35143 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/allan-bank

3 BLACKWELL - THE ARTS & CRAFTS HOUSE

Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3JT • 015394 46139 www.blackwell.org.uk

4 BRANTWOOD - HOME OF JOHN RUSKIN Lake Road, Coniston, LA21 8AD • 015394 41396 www.brantwood.org.uk

5 BREWERY ARTS 122a Highgate, Kendal, LA9 4HE • 01539 725133 www.breweryarts.co.uk

6 FARFIELD MILL Garsdale Road, Sedbergh, LA10 5LW 01539 621958 www.farfieldmill.org

7 GRIZEDALE FOREST & VISITOR CENTRE (STUDIOS & GALLERY) Hawkshead, LA22 0QJ • 0300 067 4495 www.forestryengland.uk/grizedale

8 HAWKSHEAD GRAMMAR SCHOOL MUSEUM Main Street, Hawkshead, LA22 0NT www.hawksheadgrammar.org.uk

9 HEATON COOPER STUDIO The Studio, Grasmere, LA22 9SX • 015394 35280 www.heatoncooper.co.uk

! HILL TOP BEATRIX POTTER'S HOUSE (NATIONAL TRUST) Hawkshead, LA22 0LF • 015394 36269 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top

# HOLKER HALL & GARDENS

Cark-in-Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, LA11 7PL • 015395 58328 www.holker.co.uk

$ KENDAL MUSEUM Station Road, Kendal, LA9 6BT • 01539 815597 kendalmuseum.org.uk

% LAKELAND MOTOR MUSEUM

Old Blue Mill, Backbarrow, Newby Bridge, LA12 8TA • 015395 30400 www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk

& LAUREL & HARDY MUSEUM

The Roxy, Brogden Street, Ulverston, LA12 7AH • 01229 582292 www.laurel-and-hardy.co.uk

( LEVENS HALL, GARDENS & KITCHEN Levens, Kendal, LA8 0PD • 015395 60321 www.levenshall.co.uk

) QUAKER TAPESTRY MUSEUM

Friends Meeting House, Stramongate, Kendal, LA9 4BH • 01539 722975 www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk

* RYDAL MOUNT AND GARDENS

Rydal, Ambleside, LA22 9LU • 015394 33002 www.rydalmount.co.uk

+ SIZERGH CASTLE (NATIONAL TRUST)

Sizergh, Kendal, LA8 8AE (for Sat Nav use LA8 8DZ) • 015395 60951 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sizergh

, STOTT PARK BOBBIN MILL

Finsthwaite, Lakeside, Cumbria, LA12 8AX • 01539 531087 www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stott-park-bobbin-mill bu THE ARMITT MUSEUM

Nook Lane, Ambleside, LA22 9BL • 015394 31212 www.armitt.com

- THE CORO County Square, Ulverston, LA12 7LZ 01229 588994 www.thecoro.co.uk bm THE OLD LAUNDRY THEATRE

Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3BX • 015394 40872 www.oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk bn THE RUSKIN MUSEUM

Yewdale Road, Coniston, LA21 8DU • 015394 41164 ruskinmuseum.com bo TOWNEND (NATIONAL TRUST)

Troutbeck, Windermere LA23 1LB • 015394 32628 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/townend bp WINDERMERE JETTY MUSEUM Rayrigg Road, Windermere, LA23 1BN 01539 637940 www.windermerejetty.org bq WORDSWORTH GRASMERE

Town End, Grasmere, LA22 9SH • 015394 35544 wordsworth.org.uk

Culture in the South Lakes

Welcome to the rich artistic and cultural scene of the South Lakes: a place where old and new combine to create a unique experience filled with wonder and surprise. This is the place where world famous poets found inspiration; where radical thinkers honed their thoughts; where artists and writers created some of their most iconic works; and where pioneer conservationists and creatives continue to influence our cultural heritage.

Discover a vibrant heritage across the South Lakes, built upon across the years to create a tapestry of traditional and modern attractions alike. Open the door to a small 17th century Lakeland cottage in Grasmere or a farmhouse in Sawrey, before visiting a modern, award-winning museum in Windermere; step through an 18th century garden gate in Coniston before heading to a 20th century Arts & Crafts architectural gem.

Soak up the traditional charm of our area alongside contemporary spaces telling its story; and ‘meet’ some of the iconic men and women who have given this inspiring landscape its cultural heartbeat. Step back in time with an invitation to explore the homes of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, and John Ruskin. Discover buildings designed by local craftsmen and women: people who have lived and worked here, leaving a legacy to be seen throughout our towns, villages and hamlets. Immerse yourself in the creative spirit that has inspired a generation of curators, conservationists and story tellers who want to share their love for art, culture and heritage with you.

Look to the future, with cultural attractions that are building on our creative scene. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of our living heritage at museums, galleries, historic houses, theatres, and even a mill and boat conservation shed.

The variety of things to see and do is sure to keep you entertained. From the luxurious interiors of country halls to the humble rooms of a poet’s cottage; from traditional machinery in one of our oldest industrial mills to the stunning views from our newest museums, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

The Culture in South Lakes project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to provide pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local businesses, and people and skills. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Disclaimer: All information is correct at the time of print. No responsibility can be accepted for information which is incorrect. The inclusion of any establishment does not imply a recommendation. Leaflet produced by Cumbria Tourism and designed by Bucket and Spade visitlakedistrict.com

Enjoy a warm welcome and discover some fascinating stories –you may even happen across costumed poetry readers or heritage boat builders, happy to tell you why they are so passionate about our heritage.

You’ll find exhibitions and activities to help you to understand how people have been inspired by, and helped to shape, our beautiful landscapes; and how we conserve our picture-perfect villages and hardworking market towns – while enjoying some family fun along the way.

There really is something for everyone in the South Lakes. Join us and explore it all for yourself.

Ambleside and Hawkshead

Ambleside is often heralded as a base for walkers and mountain bikers looking for adventure - but before you head for the hills take time to discover the town and surrounding villages; and the people who shaped them.

The story of this picture-perfect Lakeland town begins thousands of years ago. First came the Romans, followed by the Norsemen who brought with them names which remain familiar today. Grizedale, meaning ‘the valley where the pigs are kept’, is now the UK’s first forest for sculpture; while Hawkshead, named for the Norse settler Haukur and Saetr meaning settlement, remains a thriving village. Over the years, the area was influenced by industry, commerce, and farming; and has been home to some notable writers, artists and educationalists. William Wordsworth went to school in Hawkshead, Hawkshead Grammar School is now a museum, and writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter made her home at Hill Top

For the complete story of this fascinating area, visit The Armitt Museum in Ambleside. Here you’ll find interesting and unusual objects telling the history and heritage of Ambleside and its people, including Charlotte Mason, who established her famous girl’s college in Ambleside; German-born artist Kurt Schwitters, who settled in here as a WWII refugee; and Beatrix Potter, whose drawings show her passion for the world around her. You can find out more about Beatrix Potter at Hill Top which remains full of a lifetime of her favourite things; and see a traditional farmhouse at Townend in Troutbeck, where the local Browne family lived and farmed for 400 years.

Bowness & Windermere

During the 19th century, Bowness grew from a small fishing village to the bustling tourist town we know and love today. Wordsworth’s famous campaign to halt the train line expansion resulted in the Kendal line terminating at the hamlet of Birthwaite, which later became Windermere station.

Benefitting from the new railway line, the area saw an influx of tourism which brought with it a boost for the local hoteliers and the boat-building industry, as visitors requested elegant accommodation and boats to enjoy the lake.

It was during this period that Windermere became a popular location for successful northern industrialists, one of whom gave the area one of England’s finest architectural gems in Blackwell –the Arts & Crafts house. It was during this period that Windermere became a popular location for successful northern industrialists. The holiday home built for wealthy Manchester brewer Sir Edward Holt, designed by architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott is now one of England’s finest examples of an Arts & Crafts house. Blackwell –the Arts & Crafts house is open daily.

Windermere Jetty Museum celebrates the stories of boats, steam and pioneering people connected to the lake. The lakeshore café offers spectacular panoramic views of the lake and fells. Bowness also has an ambitious theatre, established in 1992 and set in an old laundry. The theatre’s creation was supported by one of the country’s most famous playwrights - Sir Alan Ayckbourn. His encouragement to founders Roger Glossop and Charlotte Scott gave them the confidence to form The Old Laundry Theatre, an intimate space with big productions!

©TheOldLaundryTheatre

Grasmere & Rydal

Declared to be ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’, William Wordsworth made his home in Grasmere with his sister Dorothy in Dove Cottage, a modest Lakeland cottage on the outskirts of the village. It was their residency here that made this Cumbrian village the centre of Romanticism both then and now, with the fascinating Wordsworth Grasmere offering the chance to learn about their lives and work.

Located in Grasmere village, Wordsworth Grasmere includes a modern museum alongside the traditional Dove Cottage and gardens, where Wordsworth created some of his best-known work and Dorothy kept her famous Grasmere journals. Today, it is an authentic representation of the Wordsworths’ 1800s home and a fully immersive experience for visitors as they are invited to ‘step back in time’.

Wordsworth loved the Vale so much that he never moved away from it, moving his family just a couple of miles from Dove Cottage to Allan Bank in 1808; and from there to Rydal Mount in 1813, where he lived until his death in 1850.

From the 18th century artists journeyed to the area in search of ‘the picturesque and the sublime’. JMW Turner first visited in 1797, returning regularly to paint. Now the work of one family of artists, the Heaton Coopers, continues to be inspired by the beauty and energy of the Lake District lakes and fells. The Heaton Cooper Studio, in the heart of the village, exhibitions the work of three generations.

Coniston

Today, Coniston is known for its tranquillity; a place for calm reflection - but it wasn’t always so quiet! Long before Coniston rocked to the thundering engines of Donald Campbell’s Blue Bird, it was gunpowder that echoed through the valley as miners blasted to reach the rich copper veins.

For many Coniston is the home of John Ruskin. One of the greatest figures of the Victorian age, Ruskin was a poet, artist, critic, social revolutionary, and conservationist. He lived at Brantwood overlooking Coniston Water from 1871 - 1900. The historic house and gardens are a vibrant centre for the arts: with regular exhibitions and summer outdoor theatre, Brantwood is a very special and much-loved place.

Coniston’s story wouldn’t be complete without a mention for the Walker children and their famous adventures on their summer holidays in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons. You can take a trip on the Victorian Steam Yacht Gondola to enjoy the scenery around Coniston from the water and discover the real inspiration for Wild Cat Island; or maybe arrive at Brantwood in style and alight at its own pier!

In Coniston village, The Ruskin Museum tells all the fascinating stories of Coniston and the many interesting people who have lived and worked here. The museum showcases local history, and fans of Arthur Ransome and Donald Campbell will find much of interest here.

TheArmitt Museum

©GrizedaleForest/ ForestryEngland

©NationalTrustImages Blackwell–theArts&CraftsHouse

©BreweryArts

©QuakerTapestry

Kendal

Kendal’s heritage may be rooted in its medieval past, but its art scene is 100% 21st century. Some of the town’s oldest buildings have been revitalised as art galleries, museums, and creative hubscelebrating world class art, music and theatre.

Opened in 1972 in a former brewery, for 50 years Brewery Arts has been the town’s dynamic arts centre, hosting an inspirational programme of live music, comedy, theatre, cinema, exhibitions, workshops and events, including the internationally renowned Kendal Mountain Festival.

Abbot Hall is one of the UK’s best small galleries. Established in 1962 in a Grade 1-listed Georgian building it has an outstanding collection of British art which explores themes of landscape and identity. The gallery reopens in May 2023.

The town has two museums. Kendal Museum is one of the UKs oldest museums: since 1913, it has been housed in a former wool warehouse. The Quaker Tapestry Museum is housed in a Grade II* building designed by local architect, Francis Webster, for Kendal’s thriving Quaker Community in 1816. It’s home to an international tapestry project, with 77 panels telling the story of Quakers through the ages.

Just south of the town are two fine historic houses. Sizergh Castle was built by the Strickland family in 1350. The castle, gardens, and collections are managed by the National Trust. Levens Hall, dating back to 1170, is best known for its topiary gardens, which are the world’s oldest.

KirkbyLonsdale

Sedbergh & Kirkby Lonsdale

©NationalTrustImages/ AnnapurnaMellor

Grasmere©GGardner

Wordsworth

©LakelandArts

WindermereJettyMuseum

HeatonCooperStudio

Brantwood–Home ofJohnRuskin

©TheRuskinMuseum

TheCoro

©FarfieldMill

Sedbergh has a lot of history – it was mentioned in the Domesday book! Situated where ancient trade routes merged, close to the Lake District’s rugged eastern fells and the magnificent Yorkshire western dales, it has always been a natural trading stop. By medieval times it was a well-established market town and with the founding of its famous public school in 1525, a centre for education.

Still a busy market town – and England’s official book town –Sedbergh oozes olde worlde charm with its historic houses and cobbled streets now bustling with independent shops, cafes and, of course, bookshops.

Wool and textiles still play an important part in its cultural life. Farfield Mill, a restored Victorian woollen mill and arts and heritage centre, is just a riverside walk or a short drive from the town centre. A visit will help you understand just how significant the textile industry was, and still is, to the area; and introduce you to a creative community of resident and visiting artisan makers showcasing traditional and contemporary arts and crafts.

Whether you’re travelling to or from Sedbergh, be sure to make a trip to Kirkby Lonsdale – this vibrant market town won’t disappoint. Walk through history along its picturesque streets to the Parish Church. St Mary’s captures the towns entire heritage amongst is eclectic architecture, some dating from the early 12th Century.

HolkerHall

LakelandMotor Museum

Newby Bridge to Cartmel Peninsula

Famously known for our Lakes and Fells, the peaceful and tranquil peninsulas can sometimes be overlooked. Why not plan your day to head to the Cartmel Peninsula: a rural landscape with views across tidal sands and rolling hills.

If you are heading from the Central Lakes, plan your route to take you through Newby Bridge and discover two museums that celebrate power…that’s horsepower and steam power! The Lakeland Motor Museum with its unique collection of over 30,000 exhibits – including classic cars, motorcycles, scooters and bicycles - is a nostalgic day out for all the family. Nearby stands the pocket-sized powerhouse, Stott Park Bobbin Mill, that once supplied millions of wooden bobbins to the great factories of Lancashire and Yorkshire – and can still get up a head of steam today!

Then you can head for quieter pursuits. Close to Cark in Cartmel is Holker Hall, a fine country house and gardens; and the cherished home of the Cavendish Family. Never sold throughout its 400-year history, every room of the impressive house is a tour through British history.

Laurel&HardyStatue

Brantwood–HomeofJohnRuskin

Ulverston

With a long and proud history, Ulverston has always had a strong identity. Past residents have put the town on the map – in the 17th century, Ulverston became the birthplace of the Quaker movement as George Fox, founder of the Quakers, established a meeting place at nearby Swarthmoor Hall (currently closed for renovation). There’s also the town’s most famous son Stan Laurel who, with Oliver Hardy, became one of the most famous comedy duos in the 20th century. They are celebrated in the Laurel and Hardy Museum

Today’s Ulverstonians are keeping their town firmly on the map, with a cultural scene living up to its more recent reputation as “The Festival Town of the Lakes”. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter is festival season in the bustling market town that really knows how to celebrate!

Standing proudly at the very heart of Ulverston is The Coro. Built as a traditional proscenium arched theatre to commemorate the Coronation of King George V, it has grown into a much-loved venue and the heart of arts and culture in Ulverston.

The Coro’s year-round programme showcases world-class performance alongside home-grown artists and is as loved and valued by residents as it is by visitors. So, whether you come to enjoy one of the popular festivals such as Print Fest; a night of comedy, theatre, or dance; family shows in the holidays; or live music from folk to opera, you will always be amongst friends.