Saturday 14 April 2012

Museums - or what to do when it rains!

Many people think the Lake District simply has its lakes, valleys and mountains, souvenir shops, hotels and pubs, but in fact there are several interesting museums in the area - ideal for those rainy days!

The town of Kendal boasts several museums, including one illustrating ‘Lakeland Life and Industry’ which is an excellent introduction to the Lake District National Park. It has period farmhouse rooms and workshops showing how Lakeland people lived and worked, and also a recreation of the study of Arthur Ransome, the author of the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ children’s stories.
Another museum in Kendal is dedicated to Lakeland’s natural history and archaeology, and in the Quaker Meeting House, there is the 'Quaker Tapestry' - 77 panels of tapestry, each illustrating some aspect of Quaker history.

Near to Windermere is the Steamboat Museum which has a large collection of Victorian and Edwardian steamboats, dating from about 1850 to 1910. There’s also a boat (called Dolly) which is said to be the oldest mechanically propelled boat in the world, with its original engine still in working order. The museum also has Beatrix Potter’s rowing boat. Originally privately owned, the museum was taken over by the Lakeland Arts Trust and is currently being restored and rehoused in new buildings.



Two museums are dedicated to Beatrix Potter: Hill Top, the 17th century farmhouse where she once lived which displays some of her pictures, and also her furniture and some personal possessions, and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead, in the building which was previously the office of the local lawyer, William Heelis, who became her husbands. His office has been reconstructed and other rooms display some of her drawings for her children’s books.



Just outside Grasmere is Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum. The cottage, once the home of Wordsworth, displays some of his personal belongings together with contemporary furnishings. The garden has been restored to the half-wild state that the poet loved, and an adjacent barn is a museum with various artefacts relating to Wordsworth’s life and times.



In Coniston, there is a museum originally commemorating the life of John Ruskin, with various exhibits linked to his life. The museum has been extended to include other aspects of life in and around Coniston, including the copper mines, farming and other local industries. Brantwood, Ruskin’s former home overlooking Coniston Water, is also filled with many of his former possessions. The house also has beautiful gardens overlooking the lake.

So when it's raining in Lakeland (which it does fairly frequently!), there are still many interesting places to visit - even though you might get soaked running from the car park!

16 comments:

  1. True, this is valid for rainy days in any location!

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  2. I gasped with each one of these! I would LOVE to see them!

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  3. I love museums but sometimes forget about them as a rainy day (or everyday) option. Thanks for the reminder!

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  4. I love the more interesting museums, like these. I was just telling my husband about your blog posts, Paula, and trying to convince him we need to go back to the Lake District!

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  5. Wow - awesome places! Museums can be so much fun! :)

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  6. One of my favorite things to do with the grand kids is museum hopping. Of course, since I told you in an earlier blog that I wanted to live on Woodworth, I'd be visiting that one weekly, at least, rain or shine!

    Wonderful. ♥

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  7. I love going to the museums!! I would love to visit any of these including the Wordsworth Museum :)

    Cheers, Jenn
    http://www.wine-n-chat.com

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  8. Thank you, all. There are so many interesting museums, and I especially like the ones which aren't simply things in a display cabinet, but which recreate the life of a person, or the history of an area.

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  9. I love museums! Lovely post - I'd like to visit this area.

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  10. Museums are always a fascinating trip for me, but the feeling of the area you are in Paula, is so comfortable. I would love to spend several months in one of these wonderful places you have shown us so far, and just write! (well okay, and take pictures too!)

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  11. Thanks, Lynn.

    November - I'm so pleased I'm managing to convey the feeling of this beautiful area to you.

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  12. I visited Wordsworth's house once and loved the ambience. The Lake District is truly beautiful. The last time there, I rode a bus, getting off and on, all day. What a feast. My favorite little town, though, is Rye, in Kent, I believe. Hub and I used to go to a bookstore, just inside the arch. A book of Shakespeare's plays from there is on his desk. But the store eventually closed. *sighs*

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  13. It sounds fascinating! I would love to check out the ones about Beatrix Potter. :D

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/

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  14. Kittie - thanks for visiting. Agree about Wordsworth's cottage, you could just imagine him sitting there by the fire.

    Kathy - the Beatrix Potter house is a favourite for Americans (an for Japanese too!)

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  15. I love museums, love love, and these look great.

    When my novels make me a jillion dollars, I shall be visiting the Lake District, thanks to you, and I hope you can spare the time to have a cup of tea with me. This has been a lovely virtual tour, but I am hungry for the real thing.

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  16. Beverley, when you make your jillion dollars, I'll take you on a REAL tour of the Lake District!

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