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The Swan. Grasmere
Built in 1650, The Swan began its life as a simple coaching inn with three bedrooms. Things are different now, of course: set at the heart of the Lake District, it needs to dispense hospitality for far more than just the occasional passing traveller.
The building itself is immortalised in the text of William Wordsworth’s poem, The Waggoner (no surprise given that Dove Cottage -
Lancrigg. Grasmere
Parts of this country house date back as far as the 1600‘s, although it’s likely that there will have been buildings on the site even before then.
Its fascinating history, though, is primarily nineteenth century. In 1840, the great romantic poet Wiiliam Wordsworth purchased the property on behalf of a friend, Elizabeth Fletcher. Indeed, Wordsworth maintained his interest in the house for many years, involving himself in the restoration of the building. It is known that both he and his sister, Dorothy, continued their close friendship with the owner, making numerous visits to Lancrigg. An entry in her journal reads: “We had only been in Grasmere four days when we discovered the terraced walk at Lancrigg, which long remained our favourite haunt.”
It seems that Elizabeth Fletcher was well connected. In addition to the Wordsworths, Charles Dickens -
White Moss House. Rydal Water.
Within easy reach of both Ambleside and Grasmere, White Moss House has been standing since 1730. Today it offers just five bedrooms and a cosy ambience and has been described by The Times as “the smallest most splendid hotel in the world”.
Its place on Nights In The Past, however, is due to its connection to William Wordsworth who purchased the property in 1827 for his son. Indeed, it was owned by the Wordsworth family for almost a century. Learn more about White Moss House with TripAdvisor
More Period Accommodation in Cumbria and The Lake District...
Alston
Lovelady Shield Country House. This Georgian country house stands on the site of a thirteenth century convent. Booking.com | LateRooms
Ambleside
Ambleside Salutation, The. This 17th century inn close to Lake Windermere is reputed to have once been something of a haunt for romatic literature’s elite. John Keats stayed here for a while in 1818, as did Alfred Lord Tennyson and Edward Fitzgerald in 1835 -
Foxghyll. This largely unaltered 17th century property was the home of Thomas de Quincey between 1820 and 1825. Indeed, it is thought that he wrote much of his celebrated work Confessions of an English Opium Eater while in residence. TripAdvisor
Bassenthwaite
Armathwaite Hall. Once a stately home, the seventeenth century Armathwaite Hall provides four-
Bowness on Windermere
Buttermere
The Fish Hotel. This was once the home of ‘The Beauty of Buttermere’, Mary Robinson, whose plight at the hands of a con artist was documented by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, amongst others. TripAdvisor
Carlisle
Dalston Hall Hotel. Radiating history both inside and out, this impressive building’s Pele Tower dates from circa 1500. The Hall was a Royalist stronghold during he English Civil War, and is reputed to be haunted. More practical information is available through Booking.com | Lastminute.com
Coniston
The Black Bull. Four centuries old, The Black Bull has given shelter to many a traveller, Thomas de Quincey, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and JMW Turner among them. TripAdvisor
Eskdale
Grasmere
Grasmere Red Lion, The. Located at the centre of the village William Wordsworth called home, the Red Lion offers 47 guest rooms. Superbreak | Red Lion
Hawkshead
Red Lion of Hawkshead, The. Fifteenth century coaching inn with 12 en-suite bedrooms. LateRooms
Sun Inn, The. A traditional 17th century inn located in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful villages. Further details are available with Booking.com | LateRooms
Sun Inn, The. A traditional 17th century inn located in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful villages. Further details are available with Booking.com | LateRooms
Kendal
Stonecross Manor. Boasting thirty en suite rooms, the building was once an orphanage. Expedia | Superbreak
Riverside Hotel, The. Seventeenth century building on the banks of the River Kent. Booking.com
Riverside Hotel, The. Seventeenth century building on the banks of the River Kent. Booking.com
Langdale
New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Said to date back to the medieval period, the hotel has six acres of its own gardens. Lastminute.com
Penrith
Rampsbeck Country House Hotel. 18th century country house on the banks of Lake Ullswater. Superbreak
Brackenrigg Inn, The. Four-star accommodation in a former 18th century coaching inn. LateRooms
Farmer’s Arms, The. Offering accommodation since the seventeenth century, the inn has been standing since the fourteenth. LateRooms
Brackenrigg Inn, The. Four-
Farmer’s Arms, The. Offering accommodation since the seventeenth century, the inn has been standing since the fourteenth. LateRooms
Temple Sowerby
Temple Sowerby House Hotel. Brought back from the brink of demolition in the 1970’s, this former farmhouse is today a highly rated country house hotel. Situated in the Eden Valley, the property dates largely from the 1720’s, with further additions having been made in the early 19th century. Booking. com
Troutbeck
Ullswater
Rampsbeck Country House Hotel. 18th century country house on the banks of Lake Ullswater. Booking.com | Superbreak
Windermere
Samling, The. Built in the late 1700‘s, it was here that William Wordsworth paid rent on his home at Dove Cottage. Booking.com | LateRooms | Lastminute.com
Storrs Hall. Attractive Georgian mansion on the banks of Lake Windermere. Booking.com | Lastminute.com
Storrs Hall. Attractive Georgian mansion on the banks of Lake Windermere. Booking.com | Lastminute.com
For more period accommodation try our sections on Historic Holiday Cottages and Beautiful English Villages
We are always looking to improve our guide to historic hotels in the Lake District, so if you know of anywhere which you believe we should feature, please get in touch. Country inns around Windermere, boutique hotels near Coniston, bed and breakfast accommodation by Grasmere - all suggestions are most welcome. We focus on those places connected to historic events and people, but also like to provide the traveller with period property options: Elizabethan, Medieval, Regency, and Georgian.
Copyright. Nights In The Past 2007 -
Historic Hotels in Cumbria and The Lake District
If you can’t find it below, see all Cumbria hotels at LateRooms, Booking.com, Lastminute.com, Expedia
Lindeth Howe Hotel
Lancrigg
The Ambleside Salutation