Finding ourselves with a couple of hours to spare on Saturday afternoon, we visited
Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House overlooking Lake Windermere.
Designed by architect M H Baillie Scott as a holiday home for Sir Edward Holt, owner of a
Manchester brewery, Blackwell is one of the best examples of Arts and Crafts style in the country. The architecture is typical of the style, with its steep roof and stone windows but the real joy is the interior.
As we wandered around the quiet house, we saw Arts and Crafts details everywhere. Many of the rooms had wood panelling and there was stained glass in almost every window. The design details refer back to nature, such as the tulip design stained glass or the detailed wood carvings.
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| 'Tulip' stained glass |
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| The medieval style hall |
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| Carving detail |
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| Beautifully detailed wall lamp in one of the bedrooms |
In contrast to the rest of the house, the White Drawing Room which overlooks the lake is cool and perfect for the warm, sunny weather we are enjoying at the moment.
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| The White Drawing Room |
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| The view across Windermere from the terrace |
A very relaxing couple of hours away from the crowds. Next on our Arts and Crafts tour must be John Ruskin's Brantwood, overlooking Coniston Water...
