Blackwell is a large house overlooking Lake Windermere, built as an arts and craft house in 1900 by the Holts brewing family of Manchester. We visited in December to have a Christmas Lunch, very good it was, booking essential as it’s not very big and they don’t make many lunches.
The house is styled by Baillie Scott a famous arts and craft architect and designer using a theme of natural products and shapes. After the meal we had a guided tour which is one of the activities on Friday, with different ones each day. We learnt a lot about the family and how they lost their eldest son in WW1 and the younger son took over making a big success and founding Christie Hospital in Manchester as well.
On a sunny day the views and light are excellent. The house was built so the main windows look south and over the lake to make the most of the light. There are other exhibitions in the house, the current one is Women in the Art and Craft Movement.
Blackwell Arts and Craft House, near Bowness