 |
 |
|
| Businesses in Bowness-on-Windermere | Towns and Villages of Cumbria | |
Bowness-on-Windermere town and Windermere are joined.Bowness-on-Windermere(See also Windermere)
Both the Romans and the Vikings roamed this countryside. The Vikings gave the name Bull Ness (village where the bull is kept) to their village, and, over the years, the name was corrupted to become Bowness. Bowness was a quiet fishing village in a sparsely populated area until the advent, in 1847, of the railroad. Made popular by the Lake District poets, especially Wordsworth, Bowness grew quickly. Like the town of Windermere, hotels sprang up at Bowness to accommodate the tourists. Wealthy industrialists built sumptuous mansions, now turned into hotels. The Belsfield Hotel was originally the home of H. W. Schneider, Barrow ironmaster and industrialist. In 1869 he came to Bowness and provided the initiative to improve the pier. He built almshouses, still standing on Craig Walk.
The TSSL Esperance, owned by Schneider, was used by him to travel to Lakeside each morning to catch his private train to work. The coal-fired launch, Branksome, made of teak, took Prince Philip on a tour of Windermere Lake. Beatrix Potter's rowboat is on show along with the oldest boat in the collection, a 1780 yacht. The wealthy Victorians often used their steamboats for weekend parties and teas.
One of the newest attractions of the Lake District (open July, 2001) is Blackwell-the Arts & Crafts House, a grade 1 listed building and one of the most important of England's Arts and Crafts houses. Designed by M. H. Baillie Scott, between 1897 and 1900, as a family home, it overlooks the Lake Windermere area. The house, itself a work of art, serves as a public gallery for craft and applied arts.
Bowness caters to tourists with lots of eating places, accommodations and activities. The Hole in't Wall pub-its real name is New Hall Inn-is an historical pub. It received its nickname because of a thirsty blacksmith located next door. To facilitate his access to beer while working, the pub knocked a hole in the wall to pass the suds through. The blacksmith shop is now part of the pub and is very atmospheric with beamed ceilings and slate floors. A collection of chamber pots hangs from one section of the ceiling, and the old blacksmith bellows are part of the bar's decoration. The pub once belonged to a champion wrestler. Wordsworth's pub of choice was called the White Lion (now the Royal Hotel). There are views over the area from nearby Biskey Howe and Post Knott. Bowness itself provides unforgettable vistas across Windermere Lake. Location Map of Bowness-on-Windermere Windermere Steamboat Museum Windermere Lake Cruises World of Beatrix Potter Blackwell-the Arts and Crafts House Mountain Goat Tours Photos courtesy Barbara Ballard , Julian Thurgood and Windermere Steamboat Museum © 1997 - 2009 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited. |
||
 |
Designed and Hosted by IT-Services © 1997-2009  |
|
Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the
most popular tourist spots in the Lake District, sitting as it does at Lake Windermere's halfway
point. A long promenade skirts the lake providing views over the busy little pleasure harbour,
lake, and surrounding fells. The town is vibrant with people and traffic in the summertime.
Located where, for many years, barges unloaded gravel dredged from
the bed of Lake Windermere, the Steamboat Museum is full of history. Its collection of Victorian
and Edwardian steamboats and motorboats will interest all history and boat lovers. It includes
the 1850 SL Dolly, which is the oldest mechanically powered boat in the world. It lay on the bed
of the lake for 67 years before being salvaged and restored to working order.
Today, steamers and
boats still ply Lake Windermere, the biggest of the Lake District lakes, at approximately 11
miles in length. Boats from Bowness stop at Ambleside and Lakeside and make circle tours of the
lake. A steam launch, the Osprey, can be rented for tours of the lake. A car ferry (one has
operated here since the 15th century) takes Beatrix Potter lovers to the far side of
the lake to visit her home.
The Beatrix Potter
Exhibition is a family favourite. There's an AV presentation on her life, a walk-through museum
with dioramas of her books and favourite characters, a themed shop, and a themed tearoom.
The outstanding feature of
Bowness's parish church, St Martin's, built in 1483, destroyed by fire, and restored and enlarged
in 1870, is the East window, some of which dates from the 15th century and is thought to be from
Cartmel Priory. Other features of note include a 13th century font, a 17th
century oak chest, other stained glass windows and inscriptions dated c1600. One window shows the
coat of arms of John Washington of Wharton, the great (x 10) grandfather 
of George Washington. The 15th century rectory is the
oldest inhabited house in the area. Behind the church are some 15th century
tradesmen's houses.