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Wherever you are in Cumbria and the Lake District you can feel the shadow of a deep cultural heritage. Here are the standing stones and circles of the ancients, the powerful traces of Rome and the mighty fortresses of the Normans. The history of the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons is read in the names they left behind, including fell, dale, beck, ghyll, mere, tarn and howe.
Later arrivals came not to conquer but to bask in the beauty of the landscapes and let it inspire them to artistic greatness: William Wordsworth, John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter, JMW Turner, Kurt Schwitters and Andy Goldsworthy are just a few of the names who carved their creativity out of Cumbrian stone; today, a rich creative life builds on this exceptional heritage.
You can see it and feel it within a few short miles; the artworks in mountains and forests, the scores of galleries and artists’ studios, the packed programme performances and festivals – not just music and comedy but wool, print and ceramics. It's the intimate venues and outdoor stages in stunning settings that make a cultural break here something unique.
For a taste of the art and culture waiting for you in England’s best-known landscape explore the sections below and at www.lakesculture.co.uk.
Isel church is a beautiful Grade I listed building, which is located in an idyllic position in a…
Stone circle is now incomplete and has a modern wall cutting through it, incorporating one stone.…
Come and visit our brewery to find out more about us and the beers we make. Only a 2 minute walk…
Set in the heart of Sedbergh in a beautifully maintained churchyard the church, which dates from…
A spectacular Gothic ruin set in 130 acres of ancient and romantic Gardens, award-winning Lowther…
St Mary's has been an important religious site since the 8th century.
Second largest circle in England - 360' diameter. Long Meg is an outlying stone and is decorated…
Hardknott Roman Fort is one of the most dramatically sited and remote Roman forts in Britain. It…
Steam from the lake shore of Windermere along the heritage track to Haverthwaite Station, where you…
Hadrian's Wall is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, marching 73 miles from sea to sea…
12th century Norman church, built with stones from Hadrian’s Wall and where King Edward I…
Crosthwaite Church has a long history and it is thought that Christians have worshipped on this…
Enjoy your perfect Lake District day out at Wordsworth Grasmere. Discover the home of William…
The smallest church near the deepest lake and the highest mountain in England.
Originally know as Sunkenkirk, consists of 50 stones at the foot of Black Combe. Access is via a…
One of the oldest Methodist Churches in the world and possibly one of the most unique buildings…
A beautiful Norman church on site of 7th century monastery in peaceful Lakeland location and home…
Kendal Castle is situated on a mound-like hill, known as a drumlin, to the east of the town of…
The present circle of 10 standing stones, 80' diameter, was restored in 1949. The stone circle is…
Dating back to the 17th century, this unique building stands over Stock Beck in the middle of…
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles…
Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and…
Right in the heart of Kirkby Lonsdale,the beautiful Norman church sits above the River Lune with…
Built in 1833 by William Carus Wilson, Founder of the Clergy Daughters School, as school chapel and…


Wherever you are in Cumbria the history of the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons is read in the names they left behind

Number of results: 146
, currently showing 101 to 120.
Ambleside
One of the oldest Methodist Churches in the world and possibly one of the most unique buildings.
Converted from a 15th century cottage in 1862, a small group of local Christians worshipped at 'Union Chapel'. The benefactor was Mrs Satterthwaite. In…
Ulverston
Swarthmoor Hall is a 17th century, Grade II* listed country house. The Hall is regarded as the cradle of Quakerism as it was here in 1652 that the Quaker movement was formed during a period of enormous political and religious turmoil.
Penrith
Circle is 37' across, seven stones and the retaining kerb of a destroyed cairn. Nineteenth-century excavations produced a cremation.
Windermere
Windermere Jetty Museum is a vibrant, family-friendly visitor attraction dedicated to the boats, people and the rich history of Windermere, England’s largest natural lake.
Ambleside
Beatrix Potter's iconic house, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden. Her paintings of the House and garden were used to illustrate many of her tales.
Penrith
Second largest circle in England - 360' diameter. Long Meg is an outlying stone and is decorated with concentric circle - late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (c2000 or earlier).
Brampton
Set in a tranquil rural landscape, overlooked by Hadrian's Wall, Lanercost Priory forms a magnificent and fascinating complex of historic buildings. St Mary’s sits in the former nave of the Priory, an Augustinian monastery founded in 1169.
Cumbria
The present circle of 10 standing stones, 80' diameter, was restored in 1949. The stone circle is on private land belonging to Seascale How Farm, but can be seen from a nearby footpath.
Windermere
Family Day Out – Walk the lakeshore, hop on a boat cruise, or enjoy a picnic by the water while the kids keep watch for the creature. It’s a magical way to make a family walk or boat trip even more exciting. A Lake District Character – Bownessie…
Ulverston
Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley. Licensed tea room, gift shop, engine shed, picnic area & playground.
Penrith
This area is rich in prehistoric remains including a standing stone, stone circle and cairns. Moor Divock is 300 metres above sea level, forming part of Askham Fell, to the East of Ullswater.
Cockermouth
Step back in time to the 1770s and experience William and Dorothy Wordsworth’s childhood home. Whether you meet the maid-of-all-work or a knowledgeable 21st-century guide, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome.
CARLISLE
A local landowner, Sarah Losh (1785-1853), designed St Mary's in 1840, partly in memory of her sister and parents. Influenced by the architecture seen on her Grand Tour of Europe, she created an original design that was very much at odds with the…
SEDBERGH
Set in the heart of Sedbergh in a beautifully maintained churchyard the church, which dates from 1130, is a haven of peace.
Barrow-in-Furness
Now a ruin, Furness Abbey was once the second most powerful Cistercian monastery in Britain, after Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire.
MILNTHORPE
St Peter’s, the oldest site of worship in the old county of Westmorland and the building we see today reflects its long and fascinating history.
AMBLESIDE
Visible from miles around that spire of St Mary’s nestles into the beautiful landscape of the Heart of the English Lake District.
SEDBERGH
Cautley chapel was built in the early 1860s by the Upton family, when the London and North Western Railway was building its Ingleton branch and sent a Scripture Reader to the navvies.
Grange-over-Sands
Cartmel Priory has been described as the medieval jewel among churches, making a lasting impression on the visitor, standing over the village and giving an idea of the way early priories must have dominated their surroundings.
WORKINGTON
The church was designed by Edward Welby Pugin (son of Augustus Welby Pugin) and built between 1873 - 1876 to replace a chapel in the grounds which now forms part of St Joseph's High School.
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