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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.
Beatrix Potter's iconic house, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden.…
Imposing and well-preserved turret with adjoining stretches of Hadrian's Wall.
Said to be the resting place of the legendary King Arthur. The church of St Michael & All Angels is…
Brougham Hall is a creative haven where you can enjoy the perfect blend of crafts, coffee and…
According to architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner, this is ‘the stateliest church of its time…
Come and walk up the aisle of our beautiful and peaceful church and learn about the lives of the…
Egremont Castle Park in the town of Egremont, offers 2.8 acres of beautiful green space that is…
Cartmel Priory has been described as the medieval jewel among churches, making a lasting impression…
In spite of the eclectic origins of its many parts, St Oswald's significance lies it its…
Home to the Hasell family since 1679, visitors to Dalemain will discover a fascinating combination…
The Lakeland Model Village showcases dozens of miniature buildings crafted from locally sourced…
Brigflatts, near Sedbergh, Cumbria, is one of the most famous Quaker meeting houses, known and…
A fascinating historic house where the elegance and loveliness of the Victorian era combine with…
The smallest church near the deepest lake and the highest mountain in England.
This ‘hidden gem’ is the earliest known surviving example of a small English parish church designed…
A spectacular Gothic ruin set in 130 acres of ancient and romantic Gardens, award-winning Lowther…
Kendal Castle is situated on a mound-like hill, known as a drumlin, to the east of the town of…
Described by Nicholas Pevsner as “one of the architectural sensations of Cumberland.” The present…
Located in the grounds of Muncaster Castle, it is believed that worship on this site dates to pre…
Built in 1833 by William Carus Wilson, Founder of the Clergy Daughters School, as school chapel and…
Imagine leaving the heart of Whitehaven's historic port and being taken back in time to an exotic…
Situated in the beautiful valley of Dentdale, Cumbria yet within the boundary of the Yorkshire…
Circle has a diameter of 60' and stands on a flattened mound or platform. There are 20 uprights,…
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes.…


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 81 to 100.
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…
SEASCALE
St Mary's has been an important religious site since the 8th century.
Penrith
Imagine coming to a ruined castle, walking through its gardens and into the woodlands and stumbling across one of the largest adventure playgrounds in the country. When you do this at Lowther, you have found the lost castle.
CARLISLE
The tranquility of St Andrew's church, set on the banks of the river Esk, belies the turbulence of its past. The church serves the scattered population in the rural parish of Kirkandrews on Esk, once the centre of the historic and lawless Debateable…
Grasmere
This church is well known because of its associations with the great Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who lived in nearby Dove Cottage and is buried in the churchyard.
Wigton
Described by Nicholas Pevsner as “one of the architectural sensations of Cumberland.” The present church is from about 1400 but there is ample evidence of an earlier Norman Church.
Kendal
With a history dating back over a thousand years, Holy Trinity is one of the largest parish churches in the country and one of England's Greater Churches.
Visitors are struck both by the lightness of the interior and by its five aisles. Although…
APPLEBY-IN-WESTMORLAND
St Lawrence's church is a grade I listed building, of late 12th century foundation, rebuilt late 13th after a raid by the Scots, restored 16th by Lady Anne Clifford, followed by two rounds of 19th century internal remodelling.
SEASCALE
The smallest church near the deepest lake and the highest mountain in England.
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.
Windermere
A real Lakeland hidden treasure set in the beautiful village of Troutbeck, this 17thC solid stone and slate house sits imposingly on the hillside, its huge chimneys typical of the area.
Windermere
Nestling in the hills of the Troutbeck Valley, a place for walkers and pilgrims to pause, reflect and find their eternal bearings.
One of only two churches in England dedicated as Jesus Church. Built to serve two settlements, yet sited in neither,…
Kendal
A stunning Elizabethan mansion with spectacular interiors and impressive collections of antiques. Also home to the world's oldest topiary gardens, designed by Guillaume Beaumont, retain many original features. Cafe, Gift Shop and Plant Centre.
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.
Ulverston
Aldingham church hugs the Cumbrian side of Morecambe Bay and is open to the wild beauty of the Bay, an area of designated county landscape importance and scenic beauty.
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…
Nr Kendal
Sizergh boasts 800 years of family history, and is filled with thousands of fascinating items collected by 26 generations of the Strickland family.
KESWICK
Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and tranquillity, it can be traced back to the mid 16th century, although it was substantially refurbished in the 1840s.
Carnforth
Circle has a diameter of 60' and stands on a flattened mound or platform. There are 20 uprights, none more than 2' high and suggesting perhaps the kerb of a destroyed cairn.
Milnthorpe
The beautiful Grade I church we see today, situated by the River Bela, is the result of additions and adaptations through the centuries.
Mass dials, masons marks, medieval stained glass, a fine Forster & Andrews organ, tower bells and gravestones…
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