Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house

Blackwell is a Grade I listed house a short drive from Bowness-on-Windermere, designed in 1901 as a holiday home and now open to visitors as a showcase of the Arts and Crafts movement. Visitors walk through the rooms to see original furniture, metalwork, ceramics, tiles, stained glass and plasterwork, with Windermere and the Coniston Fells in view from the windows. The gardens and lawn give space to stretch legs after the house, and the tea room, set in the former kitchen, serves lunches, sandwiches and cake, with an outdoor terrace in fine weather. A trail map is available for anyone walking or cycling from Bowness. Through the year the house hosts craft fairs, exhibitions and talks, so there is often something new to see. It suits families who enjoy old craftsmanship and design, rather than a hands-on play venue.