Brathay Hall
| Brathay Hall | |
| Lancashire | |
|---|---|
 Brathay Hall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY364034 |
| Location: | 54°25’20"N, 2°58’52"W |
| History | |
| Built 18th century | |
| For: | George Law |
| Country house | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | The Brathay Trust |
| Website: | Brathay Trust |
Brathay Hall is a Georgian country house in the heart of the Lake District. It stands in the parish of Brathay in Lancashire within an estate of 360 acres at the head of Windermere, between the lake and the River Brathay, as it curves round to enter Windermere. The estate runs down to the lake and to the river, which marks the county border with Westmorland. Today the house and estate are used as the principal centre for the Brathay Trust, providing children's adventure and training activities.
Ambleside stands across the river; the town is a vigorous walk from the house.
History
The house was built in the 18th Century by George Law, the son of a lawyer who has a strong interest in the Backbarrow ironworks.[1]
After Law's death in 1802, his son Henry leased the property to John Harden, a gentleman and amateur artist who lived a life of leisure,[2] entertaining guests such as poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Romantic painter John Constable.[3] [4] Wordsworth's home at Grasmere is just a few miles to the north up the River Rothay.
The diaries of Jessy Harden, the lady of the house at that time, give an account of the diaries of Jessy Harden, the lady of the house at that time, offer an insight to day-to-day life at that time. They have been published as 'Jessy's Journal'.[5]
In 1833, the property was sold to draper Giles Redmayne, whose family lived at the estate for almost a century.[1] The architect Alfred Waterhouse in his early career was contracted to build Gate Lodge at Brathay Hall in 1857, and three years later became the mentor for Redmayne's fourth son, architect George Tunstal Redmayne.[6] George Tunstal Redmayne's grandson, Martin Redmayne was a politician who was created a life peer, becoming the first of the Redmayne baronets.[7][8] While under the ownership of Redmayne, Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of the Rugby School often holidayed at Brathay Hall with his family.[1][9] The Redmayne family owned the estate until Francis Scott purchased the property in 1939.[1]
The house and estate were acquired by the Brathay Trust in 1946.
The Brathay Trust
Brathay Trust is a youth charity with its head office and residential centre based at Brathay Hall and its estate. Founded in 1946 by Francis C Scott, the charity's main focus is on training and developing general skills for youth, including Lake District-based outdoor education and experiential learning, but also organises people and organisation development courses for adults. In 2007, the trust began holding the Brathay Windermere Marathon, a now annual charity marathon.
In addition to the hall, several other buildings exist on the estate, which are used for youth accommodation.[10] One such estate house, Old Brathay, was rented out to a member of the Lloyd family of Lloyds Bank, while the property was possessed by George Law.[1]
The estate supports programmes and conferences throughout the year; with three dedicated residential centres to support your learning programme.
Brathay Trust administers several other locations, including the Bradford Youth Centre in Yorkshire and several Lake District residences, on behalf of Wigan Council.[11][12]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Brathay Trust) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Brathay: A brief history (Brathay Trust, 2013)
- ↑ Foskett, Daphne: 'John Harden of Brathay Hall, 1772–1847' (Abbot Hall Art Gallery, 1974) ISBN 0950333506
- ↑ Georgian Life in Ambleside Revealed' – Book Launch at Brathay Hall, 28 February 2015
- ↑ Brathay Hall - location
- ↑ Jessy's Journal
- ↑ George Tunstal Redmayne - Dictionary of Scottish Architects ]
- ↑ "Leonard Redmayne". Lundy Consulting Ltd.. 2014. http://www.thepeerage.com/p55768.htm#i557672. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 43538, p. 83, 1 January 1965.
- ↑ Stanley, Arthur Penrhyn (1844). The Life and Correspondence of Thomas Arnold, D.D.: Late Head Master of Rugby School, and Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford, Volume 1. B. Fellowes. ISBN 1108047440. https://archive.org/details/lifecorresponden01stanuoft.
- ↑ Brathay Hall Youth Accommodation - Brathay Trust
- ↑ "Bradford Youth Centre". Brathay Trust. https://www.brathay.org.uk/bradford. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
- ↑ "Our Venues". Brathay Trust. https://www.brathay.org.uk/hhandlbgwelcome. Retrieved 23 June 2015.