Windermere Town
| Windermere | |
| Westmorland | |
|---|---|
 Main Road, Windermere | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SD410982 |
| Location: | 54°22’34"N, 2°54’27"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 8,245 (2001) |
| Post town: | Windermere |
| Postcode: | LA23 |
| Dialling code: | 015394 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Westmorland & Furness |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Westmorland and Lonsdale |
Windermere is a town in southern Westmorland, near the eastern shore of the mighty lake which gives the town its name, Windermere. Though named from the lake, for which it is a destination village the town actually stands half a mile from the lake shore.
The town was originally the village of Birthwaite, but when the railway line was built in 1847 the station was named "Windermere", and so that name was attached to Birthwaite itself. Nevertheless, the town of Windermere does not reach the lakeside. Windermere town has now grown together with the older lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere, though the two retain distinguishable town centres.
The town has a number of museums, but the main attraction for the tourists is the lake itself that touches Bowness at the bottom of the hill (about a twenty-minute walk from the top of Windermere town). Here there is a beautiful view of the mountains. Boats from the piers in Bowness sail around the lake, many calling at Ambleside or at Lakeside, where there is a restored railway.
The geological formations around the area take their name from the town. They are called the Windermere Group of sedimentary rocks. The town's name is also given to the Rt. Hon. Dr David Clark, Baron Clark of Windermere, who now lives in Windermere.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Windermere Town) |