Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Lake Poets and more....


We drove the 4 hours from the Cotswolds to the Lakes District this morning, arriving midday. Our first stop was at the home of William Wordsworth from 1799 to 1808. While Wordsworth was there Samuel Coleridge also lived there at some length and he was regularly visited by Sir Walter Scott. Wordsworth was named Britain's Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria and the royal decree hangs on the wall in Wordsworth's home along with most of his original manuscripts, furniture and much more. Sadly, no photos allowed inside. Jane is sitting on the stone steps behind Wordsworth's home.


Here's the cottage itself from behind. It was wonderful to see the house filled with his personal items, furniture, manuscripts, etc. as so often these famous houses have no real objects that belonged to the owner- just period furniture, etc. The lake is just across the road and below the cottage but isn't visible in this photo.


As some of you know, another of Jane's all-time favorite children's authors is Arthor Ransome who wrote a whole series of delightful books beginning with "Swallows and Amazons" which Jane has dearly loved for years. Ransome lived and wrote here and I had read that his personal boat is at a private boarding school here in Windemere. Apparently they had JUST removed the boat from it's display YESTERDAY in anticipation of displaying it somewhere else in two weeks. This is the display where it USUALLY sat! LOL!


But one of the trustees of the Arthur Ransome Society of England was kind enough to take us to where the boat had been moved and uncovered it for us so we could see it. The rudder and sails and mast are all inside the boat.


Ransome commissioned the boat to be built in Scotland to his specifications and it's beautifully constructed.


Now THIS is a purely GUY photo. We're staying at a spectacular hotel which you'll see in a moment, but a British F15 came THUNDERING down the lake valley at low altitude above the water so OF COURSE I had to grab a photo and include it. Quite incongruous really with the bucolic setting.


Here's Linthwaite House where we're staying, overlooking Lake Windemere. The grounds are AMAZING and so is the food!


A pair of nesting ducks in the Lindthwait House gardens.


Jane walking the grounds of Lindthwaite House.


Beautiful bluebells on the hillside overlooking Lake Windemere about 100 yards from our hotel.


Dinner was SPECTACULAR. I'll spare you the details but here's the dessert I had; fresh berries, strawberry sorbet, freshly made vanilla ice cream and more.


Jane DOES love hillsides of bluebells!


Looking down on Lindthwaite House and the rocky hillside behind it where sheep graze outside our window and Baa as we sit here writing.


Jane looking up at a bird as we walk near sunset.


So tomorrow will take us to Beatrix Potter's Hilltop home, and then to her museum where all of her original illustrations and manuscripts are on display from her beloved little books. Then tomorrow afternoon/evening we're booked for a 2-hour (once each week only!) Arthur Ransome cruise on an old laker that will take us down past all the areas Ransome wrote about including Wildcat Island. Ahhhh...


4 comments:

Anita said...

I am very moved by the dream unfolding. Wow! Beautiful scenery but to see you both in a place that so typifies your hearts and loves...incredible!

Jen U. said...

Beautiful just doesn't seem to describe it all.

Leslie said...

Love reading about your trip! So glad you are both there enjoying so much together. Just made me smile to see Jane beside the boat. :0) And the food y'all are eating looks amazing!!! Hugs to both of you!

Julie Y said...

Those pictures look like professional postcards; spectacular scenery and photography!