Blackwell (historic house)

Blackwell
Blackwell: the south front
Blackwell is located in the former South Lakeland district
Blackwell
Blackwell
Location in South Lakeland
Blackwell is located in Cumbria
Blackwell
Blackwell
Location in Cumbria
General information
Architectural styleArts and Crafts
Town or cityBowness-on-Windermere
CountryEngland
Coordinates54°20′35″N 2°55′25″W / 54.3431°N 2.9236°W / 54.3431; -2.9236
ClientSir Edward Holt
Design and construction
Architect(s)Baillie Scott
Thomas Mawson (Garden)
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameBLACKWELL SCHOOL
Designated12 November 1969
Reference no.1124680

Blackwell is a large house in the English Lake District, designed in the Arts and Crafts style by Baillie Scott. It was built in 1898–1900, as a holiday home for Sir Edward Holt, a wealthy Manchester brewer. It is near the town of Bowness-on-Windermere with views looking over Windermere and across to the Coniston Fells.

Blackwell has survived with almost all its original decorative features intact, and is listed Grade I as an outstanding example of British domestic architecture.[1] The house is furnished with original furniture and objects from the period. The gardens were designed by Thomas Mawson in a series of terraces. Flowers and herbs border the terraces, which form sun traps on the south side of the house.

The house has been open to visitors since 2001 and hosts regular exhibitions including work by living artists such as Edmund de Waal in 2005.[2][3] It won the Small Visitor Attraction Award in the Northwest of England for 2005. The house is managed by the Lakeland Arts Trust.

  1. ^ Historic England. "Blackwell School (1124680)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ^ "A Line around a Shadow". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  3. ^ MacCarthy, Fiona (30 June 2007). "Cabinets of curiosity". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2015.