After leaving Hilltop all I could do was smile. The weather was improving and we made our way to Hawkshead. I wanted to see the Gallery there with Beatrix Potter's original artwork. The Gallery is housed in the old law offices of William Heelis--husband of Beatrix Potter. Check out the National Trust page about the Gallery-Here There is no photography allowed in the Gallery. The two story office is quite small with a fireplace in the entrance. We gazed at all the original drawings that fill this two story office. How incredible!!!
Hawkshead is a lovely little town that is filled with little shops-- Yes, Beatrix Potter shops.
We left Hawkshead and knew we would be in for more narrow roads. We decided we had time to visit one more National Trust site before going to our apartment. See the GPS on the windshield? I'm so thankful for this amazing tool. By the way, in England they call a GPS (global positioning system)--SAT NAV(satellite navigation).
Somehow when I look at these photos, the roads look larger--trust me they are narrow!
We wanted to see Wray Castle. So we are on our way!
Wray Castle is a folly of a home! The castle was built for two people! No kidding. Nathaniel Hawthorne said about Wray--"A mimic castle...a giant, foolish toy of graystone." Beatrix Potter stayed here with her family in 1882 when their usual holiday home in Scotland was booked up.
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| Beatrix Potter and Family at Wray Castle |
This is the castle we see as we drive to the car park.
Coming into the castle we see a large entryway. Looking up we find this amazing view!
This castle is huge as one might expect. There is one room after the other. It was built in 1840 by James Dawson's direction. The National Trust acquired it in 1929 and it has served many purposes since then. It was a Youth Hostel, a Freshwater Biological Association home, a home for the Merchant Navy serving as RMS Wray Castle. 150 cadets lived here during their training. In 2011 The National Trust wanted to lease the property as a hotel. These plans were abandoned and instead they allowed visitors to Wray Castle. It was so popular that they have been inviting visitors to come to Wray Castle since 2014. It clearly is in transition and the National Trust invites ideas for consideration.
This is the view out of one of the windows!!! It is breathtaking!
One of the rooms is dedicated to Beatrix Potter and contains many old photos of her and her family.
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| from left to right--Beatrix Potter, Beatrix Potter with bunny, Beatrix and brother Bertram, Beatrix and William Heelis, Norman Warne(Beatrix Potter's editor and fiance') |
Wray Castle was quite interesting. The views were spectacular!
Wray Castle property borders the beautiful Lake Windermere. I love the views from Wray!
What a wonderful exciting day we have enjoyed!
Since it is a holiday week in the USA, I thought we should extend the giveaway for another week. If you wish to enter the giveaway from the previous post and have not entered yet, please leave a comment on this post.
I understand some of you are not getting the current post in your sidebar. If any of you have any ideas about this please let me know. I'm clueless about why this is happening.
Happy Fourth of July! ♥
Oh it may have originally been a folly, yet now it is a gift to all who visit. That view alone is breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you shared it with us. I visited your link and appreciated seeing some of the things you saw (but could not photograph), especially the darling little mouse.
As for your blog not updating...it's an ongoing problem for all of us at some time or another. I call them the rolling blogouts because they are regular and nearly everyone gets to take a turn. The good news is that things will right themselves and, hopefully, it will be a long time before it happens again.
Hello Vee, good to know that most issues correct themselves! Rolling blogouts--good one, or it that bad one?
DeleteThe views from Wray Castle were worth the visit alone! ♥
Hello Martha Ellen, I received notification just fine in my RSS feed and on my WebJournal where I have your Blog listed. The issue may be at the other end for certain people at certain times--as Vee suggests. I see that when we go to England I'm going to have to have to have a healthy budget for the shops! For me, England is all about the views. I hope I can put the camera down and just take it all in (but only after I get lots of photos, too!)
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy, I've had two readers tell me they were not getting my updated posts on their sidebars. Hopefully it will correct itself as Vee said.
DeleteI couldn't buy too many things while in England as we had to handle all of our baggage ourselves! I guess that saved us a lot of money! ♥
You have taken us to so many wonderful places... and it's only Day Three!! What a wonderful tour guide you are, Martha Ellen! I'm dreaming of following in your footsteps. Hawkshead looks like a very sweet place to visit. The views from Wray Castle are just spectacular. You brought back the most important souvenirs of all ~ wonderful memories and amazing photos!! Can't wait to see where you take us next! Happy Independence Day!! ♡
ReplyDeleteDear Dawn, I'm enjoying revisting all the beauty we experienced in England. Our memories will be with us forever!
DeleteHappy Independence Day to you and your husband! ♥
Oh my goodness, Martha Ellen! You're in England! And you visited Hilltop, too!! EEEK! How exciting! I have missed way to much and need to catch up. I'm so excited for you and can't wait to go back to read and see your previous posts! Enjoy your time there! XOXO
ReplyDeleteRosinda, I'm glad to see you! We had the most amazing time. I hope you can read my past posts! Writing about it from my diary and reliving it through our memories and photos is thrilling again for me! xoxo ♥
DeleteI can't believe I somehow missed your previous post about Beatrice Potter's home. Loved it! I would feel just the way you did. I wonder if the post missed my reader, but this one did show up. I would love to be included in your drawing of course! I also enjoyed this post; you write so well I feel like I am right there with you. I was thinking this will be a nice journal for you of your trip. You could even print it sometime into a book. Thanks for sharing your trip. The views from the castle windows are breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteDotsie, I'm glad you are getting my posts again! I'm not sure about what's been happening with that.
DeleteYes, you and I are thinking alike on this being a journal of our trip---Printing it is a great idea. Thanks for sharing my excitement. It was a trip of a lifetime for us! ♥
Another beautiful post Martha Ellen, I love the stone dwellings in Hawkshead & surrounding area's. Hawkshead did not use to be full of Peter Rabbit shop, it has such a pretty mix of shops with Peter as well. Did you visit Townend near Windermere, I just love that national Trust house & of course it is on Troutbeck Beatrix's favourite place. Now that is a steep lane to get to that house, I do hope you got there.
ReplyDeleteDid you get use to our English roads & lanes, I know when we visited America the roads were huge.
Can't wait to see were you went next on your trip to England.
Fondly Michelle
Michelle, we did indeed go to Townend! I loved it there and the Troutbeck area. I'll be doing a post on it for sure! The roads around Townend were some of the narrowest we travelled on.
DeleteMy husband seemed to get used to the driving pretty well, while I was always a little on edge (literally).
I'm so glad to have you on our adventure! ♥
Wow, Martha Ellen!! Wray Castle is beautiful! A bit large for two people, but certainly a magnificent place. It seems a pity that the hotel idea floundered...it would be a fabulous place to stay. What a view you showed us out of that window...breathtaking!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if I need to peek back at a post or two. Off to catch up...
Cheryl, Wray Castle had the most amazing views. We were so fortunate that the weather permitted us to see the views that took our breath away! ♥
DeleteAll I can say is Marvelous! It may have been built for two, but it must have been run by dozens.Wouldn't it just be fantastic to spend a night in one of the bedrooms? This trip has provided you with a lifetime of memoriies.
ReplyDeleteJeri, our trip is mentioned in some fashion each day! Wray Castle was in the most beautiful area and I'll never forget the special times there! ♥
DeleteJust a note to let you know that I'm going to go back and catch up on all I've missed! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you, Judy. I'll enter you in the drawing for the bluebell mug. ♥
DeleteWhat I'd like to know is...why do these photos make me homesick for a country that is not my home! Lol your photos are just stunning, and that photo of the view from Wray Castle is breathtaking. Tell me again...why can't we live there??? Lol
ReplyDeleteJudy, I find that feeling comes over me also! Maybe because it's the Mother Land? It's so beautiful! ♥
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