blackwell arts and crafts house

Visiting Blackwell today with three generations of Mums raining from 2 to 76 was a sheer delight. The little person amongst us enjoyed the space and splendour of this beautiful house with stunning Arts and Crafts features and magnificent views and the eldest person amongst us enjoyed for the third time the ever changing displays of Objet d'art. Completing our visit was a superb and tasty special Mother's Day afternoon tea, gluten free and small child catered for well, and service was second to non. All in all, a true delight.

On presenting myself at the front desk, I was asked if I wanted to gift aid the entrance fee (without having been told what the entrance fee was). Normally I dont go for gift aid, as I think in many cases the Treasury needs the money more than the charity (our local stately home, Chatsworth springs to mind) but on this occasion I thought fair enough. So I said gift aid and was then told the entrance fee. Only after doing all the necessary about entrance did i read a lower price for entrance if you are not gift aiding. Having studied this a bit more, I now realise you have to agree to pay 10% extra if your entrance fee is to be treated as gift aid, but by law the charity must make the reduced entrance fee available to all. So surely that means telling people about the difference in the two charges, which the lady behind the desk certainly did not. Also I asked if they were any concesssions for seniors that I am sure the surly lady behind the desk heard, but she just ignored me. Those two incidents which occured before really getting into the house soured the visit for me, otherwise I would have given it a five star.

This was a beautiful house in a wonderful setting. It was easy to understand how the family lived in this house 100 years ago. The seating arrangements around the fireplaces in various rooms were a lovely touch to the wonderful rooms. A lovely place to visit but on a rainy day it only took us 45 mins to view the whole house and thought it a little overpriced for what it was (£8) with no reductions for senior citizens.

Made the time to visit to Blackwell arts and craft house with the intention of enjoying the house and garden. After looking on the web site at no place does it say no dogs allowed any where on this site. We had two small dogs with us and both where on leads. We asked if dogs were allowed to a very rude women who threw her nose up and said they where not allowed any where. So the house lost my custom. Happy days. On returning to my car I saw the tiniest sign that shown a picture of no dogs allowed.

Blackwell is a beautiful Arts & Crafts house by architect MH Baillie Scott, overlooking lake Windermere towards the Coniston fells. The rooms contain furniture and objects by many of the leading Arts & Crafts designers and studios of the time. You can really enjoy the house on your visit, there are no roped off areas to shuffle through, and you can relax in the window seats and fireplace inglenooks, browsing the many books on Arts & Crafts liberally spread around the house. Blackwell retains many of its original decorative features, including beautifully crafted stained glass, leaf-shaped door handles, intricate window catches, carved wooden panelling and fabulous plasterwork, especially in the fabulous White Drawing Room, which is not to be missed, and reminiscent of Mackintosh's Hill House in Hellensburgh. The Main Hall evokes a medieval feel, wood panelled, with original copper light fittings, and a Minstrel’s Gallery overlooking the hall. The Peacock wallpaper frieze by Shand Kydd, was installed c.1906, its glowing colours and forms providing a rich contrast to the dark oak timber panelling.The inglenook fireplace is the focus of attention, and has a very modern looking and unusual “keying” of the lintels. This is repeated in the Dining Room fireplace, which retains its original Delft tiles and the “keying” of the green slate and pink sandstone lintels, the overall colour theme being shades of blue.Upstairs, each bedroom was designed individually, and would have had its own bold, co-ordinated colour scheme linking the walls, tiles, windows and fireplaces. The fireplace tiles are by Arts & Crafts designer William De Morgan. Only the Master Bedroom had its own bathroom and a miniature version of the fireplaces in the Main Hall and Dining Room.

This house is simply stunning, and is a real treat to visit. Just sit in one of the many window seats and enjoy the view over Windermere, and the atmosphere of the house. It will leave you feeling rested and at peace. The cafe is very good too- the open sandwiches are yummy!

Extremely interesting house and views. And well-set out exhibitions.Good tea rooms and gift shop, too.

The Gardner at the cottage we were staying on holiday recommended this beautiful house.It's so interesting and packed full of stunning features.

This house takes you breath away if you are a fan of Arts and Crafts! It's is beautiful and just sitting in the windows looking out is a treat. Go there!!!!!

A beautiful house, wonderfully restored. A must-see if you like architecture, design and history. And the location is fabulous. Just sit and dream in the White Drawing Room!

We visited Blackwell House today and all of us (aged 13 - 77) loved this beautiful example of the Arts and Crafts movement. We all adored the inglenook fireplaces, imaging curling up with a book infront of a warming fire. The panelled corridors lit by skylights and the White dining room were other highlights. Well organised car parking, reception and tea room, which serves excellent Florentines and lunch. The gift shop has a rarely seen range of ceramic and textiles, hardnto resist!

Former school tastefully restored and maintained.Beautiful grounds and spectacular views of the Lakes.

It is not hard to imagine what a rich family's weekend in the Lakes would have been like one hundred years ago. Dream of a place.

I am a bit of a sucker for the whole arts and crafts thing, been to The Red House in Bexleyheath and I'm fascinated by the whole movement, and Blackwell has some outstanding examples of decorations, utensils and even an arts and crafts piano - that you can play if you're musically inclined. But there's also a bit on the history of the place, it wasn't all Downton Abbey. And if that wasn't enough the house is set in the hills with the most glorious views over Lake Windermere.

We were fortunate to get to the house just as it was opening, so we had the place to ourselves. We sat in the various window bays, examining the decoration and the views, and generally relaxed. While there is not a lot of furniture it is well worth a visit. There is also an interesting shop and cafe. The restoration work is very good, particularly introducing the modern (eg lift, stairs) into the A & C house. The modern design works well.