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Bridge House, Ambleside
Bridge House
site name:-   Stock Ghyll
Street:-   Rydal Road
locality:-   Ambleside
civil parish:-   Lakes (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   buildings
locality type:-   summer house
coordinates:-   NY37600462
1Km square:-   NY3704
10Km square:-   NY30

photograph
BUP81.jpg (taken 27.5.2011)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 26 6) 
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
evidence:-   old print:- Otley 1823 (8th edn 1849) 
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Engraving, Bridge House, Ambleside, drawn by T Binns, engraved by O Jewitt, on p.94 of A Descriptive Guide of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley, 8th edition, 1849.
image  click to enlarge
O80E25.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : A1180.26
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.
image FD01P034, button  goto source
Page 34:-  "... On the bridge below stands a summer-house, the only relic of Ambleside Hall, now hid by other buildings from the eye of the stranger."
evidence:-   old text:- Martineau 1855
source data:-   Guide book, A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855; published 1855-76.
image MNU1P056, button  goto source
Page 56:-  "... The stream ... is the Stock, making its way to the river: and the odd little grey dwelling built above it is the ancient house which is considered the most curious relic in Ambleside of the olden time. ..."
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"BRIDGE HOUSE / / RYDAL ROAD / LAKES / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / I / 451896 / NY3759704622"
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Print, uncoloured etching, The Bridge House, Ambleside, Westmorland, by Alan Carr, 1945.
image  click to enlarge
PR1847.jpg
ms, bottom  "With best wishes to Frank "The bridge house, Ambleside." Alan Carr 45"
item:-  Armitt Library : 2014.470
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Print, engraving, Bridge House, Ambleside, Westmorland, by Thomas Allom, engraved by T Jeevons, 1833.
image  click to enlarge
R209.jpg
item:-  JandMN : 66.23
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1821
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Print, soft ground etching, Bridge House, Ambleside, by William Green, published at Ambleside, Westmorland, 1821.
image  click to enlarge
GN0235.jpg
Plate 35 in Thirty Six Etchings from Nature. 
printed at upper left:-  "35"
printed at bottom:-  "BRIDGE HOUSE, AMBLESIDE. / Etched from Nature by William Green, and Published at Ambleside, May 1, 1821."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6638.35
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1821
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Print, soft ground etching, Bridge House, Ambleside, by William Green, published at Ambleside, Westmorland, 1821.
image  click to enlarge
GN0212.jpg
Plate 12? in Thirty Six Etchings from Nature. 
printed at bottom:-  "BRIDGE HOUSE, AMBLESIDE. / Etched from Nature by William Green, and Published at Ambleside, May 1, 1821."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6638.12
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Bridge House
source data:-   Print, uncoloured etching, Bridge House, Ambleside, Westmorland, by Jackson?
image  click to enlarge
PR1842.jpg
ms, bottom  "Bridge House Ambleside / [ Jackson]"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALMA373
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
BSA56.jpg (taken 29.1.2010)  
hearsay:-  
 Built about 1650 as a summer house or an apple store, attached to Ambleside Hall where the Braithwaite Family lived. It was once the home of the Rigg Family, 6 children ... 1840s. Early 20th century it was a cobbler's shop, with a pigeon loft above. Purchased by local subscription it was given to the National Trust, 1926.
There is NO truth in the suggestion that it was built by a scottish family to avoid paying ground rent.
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