button to main menu  Old Cumbria Gazetteer
Mirehouse, Bassenthwaite
Mirehouse
Mire House
civil parish:-   Bassenthwaite (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   buildings
locality type:-   museum
locality type:-   art gallery
locality type:-   garden
coordinates:-   NY23172837
1Km square:-   NY2328
10Km square:-   NY22

photograph
BPV75.jpg (taken 17.12.2008)  
photograph
BPV76.jpg (taken 17.12.2008)  
evidence:-   possibly old map:- Ogilby 1675 (plate 96) 
placename:-  Basinthwait
source data:-   Road strip map, hand coloured engraving, the Road from Kendal to Cockermouth, and the Road from Egremond to Carlisle, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by John Ogilby, London, 1675.
image
OG96m030.jpg
In mile 33, Cumberland.  "Part of Basinthwait"
houses between the road and the river on the left. 
item:-  JandMN : 22
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Mire House
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774.
image
D4NY22NW.jpg
"Mire House / Storey Esq"
house 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-   old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Bas) 
placename:-  Mirehouse
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, An Accurate Map of Broadwater or Bassenthwaite Lake, scale about 3 inches to 1 mile, by Peter Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumberland, 1783, version published 1800.
image
CT06Vgn5.jpg
"Mirehouse Thos. Storie's Esqr."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.191.4
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Bas) 
placename:-  Mirehouse
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, An Accurate Map of Broadwater or Bassenthwaite Lake, scale about 3 inches to 1 mile, by Peter Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumberland, 1783, version published 1800.
image
CT6NY22J.jpg
"Mirehouse / Thos. Stories Esqr."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.191.4
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Mire House
item:-  placename, Mirehouse; inclosure; draining; oak; ash; fir; tree
source data:-   Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.
image CL13P099, button  goto source
Page 99:-  "..."
"We now approach Mire-House, so called, I apprehend, from its being situated behind a bog or mire. This bog, along with other lands at the division of the common, was allotted to Thomas Storey, Esq; who hath drained and planted it with oak, ash, fir, &c. The trees in general thrive very well, and will in a short time take away the gloomy view of the barren mountain Ullock, (to use Mr Gray's word,) one of Skiddow's cubs, from the house, and Skiddow will be seen over their lofty tops piercing the clouds."
"Mr West called Armathwaite, (Mr Spedding's,) the Queen of the vale; but never saw the king, or names him, (viz. Mire-House.) Mr Pennant passed it unnoticed; Mr Gray and Mr Hutchinson the same; how then dare I recommend its situation? By telling the reader, that behind the house, and towards the water, it has the richest pastures, and most fertile ground; that it is near the head of the Lake, and fronts downwards, and has the best view of the vale of Bassenthwaite, on account of its elevated situation; that it is a modern built house with two wings, and from a bow-window in one of them is the best perspective view in all this part; indeed not so fine a sheet of water before it as Armathwaite, but a far better view of the bays and peninsulas of the Lake, Wythop-Brows, &c. I cannot paint to the reader all the advantages of view Mire-House has, unless I were determined to dedicate a whole volume to that purpose. Let the traveller, however, be witness to the beauties of the place, and the hospitality of its worthy owner."
evidence:-   old map:- Clarke 1787 map (Bassenthwaite Lake) 
placename:-  Mirehouse
source data:-   Map, A Map of Broadwater and its Environs, ie Bassenthwaite Lake, scale about 6.5 ins to 1 mile, by James Clarke, engraved by Neele, 352 Strand, published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland and in London etc, 1787.
image
CL8NY22I.jpg
"Mirehouse / T. STOREY Esqr."
item:-  private collection : 10.8
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   road book:- Cary 1798 (2nd edn 1802) 
placename:-  Mirehouse
source data:-   Road book, itineraries, Cary's New Itinerary, by John Cary, 181 Strand, London, 2nd edn 1802.
image CY38p319, button  goto source
image  click to enlarge
C38319.jpg
page 319-320  "Between Little Crosthwaite and High Side, on l. is Mirehouse, Thomas Storey, Esq."
item:-  JandMN : 228.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1822 (plate 40) 
placename:-  Mire House
item:-  chimney
source data:-   Print, uncoloured soft ground etching, Mire House, Bassenthwaite, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1822.
image  click to enlarge
GN0840.jpg
Plate 40 in Forty Etchings from Nature. 
printed at bottom:-  "MIRE HOUSE. / Etched from Nature by William Green, &Published at Ambleside, Feby. 1, 1822."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6644.40
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Mirehouse
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 FD01P087, button  goto source
Page 87:-  "... On the direct road to Keswick, on the right, is Mirehouse, the seat of J. Spedding, Esq. enveloped in woods. ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:-  Mirehouse
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, and by R Groombridge, 5 Paternoster Row, London, 3rd edn 1843.
image
FD02NY22.jpg
"Mirehouse"
item:-  JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Mirehouse
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"MIREHOUSE / / / BASSENTHWAITE / ALLERDALE / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 72102 / NY2317828378"
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"SOUTH LODGE TO MIREHOUSE / / / UNDERSKIDDAW / ALLERDALE / CUMBRIA / II / 72192 / NY2346628141"

photograph
BPV79.jpg (taken 17.12.2008)  
photograph
BPV77.jpg  Garden seat.
(taken 17.12.2008)  
photograph
BPV78.jpg  Vegetable garden, with beehives.
(taken 17.12.2008)  
hearsay:-  
 The Spedding Family owned the house from 1802.
Various literary persons were entertained here; Alfred Tennyson, William Wordsworth, Robert Southey, etc.

Longville, Tim &Corbett, Val (photr): 2007: Gardens of the Lake District: Lincoln, Frances (London)
button to lakes menu  Lakes Guides menu.