Old Cumbria Gazetteer

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	Monk Coniston Hall, Monk Coniston
	Monk Coniston Hall
	Waterhead House
locality:-	Monk Coniston
locality:-	High Water Head
civil parish:-	Coniston (formerly Lancashire)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	buildings
coordinates:-	SD31839832
1Km square:-	SD3198
10Km square:-	SD39
	CAR34.jpg (taken 16.5.2014)   CAR35.jpg (taken 16.5.2014)
evidence:-	old map:- OS County Series (Lan 4 4)  placename:-  Water Head 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. "Water Head House"
evidence:-	probably descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821)
source data:-	Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.   goto source Page 54, footnote:-  "A little to the west [of Waterhead, Coniston], and at the north end of the lake, stands the house of Michael Knott, Esq. who has made many handsome improvements on his estate here, which, with contrasted with the native rudeness of the surrounding hills, have a pleasing effect."
evidence:-	old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Con)  placename:-  Water Head
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, An Accurate Map of Coniston Lake, scale about 3 inches to 1 mile, by Peter Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumberland, 1788, version published 1809. CTESD39E.jpg "Water head Mr. Knotts's and the Author's third Station" marked by a block for building/s  item:-  JandMN : 182.5 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Yates 1786 placename:-  Water Head
source data:-	Map, engraving, The County Palatine of Lancaster, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by William Yates, published, London, 1786.
evidence:-	old text:- Clarke 1787
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.   goto source Page 145:-  "... the house of Mr Knott, in a grove of tall wood near the high-end of it [Coniston Water], affords the artist several views, which are heightened by the white cottages in the neighbourhood; none, however, are very striking. ..."
evidence:-	old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions)  placename:-  Monk Coningston
source data:-	Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.   goto source Page 143:-  "..." "... To the north is Coningston ... has the additional name of Fleming to distinguish it from Monk Coningston on the opposite side of the lake which belonged to Furness abbey. ..."
evidence:-	old map:- Grenwood 1824 (Lan)  placename:-  Monk Coniston
source data:-	"Monk Coniston"
evidence:-	probably old photograph:- Payn 1867
source data:-	Photograph, sepia, Coniston Lake, from Mr Marshall's Grounds, Coniston, Lancashire, by Garnett and Sproat, published by J Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1867.   click to enlarge PN0330.jpg From Monk Coniston Hall?  Tipped in opposite p.61 of The Lakes in Sunshine, text by James Payn.  printed at bottom:-  "CONISTON LAKE, FROM MR. MARSHALL'S GROUNDS." item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : 184.30 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	probably database:- Listed Buildings 2010 placename:-  Monk Coniston
source data:-	courtesy of English Heritage "MONK CONISTON / / B 5285 / CONISTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II / 76799 / SD3181298313"
source data:-	courtesy of English Heritage "House. Late C18 with C19 alterations and additions. Stucco and stone with slate roof. 2 storeys, 4 bays, the central 2 bays break forward under gable; rear wings. Clasping buttresses, those to ends carried up as square turrets with corbelled-out embattled parapets. Most windows straight-headed, with label moulds and 2 Tudor-headed lights. Ground floor windows to 2nd, 3rd, 4th bays have transoms, that to 3rd bay with glazed entrance inserted below transom; that to 1st bay of 3 lights with cusped heads and no transom. Central windows of 1st floor have pointed heads with Y-tracery and hoodmoulds. All windows are sashed, those to 1st floor with glazing bars. Right return entrance front of 3 bays with projecting service bay to right. Central canted bay has ashlar dressings and quoins, end turrets as above. Central bay has 3 Tudor arches to ground floor and 2:4:2-light Tudor-headed windows over; top corbelled-out embattled parapet. Flanking bays have pointed sashed windows. Top penthouse storey is slate hung and gabled, with flanking stacks. Service wing has embattled parapet, window with tripartite sash and gable-end rectangular bay window. Left return central entrance bay breaking forward; ground floor 4-light windows and 1st floor 3- and 2-light windows. Rear has service wings flanking bowed stair bay with 2-light pointed window, some pointed sashed windows. Wing parallel to main range of 2 storeys with attic and 3 bays; windows have paired sashes in glazing bars. Entrance has slate slab porch, door with 9 fielded panels over flush panel. Gabled dormers with horizontally sliding sashes. Several stacks with pointed panels. Interior has entrance hall with gallery. Passage with Tudor arches on triple shafts. Rooms have fireplaces, one with strapwork panels to walls and ceiling, one with ornamental shelves; stair has arcaded balustrade with quatrefoil balusters and stained-glass to window. Some William Morris fabric to walls of small room. Property of The National Trust."
evidence:-	database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-	courtesy of English Heritage "FORMER STABLES TO NORTH OF MONK CONISTON HALL / / B 5285 / CONISTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II / 76800 / SD3182998342"
source data:-	courtesy of English Heritage "Stables now service building. Probably C18 or early C19. Roughcast with hipped slate roof. 2 storeys, 3 bays, the central bay breaks forward under gable. Ground floor has casement window with rounded upper angles to 2nd bay; 3rd bay has round-headed window, sashed with intersecting glazing bars and horns. 1st floor has central pitching eye, and lunettes with intersecting glazing bars to end bays. 1st bay has round-headed entrance, fanlight with intersecting glazing bars; 2nd bay has entrance with rounded upper angles and part-glazed 9-panel door. Right return has casement windows, 3 to ground floor, 2 pointed windows to 1st floor. Rear faces hall, stone. Weather vane. Entrance to 1st floor level of left return. Interior has chamfered members to collar and tie beam trusses. Property of The National Trust."
	CAR38.jpg  The Stable. (taken 16.5.2014)
hearsay:-	The land here was owned by Furness Abbey, Barrow-in-Furness, from the13th century. It reverted to the crown following the Dissolution, 1536.
	The estate, then known as Waterhead, was the property of the Harrison Family, Ford Family, and latterly the Knott Family; they were involved in the iron industry. The Knott Family acquired the estate in 1722, George Knott marrying Catherine Ford. They built the imperssive hall, and developed the garden and pleasure grounds.
	James Garth Marshall, son of a flax mill owner, bought the estate in 1853. He changed the name to Monk Coniston, and expanded the estate to 4000 acres. The pleasure grounds were extended to become an arboretum of exotic trees.

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