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Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby
Acorn Bank
Acorn Bank Garden
civil parish:-   Temple Sowerby (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   buildings
locality type:-   garden
coordinates:-   NY61732822
1Km square:-   NY6128
10Km square:-   NY62

photograph
BME84.jpg (taken 1.6.2006)  
photograph
BME85.jpg (taken 1.6.2006)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 4 16) 
placename:-  Acorn Bank
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:-   hearth tax returns:- Hearth Tax 1675
placename:-  Ackthorne banke
source data:-   Records, hearth tax survey returns, Westmorland, 1674/75.
"Ackthorne banke"
in  "Temple Sowerby"
evidence:-   old text:- Morgan 1759
placename:-  Acorn Bank
source data:-   MG02q054.txt
"Acorn-bank, late the seat of the Dalstons, but now of William Norton, Esq. is an elegant modern"
MG02q055.txt
"building, covered with fine plantations. It commands an agreeable though narrow prospect over rich meadows to the south, descending to the town of Temple Sowerby."
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Sowerby Castle
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland Divided into their Respective Wards, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin et al, published by T Bowles, Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, London, 1760.
image
BO18NY52.jpg
"Sowerby Cas."
circle and line 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Acorn Bank
source data:-   Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770.
image
J5NY62NW.jpg
"Acorn Bank / Sr. William Dalstone Kt."
house 
item:-  National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland
evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Acorn Bank
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
D4NY62NW.jpg
"Acorn Bank / Sir Willm. Dalston"
house 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-   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.
image WS21P200, button  goto source
Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 
Page 200:-  "... Passed ... Sir William Dalston's house at Acorn-bank, ... crossed the Eden and the Eamont with its green vale, ... [to] Penrith ..."
evidence:-   road book:- Cary 1798 (2nd edn 1802) 
placename:-  Acorn Bank
source data:-   Road book, itineraries, Cary's New Itinerary, by John Cary, 181 Strand, London, 2nd edn 1802.
image CY38p289, button  goto source
image  click to enlarge
C38289.jpg
page 289-290  "On the r. of Temple Sowerby is Acorn Bank, R. Hodgson Edmenson, Esq."
list of seats 
item:-  JandMN : 228.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Acorn Bank House
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"ACORN BANK HOUSE / / / TEMPLE SOWERBY / EDEN / CUMBRIA / I / 423386 / NY6172928212"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Large house, taken over by the Crown at the Dissolution, it was bought by the Dalstons in 1544. The deep chamfered plinth to the north-west corner may date from the previous owners, the Knights Templar &Hospitaller. The pre C18 work is coursed, roughly squared blocks, the rest is ashlar. All roofs are of graduated slate with corniced stone end and mid chimneys. 2-storey west elevation is late C16. Door with false 4-centred head to either end of 3 central bays; 3-light mullioned window between and 3 above. Wing at each end has single 2-light mullioned window to each floor. Internally, a spiral stair with timber and plaster enclosure and 3 original fireplaces have survived. At the rear of the main house, the west stair wing bears a 1656 datestone; the Venetian windows are part-rusticated externally with Doric columns internally. The stairs have cut string with turned balusters and a later, moulded, handrail; the dog gates at the bottom have been retained. Some C17 heraldic glass. The central rear wing may be earlier and incorporates part of a newel stair. The east stair wing is mid C18 with a single Venetian window; internally, at the head of the later stairs, are paired Ionic columns. The ceiling is Italianate with decorative panels. Both stairs have pedimented doorcases on each landing. In the mid C18 the main house was remodelled and extended with a rusticated east gable wall. Symmetrical 3-storey, 9-bay front has 2nd floor band and moulded eaves. Central door has segmental pediment and shouldered achitrave; sash windows have glazing bars and architraves. 2-storeyed, hipped, wings to either side have trompe l'oeil windows. Internally, large C17 segment-headed, fireplaces in kitchen and hall; small door to right in kitchen (now blocked) led into newel stair. Present dining room is fully panelled with vine-leaf and greek-key decoration; Adam fireplace and overmantel. Other rooms retain C17 and C18 panelling, fireplaces and cornices. Elaborately carved early C17 overmantel with Dalston heraldry was moved from hall to 1st floor bedroom in late C20. Most doors are original, some in shouldered doorcases."
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"GARDEN WALLS AND GATES TO SOUTH EAST OF ACORN BANK HOUSE / / / TEMPLE SOWERBY / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 423395 / NY6180028197"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"The garden walls are of brick, variously bonded, with flat stone copings; mid C18, although the north wall of the herb garden, which incorporates a flue, may date from the mid/late C17. The various gates are mostly of wrought-iron with scrollwork or geometric decoration; some were brought in by the then owner in the mid C20 and appear to date from the Cl8 onwards. The main gate on the north side came from Verona, with some mid C20 wrought-iron foliate decoration added to the overthrow."
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"ENTRANCE ARCH, FRONT WALL OF COURTYARD, AND DOVECOTE TO SOUTH EAST OF ACORN BANK HOUSE / / / TEMPLE SOWERBY / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 423394 / NY6175828177"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Courtyard wall with central archway and attached dovecote; late Cl8/early c19. All constructed of ashlar. Archway has open pediment; semicircular arch-head is carried on rusticated piers with impost blocks. Single trompe l'oeil window on each 'floor' of walls set back to either side of arch; moulded coping. Square plan dovecote at east end is of 2 storeys with sill band and moulded eaves. Pyramidal, graduated slate roof has central wooden clock turret with corner balusters and wrought-iron weather vane. Jambs of Venetian window on south face are Tuscan columns. 2 small dovecote openings under eaves on north side."
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"LOW WALL, GATE PIERS, RAILINGS, GATES, AND HA HA WALL TO FRONT OF ACORN BANK HOUSE / / / TEMPLE SOWERBY / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 423393 / NY6171428185"
 sundial

Longville, Tim &Corbett, Val (photr): 2007: Gardens of the Lake District: Lincoln, Frances (London)
: 2012: Cumbria Gardens 2012: National Gardens Scheme
notes:-  
 possible remains of a hall of the Knights Templars or Knights of St John

Perriam, D R &Robinson, J: 1998: Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria: CWAAS:: ISBN 1 873124 23 6; plan
hearsay:-  
 A presbytery of the Knights Templars, later owned by the Hospitallers.
person:-    : National Trust
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