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Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite
Armathwaite Hall
civil parish:-   Bassenthwaite (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   buildings
locality type:-   hotel
coordinates:-   NY20703249
1Km square:-   NY2032
10Km square:-   NY23

MN photo:-  
Complete rebuild, a country gentleman's residence, by Thomas Hartley, mine owner from Bridekirk near Cockermouth, 1880. The hall is now a hotel.

photograph
BLO52.jpg  Lakeside face.
(taken 20.1.2006)  

evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 46 15) 
placename:-  Armthwaite Hall
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 map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Armanthwate
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645.
image
Sax9NY23.jpg
Tower, symbol for a house, hall, tower, etc.  "Armanthwate"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?) 
placename:-  Armanthwate
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Northumbria, Cumberlandia, et Dunelmensis Episcopatus, ie Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham etc, scale about 6.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, about 1595.
image
MER8CumB.jpg
"Armanthwate"
circle 
item:-  JandMN : 169
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Armanthwat
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by J Sudbury and George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP11NY23.jpg
"Armanthwat"
circle, tower 
item:-  private collection : 16
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  Armanthwat
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumbria and Westmoria, ie Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646.
image
JAN3NY23.jpg
"Armanthwat"
Buildings and tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   presumably old map:- Ogilby 1675 (plate 96) 
placename:-  Armanthwate
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
OG96m035.jpg
In mile 37, Cumberland.  "Armanthwate"
two rows of houses down a turning right off the road. 
item:-  JandMN : 22
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Seller 1694 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Armanthwray
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 12 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.
image  click to enlarge
SEL9.jpg
"Arman[thwray]"
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement or house 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.89
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Armanthwate
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695-1715.
image
MD12NY23.jpg
"Armanthwate"
Circle, building and tower, the tower has a cross. 
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Bowen 1720 (plate 260) 
placename:-  Armanthwate
source data:-   Road strip map, uncoloured engraving, pl.260, The Road from Kendal to Cockermouth, scale about 2 miles to 1 inch, with sections in Westmorland and Cumberland, published by Emanuel Bowen, St Katherines, London, 1720.
image
B260m35.jpg
At mile 38. 
item:-  private collection : 1.260
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Badeslade 1742
placename:-  Armanthwate
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, A Map of Cumberland North from London, scale about 11 miles to 1 inch, with descriptive text, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.
image  click to enlarge
BD10.jpg
"Armanthwate"
circle, italic lowercase text; village, hamlet or locality 
item:-  JandMN : 115
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Armanthwate
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
BO18NY12.jpg
"Armanthwate"
circle, tower 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Armathwaite
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
D4NY23SW.jpg
"Armathwaite / Spedding Esqr."
house 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library

evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
placename:-  Armathwaite House
item:-  scots pinepine
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 WS21P119, button  goto source
Page 119:-  "..."
"'From Mr. Spedding's, of Armathwaite, at the low extremity of the lake, you have a fine view of the whole [Bassenthwaite Lake].'"
image WS21P120, button  goto source
Page 120:-  "[Mr. Gray] '... Armathwaite-house is a modern fabric, not large, and built of dark red stone.'"
"..."
image WS21P127, button  goto source
Page 127:-  "... in the point of beauty [from Beck Wythop] Armathwaite is seated, queen of the lake, on which she smiles in graceful beauty."
image WS21P208, button  goto source
Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 
Page 208:-  "..."
"Oct. 6. Went in a chaise eight miles along the east side of Bassenthwaite-water to Ouse-bridge, ... At the foot of it [Bassenthwaite Lake], a few paces from the brink, gently sloping upwards, stands Armathwaite, in a thick grove of Scotch firs, commanding a noble view directly up the lake; at a small distance behind the house is a large extent of wood, and still behind this a ridge of cultivated hills on which, according to the Keswick proverb, the sun always shines. ..."
image WS21P209, button  goto source
Page 209:-  "... Armathwaite-house is a modern fabric, not large, and built of dark red stone, belonging to Mr. Spedding, whose grandfather was steward to old Sir James Lowther, and bought this estate of the Highmores."

evidence:-   old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Bas) 
placename:-  Armathwaite Hall
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
CT06Vgn6.jpg
"Armathwaite Hall Sir F. F. Vane's Bart. LLD."
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.191.4
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Bas) 
placename:-  Armathwaite Hall
placename:-  station, Bassenthwaite, West 1
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
CT6NY23B.jpg
"Armathwaite Hall / Sir F. F. Vane's Bart. / and West's First Station"
item:-  Armitt Library : 1959.191.4
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- West 1784 map
placename:-  Armathwaite
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A Map of the Lakes in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Paas, 53 Holborn, London, about 1784.
image
Ws02NY13.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : A1221.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Armathwaite
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 CL13P095, button  goto source
Page 95:-  "..."
"At a little distance is Armathwaite, the seat of J. Spedding, Esq: It is situated on a rising ground, which has a gentle declivity to the Lake; the building is neat, being of red freestone, and has from the front a pleasant view of the Lake, Wythop-Brows, the barren side of Skiddow, and the cluster of mountains called Newland-Fells: when Skiddow is enlightened by the evening sun, its appearance is not so gloomy as at other times."

evidence:-   old map:- Clarke 1787 map (Bassenthwaite Lake) 
placename:-  Armathwaite
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
CL8NY23B.jpg
"Armathwaite / J. SPEDDING Esqr."
item:-  private collection : 10.8
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Hall 1820 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Armathwaite
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 21 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Sidney Hall, published by S Leigh, 18 Strand, London, 1820-31.
image  click to enlarge
HA14.jpg
"Armathwaite"
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement 
item:-  JandMN : 91
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Armathwaite Hall
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 FD01P085, button  goto source
Page 85:-  "... After descending a hill, the road winds through a narrow dale, with moderate eminences on either side clothed with wood, till it reaches the water's edge: at this point there is spread out before the eyes a sweet view of Armathwaite Hall, the residence of Sir -- Vane, with its trees, single or in clumps, sprinkled over the sloping lawns, the rising grounds behind enrobed with forests, and the silvery lake filling the middle of the picture."

evidence:-   old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:-  Armathwaite Hall
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
FD02NY23.jpg
"Armathwaite Hall"
Building and park. 
item:-  JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Armathwaite Hall
source data:-   Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
image
GAR2NY13.jpg
"Armathwaite Ha."
block, building 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Armathwaite Hall Hotel
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"ARMATHWAITE HALL HOTEL / / / BASSENTHWAITE / ALLERDALE / CUMBRIA / II / 72096 / NY2063732464"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"House now hotel. Mid C19 with late C19 extension (on the site of an earlier house) for the Fletcher-Vane family. Dressed red sandstone, with calciferous sandstone ashlar dressings, flush quoins, string courses and battlemented parapet, on plinth of similar material. Graduated greenslate roofs with tall ashlar chimney stacks. 2 storeys of numerous bays with flanking 3-storey towers and right-angled 2 1/2-storey, 5-bay wing, forming overall L-shape. Tudor style. Garden facade has central recessed bays with square tower to right and rectangular tower to left, all with cross-mullioned windows of numerous cusped-headed lights. Right tower has battlemented angle turret. Rear facade has projecting entrance bay, with panelled door in Tudor archway and flanking cusped-headed side lights, all under large cross-mullioned staircase window. Gabled pediment above with Fletcher-Vane coat-of-arms. Large ground-floor windows similar to garden facade and smaller 2 &3-light stone-mullioned windows. Wing of similar design has 2- and 3-light stone-mullioned windows and segmental-arched dormer windows. Interior has mid C19 rooms with Tudor-style fireplaces and moulded plaster ceilings. Late C19 rooms have wood panelled walls and ceilings. Bar has large German wood fireplace with carved figures and animals."

notes:-  
Formerly the home of the Vane Family and Spedding Family.
In the late 19th century J Boustead enlarged the hall. He built high wall round the grounds and had the road lowered so that passers by did not spoil his view.

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