Keswick, Cumbria

Keswick

Map - Google
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 268235

Places to Stay:

Keswick
Looking towards Catbells.

Situated between the huge bulk of Skiddaw and the gentle beauty of Derwentwater, Keswick has become the major centre for tourism in the north lakes. This pretty market town offer a wide range of attractions for visitors, from shops and restaurants to museums with a difference, and boating trips around lake Derwentwater. In 1276 Edward I granted the town its market charter, and the Saturday market continues to this day.

The original settlement was at Crosthwaite, on the Western side of the town. The first Church at Crosthwaite was built in 553 AD, and named St Kentigern. Canon Rawnsley, served the church as vicar from 1883-1917. He was one of the co-founders of the National Trust, which owns much land in the area.

In the centre if the Main Street is the Moot Hall, now home to the Tourist Information Centre.

Keswick. Photo by Tony Richards 06-Mar-05.
Looking towards the Keswick Moot Hall, home to the Tourist Information Centre.
Photo by Tony Richards.

Keswick. Photo by Tony Richards 06-Mar-05.
Photo by Tony Richards.

The rural economy was transformed in the reign of Elizabeth I, when minerals, copper in particular, were discovered in Newlands and Borrowdale. The discovery of black lead at Seathwaite in the 16th century sparked off pencil making which is still the major industry in the town. The Pencil Museum tells the story of pencil making in Keswick.

Visitors arrived in increasing numbers from the 1700's, many of them literary pilgrims attracted by Keswick's close association with the Romantic poets - Southey, Coleridge and Wordsworth.

Between 1885, when she was 19, and 1907, Beatrix Potter spent summer holidays at Lingholm and Fawe Park, the two stately homes whose estates now occupy most of the north western side of Derwentwater. The two houses, their gardens and the surrounding landscape provided material for several of her books.

The Museum & Art Gallery is a purpose built Victorian museum, hardly changed today since it was created, with a local history collection, and original manuscripts from the Lake Poets.

Keswick.Pic N1991.
Hope Park, looking towards Skiddaw.

At Friars Crag is a memorial, unveiled in 1900, to John Ruskin, who had many associations with Keswick. He once said Keswick was a place almost too beautiful to live in. There is also a memorial to Canon Rawnsley.

The Theatre by the Lake between the lakeside car-park and Derwentwater is a purpose built theatre to replace the 'Century Theatre' - a chaotic collection of blue portacabins which used to occupy the site.

The Victorian church of St John was designed by Anthony Salvin for the founder, John Marshall, who lived on nearby Derwent Isle. In the grounds is the grave of the author Hugh Walpole, who lived at Brackenburn, Keswick, from 1924 until his death in 1941.

Keswick Fitz Park. Pic C1070 5 Aug 2006.
The new Wivell Bridge in Fitz Park.

The Wivell Bridge over the River Greta, which links Penrith Road with Fitz Park, has now been reinstated (July 2006). The new bridge has been funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a local fundraising campaign, and replaces the old bridge which was washed away in the floods of Jan 7th 2005.

At the southern end of Derwentwater is the valley of Borrowdale, leading to the Honister Pass, and on to the smaller lakes of Buttermere, Crummock Water, and Loweswater.

Keswick and Derwentwater.
Derwentwater and Keswick from Latrigg. The Theatre by the Lake is upper centre.
Photo by Tony Richards.

Keswick and Derwentwater.

Keswick and Derwentwater.
Derwentwater, Keswick and Skiddaw.

Keswick and Derwentwater.

Keswick and Derwentwater.
The main street, with the Moot Hall (Tourist Information Centre) in the middle.

Aerial photos by Simon Ledingham.

George Bott, a local historian, has written the book 'Keswick - The Story of a Lake District Town', published 1994 by Cumbria County Council/Chaplins Booksellers. He has also written the booklet 'Keswick Town Trail', which describes two walks around the town and highlighs places of historical interest. This is published by the Keswick Civic Society, and is available at the Tourist Information Centre.