'Ambleside - Wray Castle'

Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0JB. Tel: 015394 36269
Two miles south of Ambleside on the B5286.

Location : Hawkshead
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 375010

This is not a real castle but a private house built in in the Gothic Revival Style in 1840. It was built for Dr Dawson,a retired Liverpool surgeon, and is now owned by the National Trust. The house was built using his wife's inheritance from a gin fortune. Apparently she took one look at the house when it was finished, and refused to live in it. The architect, H.P. Horner, drank himself to death.

After Dr Dawson's death in 1875, when he was 96, the estate was inherited by his nephew, Preston Rawnsley. In 1877 Preston's cousin, Hardwicke Rawnsley, took up the appointment of vicar of Wray Church (next to the Castle and built at the same time by Dr Dawson). In 1929 Wray Castle and 64 acres of land were given to the National Trust by Sir Noton and Lady Barclay.

The grounds are open to the public, and are well worth visiting for the sake of the specimen trees - wellingtonia, redwood, gingkoa, weeping lime and varieties of beech. There is a mulberry tree planted by William Wordsworth in 1845. Watbarrow Wood is the wooded bank between the castle and the lake, and has several pleasant paths leading through it to the water's edge. There are spectacular views across Windermere. The castle is not currently open to the public.

Beatrix Potter was born and brought up in London. Her parents took her on summer holidays to Scotland, but when the house they rented became unavailable, they rented Wray Castle. Beatrix was 16 when they stayed here in 1882. Her parents entertained many eminent guests, including Hardwicke Rawnsley.

His views on the need to preserve the natural beauty of Lakeland had a lasting effect on the young Beatrix, who had fallen in love with the unspoilt beauty surrounding the holiday home. She bought Hill Top nearby in 1905 with royalties from her first few books, and when she was 47 married and moved to the Lake District. She bought much land in the area, including most of the land surrounding Wray Castle, though she never owned the castle itself.

William Wordsworth said it 'added a dignified feature to the interesting scenery in the midst of which it stands'.

The ground floor of Wray Castle is open to visitors summer 07 until 29th August Sat-Weds, 11am-4pm. Access can be by launch with Windermere Lake Cruises from Waterhead Pier.

Related Links :

• BBC Cumbria - Wray Castle