Water-colours, prints, pastels and oil paintings.  This collection includes over 400 water colours by Beatrix Potter depicting fungi, fossils and Roman archaeology.  Other works are by Kurt Schwitters, William Green, William Payne, J B Pyne James Walton and T L Aspland.

Neolithic, Bronze Age and Roman material collected in and around Ambleside.

Manuscripts, letters, folk songs, local account books, poor-law records and deeds.  Many items relate to Lake District personalities and scholars, including John Ruskin, Harriet Martineau and Charlotte Mason.

Books

Over 10,000 titles relating to the Lake District and the people who lived, worked and visited there.  Includes an extensive collection of early guide books, a wide range of books about local history, Medieval Cumbria, Charlotte Mason’s educational theories, work by local authors, such as Arthur Ransome, Beatrix Potter and  Norman Nicholson and books about mountaineering collected by Bob and Muriel Files.

For far greater detail of the collections, see the Bibliographies page at this link.

Many items have a direct connection with famous local people, such as a lock of John Ruskin's hair, Harriet Martineau's life mask and Dorothy Wordsworth' s scarf.

Lake District specimens collected by John Ruskin, Walter Annis and Dr. F H Day.

Local scenes and people mainly photographed by local Victorian photographers such as Herbert Bell, Frith, Mason and the Abrahams Brothers.

Items made and used by local people in the home and at work. We also have an interesting textile collection featuring  work from the Langdale Linen industry and samples of Ruskin Lace.  For more information on Ruskin Lace, visit Elizabeth Prickett's Website.

 

Improvements for Lakeland:  The following improvements capable of enhancing the beauty of Lakeland have been suggested by an eminent promoter of the Thirlmere Water Scheme:

1. That the Bowder stone should be broken up to pave High Street: a similar use being made of the Kirkstone, in case material should run short.

2. That Brother's Water should be drained and an asphalt Skating Rink be erected in its place.

3. That Loughrigg should be adorned by a statue of Bodgers, the late eminent philanthropist.

4. That a People's Coffee-house be erected on Helvellyn.

5. That Scawfell should be made easily ascendable by means of a hydraulic lift.

6. That a merry-go-round, with fife and drum band, be placed within a convenient distance of Rydal Mount.

The Ambleside Herald, April 3, 1880

 Newspapers & Parish Magazines