Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House

We'd had some pretty heavy storms for a few days but when they cleared we made the trip to Bowness-on-Windermere to visit Blackwell, a large house built in the Arts and Crafts style. One of my favorite periods in modern design, the Arts and Crafts movement was a design revolution that rejected mass production in favor of traditional handcraftsmanship. Among its core principles was the belief that making things by hand benefitted both the worker's well-being and society's moral health. The movement coincided with the Pre-Raphaelite art movement. In both movements there was an emphasis on designs derived from nature, so you see lots of birds and plants used as design elements of both.

Blackwell House was built between 1898 and 1900 as a holiday home for Sir Edward Holt, a wealthy brewer from Manchester. The house, designed by Baillie Scott, is a perfect example of an Arts and Crafts style house and, remarkably, has remained intact even through the very long period of time when it served as a girl's school (1941 - 1976).

Its plain exterior belies the splendor inside.

From the reception area and gift shop, you enter the main part of the house looking down a long hallway.

The stained glass panels in the wall and door

offer a hint at the splendor inside the enormous Great Hall.

Where you see the six copper light fixtures in the photo above is where the billairds table would have been located. In its place at the moment is a table from that same period.

Despite the scale of the Main Hall, Baillie Scott carved out intimate rooms within rooms, like the sofa niche seen here. The splendid peacock wallpaper was produced around 1900 and took nine months to restore in time for the opening of the house in 2001.

On the opposite side of the room

is the rare Manxman piano, with doors that fold in to disguise it. 

Note the bronze candle holders built into the sides which would have held candles to illuminate the music.

On the left side of the same wall is a little snug near the fireplace, complete with delftware tiles.

These magnificent carved oak panels circle the room,

with the exception of one wall, which was reclaimed from St. Mary's church in Warwick and dates from 1792.

Up the stairs to the right of the fireplace you come to the “minstrels' gallery” which gives a wonderful view of the room below.

In that little room is a stunning inlaid chair.

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That nook also affords a view down the yard to the river below.

Off the Great Hall is the dining room with its original hessian wallcoverings.

Baillie Scott had hoped to be able to design the furnishings for the house in order to continue his design scheme throughout. Lady Holt, however, chose a selection of pieces in contemporary styles (1900s contemporary).  Some of his pieces have made it into the house now, but many more of the pieces on display were either donated or are on loan to Blackwell House. In this room, the dining table and chairs and the sideboard are by Ernest Gimson, c. 1910.

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Another fireplace and nook coordinates with the one from the Great Hall.

Design really reigns supreme in this house with even the dining room ceiling decorated with ceiling bosses.

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On the other end of the house is the sumptuous White Drawing Room.

It is sparsely furnished now but that allows you to focus on all the details of the design.

There are two bedrooms upstairs and several other rooms which may have been bedrooms and which feature some lovely pieces.

One room is devoted to posters and displays that talk about both the house and the Arts and Crafts movement.

Barrel chair by Baillie Scott, c 1900

High back chair by Baillie Scott, c. 1895

Overmantel mirror by Baillie Scott, c 1900

Just before you exit to the gift shop, you're treated to one last magnificent piece of carved oak furniture from 1899. What a shame the designer wasn't credited.

I discovered, on the way out, that guided tours of the house are available. I do hope I have the opportunity to return and take one. On the way to the carpark I spotted the historic steam launch headed to Ambleside. I'll do that, too, someday.