The Bridge House, Ambleside, Cumbria
The Bridge House Ambleside- a very curious building.
Bridge House is in the centre of the Lake District village of Ambleside . The Bridge House is a very odd little building.
As you can see, the Bridge House built on a little bridge over a stream ( or "beck" as streams are called in the Lake District")
To lots of people, the Bridge house is the symbol of Ambleside, and a photo the Bridge House or a Bridge House souvenir is an essential reminder of their vacation.
As a child, I had a silver charm bracelet ( like the modern Chamilia) ), to which I added little silver items , given to me on special occasions, that had a symbolic meaning for me. One of my "charms" was of the Bridge House Ambleside, bought for me by my parents as a reminder of lots of happy vacations in the Lake District as a child.One of the favorite Lake District activities is a visit to Bridge House Ambleside.
I'm taking a look at this funny little building, the Bridge House Ambleside, and the area around the Bridge House.
Photo thanks to wikimedia commons
When and why was the Bridge House Ambleside built?
The Bridge House Ambleside has a long history
Bridge House, is a tiny stone-built house in Ambleside, in England's Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. Ambleside is halfway between Windermere and Grasmere. The pretty lake of Rydal Water is also nearby.
It was built in the 16th Century, and it is thought that this piece of land was part of an apple orchard owned by Ambleside Hall, which is long since demolished. It may have been used as an apple store.
The Bridge House was probably built on a bridge to avoid tax- as it was over water, its owner could avoid land tax- an early form of tax evasion!
Later it was used as a shop, and at some point, its seems a family of eight lived there!
Visitors find this amazing- it reminds them of the nursery ryhme, " the old woman who lived in a shoe" as it is a very tiny space for anyone to live in, let alone 8 people..
In 1926 it was bought by locals and handed to the National Trust. A couple of decades later it became the Trust's first information centre, and it still houses a National Trust information point, and you can join the National Trust there.
Photo thanks to© Copyright Gordon Griffiths and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
The National Trust manages lots of land and buildings in the Lake District, including the Bridge House , Ambleside.
Membership of the National Trust gives free entry to properties all over the UK., and there are reciprocal arrangements for members from other countries of their own national trusts.
Here is the National Trust website- look here for lots of helpful information .
Click on this link here to get more information about the National Trust and how to join it
Where to eat and drink near the Bridge House Ambelside - Three great places to eat and drink near the Bridge House, Ambleside
By the side of the Bridge House is the The Glass House Restaurant. Built from an old flax mill, this is a beautiful restaurant for lunch or dinner.
The Apple Pie bakery and cafe is just a few steps away from the Bridge House, and the Golden Rule pub is just up the road, Smithy Brow, opposite the Bridge House. Ambleside
- The Apple Pie Ambleside
Great bakery and cafe. Scrumptious cakes, breads, pies, sandwiches, anything baked you like- all made on the premises. The cafe has indoor and outdoor seating area, or you can buy a pie, quiche, slice of something, to take away for a picnic. The Fiel - The Golden Rule Ambleside
Traditional no nonsense pub just up the hill from the Bridge House., run for many years by Margaret and John Lockley. No gimmicks, no music, nothing except great beer and drinks, good filled rolls, good service and lots of local customers. Known loca
If you're visiting Ambleside you should go on a hike. - Ambleside, home to the Bridge House, is in the center of glorious hiking country
Even if you only take a short hike, it's good to have a reliable map.
Readers in the UK can buy this map through this link Collins Lake District Map (Collins Pictorial Maps)
Ambleside Online - A one stop information site about Ambleside, the Lake District, Cumbria
This is a "roughish guide" (the words of its author!) to the goings on around Ambleside.
Take a look- you might find it interesting and informative!
- Ambleside Online- for residents and visitors
A guide to everything going on in Ambleside, run by local resident Paul Renouf.
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