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Coniston
Coniston maps
Historic maps of Coniston and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Coniston maps
Coniston area books
Displaying 1 of 10 books about Coniston and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Coniston
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Cumbria memories
The Past
My aunt and uncle used to own the Langdales Hotel, Mr and Mrs Bob Smith, until 1957. The hotel is now called the Wainright. All holidays I stopped there with my mum and dad.
There were busses called Mallinsons from Windermere which stopped at the hotel for afternoon tea, and when they left to go to Dungeon, Gill my cousin and I went on the bus and picked brambles, on the way back the driver dropped us off at the hotel and the cook made fantastic pies with them. There are all sorts of memories, good ones at the hotel, but unfortunately you can't bring back the past (oh how I wish).
Is That Lotus?
Well I wasn't around in 1926 and it was certainly much busier by the 70's when I worked on the launches. You'd never see an empty prom then, at any time of year. One thing unchanged seems to be that launch. I'm sure it is Lotus, she was a beauty very graceful, fast and a joy to drive. Not much dry space for passengers when it rained though. On the other hand glorious in sunny weather! Where is she now though? I bet she's still going strong.
My Dad
My dad would ride his motorbike in all weathers to get to work,which was at Ferryhouse, to get there he would go and return on the ferry. I would go with him sometimes at the weekend if there was any problems for him to fix. Years later I would go on a bike ride with my elder sister Hilary, I found the ferry a very enjoyable experience, the noise of the engine, watching the big cables pull the ferry through the water to the other side. Nothing can replace the joy a trip across Windermere lake that the ferry can give.
Whitsuntide Drowning 1896
My grandmother's brother had arrived with two friends on the Whitsuntide weekend, 23rd May 1896. They wanted to try a yacht, intending to hire it for the week if they were happy with it. They took it out and sailed towards Ambleside. According to the inquest, they probably got into difficulties with a changeable wind that "sometimes blew down the Troutbeck Valley and could catch out even experienced yachtsmen". They were found somewhere just north of Hen Holme island opposite Rayrigg Meadow. Starting with the family story only that he had "drowned in Windermere", I was able to trace first the death certificate, then the report in the local newspaper. Now I can see a photo taken in the same year, showing where he probably hired the yacht.
The Low Wood Hotel
We were only here briefly. Just a few early spring and summer months. My parents were managing this hotel for the season. One fine day, when there was a pause in the arrivals & departures of coach buses filled with tourists, my father took me across the road. There on the banks of Lake Windermere was a rowing boat. He taught me how to row and I as very grateful to him that wonderful morning. On my birthday in June, my parents and staff were very busy catering to thirsty tourists (it was always teatime!) So, I decided to find the source of a small river which ran down the hillside behind the hotel. I followed the water until it became more narrow. Suddenly, still higher up, I found a carpet of wild bluebells. It was such a gift to find. I lingered and then went upwards and beyond until the stream disappeared. There was a wide, high hill before... Read more
Wedding in Windermere
In 1964/5 I drove from London with 4 young ladies to attend the wedding of our friend Pamela Blackwell, braving a full on snow storm in an old wreck whose windscreen wipers did not work except with the use of a delicately placed piece of string. We only managed half the distance on the first day and 'slept' in the car overnight in a truck lay-by where all the drivers lit fires under their engine block to warm up the diesel, and despite the inclemency of the weather we were made to feel very welcome and enjoyed our brief visit, belated thanks Windermerians!
When I Was Young
When I was young I played in the clock gardens for many hours along with my elder sister Hilary, we made dens and played house. Mum knew where we were as we lived at Sunnybank House in Princes Road. Later on I worked in Kendal as a hairdresser, so after work I would get off the bus and see Baddeley clock and know I was nearly home. I now live in Barnsley, but on my visits back I'll drive past Baddeley clock and I feel all is well.
