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Crook
Crook maps
Historic maps of Crook and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Crook maps
Crook area books
Displaying 1 of 10 books about Crook and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Crook
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Cumbria memories
My Grandmother Owned The Brown Horse Inn Until 1922
My grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Carl Stronnel owned the Brown Horse Inn until 1922 when my grandmother and my mother emigrated to Canada. My grandmother had divorced prior to their departure. The present photo is very
similar to the one that hung on the wall of my grandmother's home, I believe the one she had had a horse in the sign which as I recall hung out front. My grandmother was a school teacher in the area, her maiden name was Margaret Atkinson. Her father Enoch Atkinson captained the ferry on Lake Windermere. While a member of the RCAF in 1957 I attempted to visit the Inn but it was closed while the owners were on holiday. Unfortunately I never did get back to see it but still hope one day soon, I hope.
Brown Horse Inn 1920 to 1995
I am writing to add my memories to those posted by my sister Sheila McCormack. My name is Norma (McCormack ) Gibson. Our grandparents ran this hotel in the 1920s.
Their names were Margaret and Cecil Stronnel. They had a daughter Irene Margaret Stronnel. My mother told me about their Manx cats that had no tails. Sha also told me that at that time the beer was served in bottles sealed with glass alleys (marbles). She said that she broke several in order to have the alleys to play with. This of course resulted in discipline. My mother and grandmother left England and came to Canada, first to Hamilton, Ontario where they lived for some time and then to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where my grandmother lived until her death. My mother remained in contact with family members in England and during later years she received a letter from the owners of the inn asking her for information on the inn as they believed it was haunted. I myself wrote in... Read more
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.
