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Dungeon Ghyll
Dungeon Ghyll photos
Displaying the first of 1 old photos of Dungeon Ghyll. View all Dungeon Ghyll photos
Dungeon Ghyll maps
Historic maps of Dungeon Ghyll and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Dungeon Ghyll maps
Dungeon Ghyll area books
Displaying 1 of 10 books about Dungeon Ghyll and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Dungeon Ghyll
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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).
Cumbria memories
Schooldays
During the Second World War my family lived in Liverpool. My parents decided it was much too dangerous for me so I was evacuated to a small school being run in an old house called Kelbarrow overlooking the lake. My best friend there was a girl called Eva. I loved every minute there. We went walks on the fell behind the house, and around the village. Because it was wartime there were no tourists coming to the village and it was quiet and peaceful.
We went to church every Sunday, and always sat in the pews underneath the pulpit,which we didn't like as the vicar sprayed us with spittle when he got excited during the sermon!! I remember one Palm Sunday sitting on the church wall with other village children waving palms
Whenever I am in the Lake District I am tempted to go back and visit Grasmere but am always dissapointed by the crowds and traffic. However a visit to the gingerbread shop to buy a good stock... Read more
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.
An Idyllic Childhood
I moved to Boot in 1952 when I was one. My father, John Heap, was the manager of the Burnmoor Inn, which was owned in partnership by his mother, Ruth Hargreaves, and Sid Cross. They also owned The Old Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale. I attended Eskdale High School with my brothers William & Timothy. Jean Hodgson was the school teacher. She lived in The Hill, near Millom, and stayed from Monday to Friday at Brook House which was owned by the Sim family. Billie Sim also ran the local bus service which went to Whitehaven every Thursday.
The Post Office was run by Mary Nolan, who appeared as a guest on one of the early This is Your Life shows. In the next door farm were Arthur and Florrie Irving and her mother Rosa Dugdale.
Cyril Porter used to deliver bread and cakes, Tom Parker delivered meat, Jack Roberts delivered the milk and Jack Woodall was the local grocer. I used to travel with Tom when he went... Read more
Sketch of This Church in 1881
In a sketch I have dated October 1881 there is a cord hanging down from the bell down the outside wall with a hand pull. The name on the sketch it is Wasldale church. Possibly by Beatrix Potter or E Rawnsley.
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!
