The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here: Home > Explore your past > England > Cumbria > Holker Hall
Massive Book Clearance - 50-70% off every Book online!

Holker Hall

Holker Hall photos (6 available)

Old photo of Holker Hall

Holker Hall maps (2 available)

Old map of Holker Hall

Holker Hall books (7 available)

Holker Hall memories

Be the first to add a memory of Holker Hall.

You can also read memories of nearby places in Cumbria below.

Cumbria memories

Feathers in our hair

My aunt and uncle went to live in Flookburgh in the early 1950s.  My mum, brother and myself went to stay with them on holiday.  I can't remember where we got the coach to but my uncle laughed when we got off the coach with paper carrier bags with our clothes in (no suitcases for us in those days). The road was a country lane (going down the road at the side of the cross) towards the sea.  I remember there was a farm on the right hand side where we used to buy milk and further along on the left was their little house (it could have been a bungalow).  We went to Humphrey Head where we collected sea gull ...read more here
A memory of Flookburgh contributed by Dianne Littlewood

home

I have lived in the pretty village of Cartmel all my life and I love the quiet, calming atmosphere we have here. Once a friend and myself used to walk through the village with a nanny goat called Nancy and her 2 kids, we'd arrive in the square and rest at the market cross with the goats playing on the "fish slabs" which caused a lot of amusement to the visitors, who in turn must have thought we were slightly mad! Near by is the stately home of the Cavendish family, Holker Hall, once upon a time the Duke of Edinburgh used to compete in the carriage driving trials here and on the sunday himself and The Queen went to ...read more here
A memory of Cartmel contributed by Sharon Dance

Family connections.

Greenodd, Main Street 1921

The gentleman with the scythe over his shoulder was my grandfather. His name was Joseph Jackson, born in 1849 at Bootle in Cumberland. He spent most of his life as a tenant farmer, first at Canleton Farm near Egremont also in Cumberland. He then moved to Lane Ends Farm at Haverthwaite in what was then Lancashire owing to subsidence of the land due to iron ore mining from the nearby Florence Mine. He retired from farming in 1919 to Penny Bridge where he spent the rest of his life.
A memory of Greenodd contributed by Mr J Jackson

The Whitewater Hotel at Backbarrow, near Newby Bridge

Backbarrow, The Village c1965


I stayed in Backbarrow for several days at the Whitewater Hotel which has been converted from a former mill building by the river. The lobby of this lovely "spa hotel" has display cabinets of memorabilia from its industrial heyday in the last century which was interesting and I recommend a visit.

My wife Elizabeth and I used this as a base to explore nearby Windermere including a ride on the heritage railway line from Haverthwaite to Lakeside. There are lovely woodland walks signposted in the hills to the north of Backbarrow.
A memory of Backbarrow contributed by John Howard Norfolk

Extracts From Holker Hall & Cumbria books

Holker Hall, 1894

The west wing of the original old hall at Holker, home of the Preston family since the 16th century, was destroyed by fire in 1871.This sumptuous rebuilding, supervised by the seventh Duke of Devonshire, was designed by Paley and Austin of Lancaster, and has been described as their most outstanding domestic work.
An extract from from"Lake District Pocket Album".

Holker Hall, 1894

Holker Hall is built on lands that were owned by Cartmel Priory prior to the Reformation. The original house was built in the 16th century. The extensive grounds host the Holker Garden Festival in June each year, now a major event in the gardening calendar, and are home to a herd of fallow deer.
An extract from from"Grange-over-Sands Photographic Memories".

Holker Hall, interior c1875

Lord George Cavendish rebuilt the house in 1840 to a design by the then Earl of Burlington, later Duke of Devonshire; this design closely resembled the original building. A fire in 1871 destroyed the west wing with all its valuable pictures, books, and furnishings. The fragments of a marble pedestal were collected and later incorporated into the chimney-piece we can see on the left of this view of the Hall.
An extract from from"Grange-over-Sands Photographic Memories".

Grange-Over-Sands, Hazlewood Hydro 1898

The Furness Railway Company once owned the Hazelwood Hydro. Originally it was known as Brown Robin Mansion, and was built as a private residence. It became a hydropathic hotel in 1887 following its enlargement. It was not licensed, and guests had to order their own drink a week in advance of their stay. This view shows the back of the building.
An extract from from"Grange-over-Sands Photographic Memories".

Grange-Over-Sands, Hampsfell Road 1891

Two toddlers (left) are playing with a toy cart, something they could probably still do, as this steep road leading up to Hampsfell is little used by traffic. At the top are paths leading to Hampsfell Hospice, a viewpoint.
An extract from from"Grange-over-Sands Photographic Memories".