Not the Grasmere we know. Covid-19 2020
I have always used this blog as my own personal diary. It’s seen a lot of different things happening in the village over the years but none so strange as the last few months. Everyone in the world (literally) knows the effect of Covid-19 so I won’t dwell on it.
When have we ever not wanted visitors in the village? As the poster says “extraordinary times”.
Grasmere St Oswald’s Church with the door closed. Grass growing long in the churchyard. No snaking line of tourists queuing up outside the gingerbread shop. Easter and Bank holidays with no visitors.
The Coop did an amazing job keeping the village supplied with essentials and were very proactive in keeping the shopping experience safe. Thank you Tom and staff.
Wouldn’t you just know it. The sun blazed down day after day. Going for fresh air and exercise was a pleasure but one couldn’t help feeling it was such a shame not to be able to share with visitors.
After a very wet start to the year we watched as the river practically dried up.
Spare time was spent making masks to keep family and friends safe.
The traditional Grasmere Sports and Rushbearing cancelled. Then, suddenly little shoots of hope.
No the circus hadn’t come to town, however due to the ingenuity of staff, children were at last able to attend school in a socially distanced way.
Herdwick sheep real and otherwise raised a cheer when non essential shops were allowed to open this week.
Hopefully Hotels, and other accommodation providers will follow soon, along with restaurants and pubs.
Visitors we have missed you. It’s been very quiet which although nice sometimes isn’t always a good thing. Let’s all respect each other, follow the safety guidelines and hopefully the sun will keep shining when you come back.
Grasmere Village 2018
Another year nearly gone. Another year where other commitments have overtaken writing my blog. Let’s have a look at what has been happening in the village this year through photographs I have posted on Twitter (yes I do still have time to do that so to keep up to date you could follow @grasmerevillage).
Mixed weather this year. Long periods of sunshine during the Summer then torrential rain in Autumn. Rushbearing Day was beautiful. Grasmere Sports Day was wet, wet, wet.
Our newly rendered church tower looked good in the sunshine, as did our new Farmers Market, which has proved a great hit with locals and visitors alike.
A snowy Dunmail Raise
Snowdrops at Wordsworth’s Grave
Cheeky Little Robin
Snowmen at the River Rothay
Broadgate Grasmere
Grasmere Co-op Joke
Grasmere Sports Field
Dunmail Raise
Grasmere Church
Grasmere Market
Grasmere Market
Heaton Cooper Studio
Designs on Japan Exhibition
Grasmere Maidens
Grasmere Rushbearing Maidens
Grasmere Rushbearing
St. Oswald’s Rushbearing
Grasmere Market
Grasmere Summer Weather
Broadgate Grasmere
Grasmere Sports
Hounds Grasmere Sports
Church Stile Grasmere
Tour of Britain Grasmere School
Tour of Britain Grasmere
Allan Bank Grasmere
Allan Bank Grasmere
Dancing on the green Grasmere
Lest we forget. Grasmere
Helm Crag Grasmere
Open Top Bus Grasmere
Broadgate Grasmere
St Oswald’s Church Grasmere
Allan Bank Evening
Rainbow Grasmere
Rainbow Sam Reads
Church Stile Autumn
Stock Lane Grasmere
Remembrance Day Grasmere
Allan Bank walk Grasmere
Allan Bank Walk
Allan Bank Tunnel
Allan Bank Tunnel
Xmas crafts Heaton Cooper
Gingerbread House
A Year in Grasmere Village 2016
Another year gone, and a round up of what happened in Grasmere Village in 2016. It was a year many won’t forget in a hurry. We might be a small village but there is always something going on. Especially this year, Prince and Prime Minister, Cyclists and Wrestlers it was all happening this year.
JANUARY
National Trust Allan Bank
After the stress and strain of Storm Desmond it was lovely to discover that a sunny photograph of National Trust Property Allan Bank graced the front of the 2016 Handbook. A great advert for the village.
Broadgate Grasmere
Unfortunately things were very quiet in the village. The main A591 closed between Grasmere and Keswick and the village literally a cul-de-sac. Various initiatives like free parking were offered but it really was deserted as you wandered round.
David Cameron Grasmere
We had a visit from the then Prime Minister David Cameron spotted in the school playground.
FEBRUARY
February in Grasmere
Snow on the tops in February and then on lower ground too.
Snowy Grasmere
Valentine’s Day visit to the Dove Cottage restaurant was a surprise with a cherry “heart” when I cut my cake. Very appropriate and tasty too!.
Valentine’s cake
Meanwhile the environment agency were dredging the River Rothay, taking care to not disturb the crayfish, and these canoeists were quick to take advantage of a new launching area into the river. Storm Desmond was still having it’s effect.
Canoeists River Rothay
After a dismal Winter signs of Spring were appearing with snowdrops and Daffodils at Wordsworth’s Grave.
Daffodils and snowdrops
MARCH
The rubble that was piling up on the Sports Field after all the dredging was a perfect viewpoint for this cheeky Herdwick.
Grasmere Herdwick
Elsewhere in Grasmere and throughout the central Lakes Herdwick sheep of a different kind were appearing as part of the Calvert Trust Go Herdwick fund raising initiative.
Grasmere Go Herdy
Temporary bridges were built on the A591 and a little mini bus started running between Grasmere and Keswick, my goodness it was popular! It ran along the far side of Thirlmere and became quite a tourist attraction in itself.
Keswick bus queue
We had another famous visitor. Prince Charles visited with a trip to the Gingerbread Shop, Wordsworth’s Grave and St Oswald’s Church.
Prince Charles
Prince Charles Grasmere
It certainly made the village busier.
APRIL
Spring in Grasmere
April and things were looking up in the village both visitor and weather wise.
Grasmere Daffodil Garden
MAY
An exciting initiative in May brought coloured lights to the mere. Nocturnal Rainbows as part of Lakes Ignite Art installation.
Lights on Grasmere
As the tourist season started properly it was still a case of getting the message out everywhere that Grasmere was open for business.
Grasmere is Open
Grasmere does look great in May, blossom and bluebells.
Grasmere Blossom
Bannerigg Woods were a sea of blue.
Grasmere Bluebells
And then at last! Dunmail Raise was open and Grasmere was connected with the North again. Hello Keswick we missed you.
Dunmail Raise reopens
Diessen Brass Band (twinned with Windermere) performed at NT Allan Bank and the music echoed through the valley.
Diessen Brass Band
JUNE
Grasmere celebrated The Queen’s 90th Birthday.
Grasmere Celebrates
The village looked lovely with flags flying everywhere.
Singing in the Village Hall
Grasmere Glee celebrated in the Village Hall.
Kendal Mountain Festival kindly brought outdoor cinema to Grasmere and Glenridding to support the flooded villages. The weather was kind and a great time was had by young and old alike.
Outdoor Cinema Grasmere
JULY
July in Grasmere means Rushbearing. A rather wet one this year and the Rushbearing Maidens had a rather soggy walk round the village but kept smiling.
Grasmere Rushbearing
But it wasn’t all rain in July, the sun shone too.
Sunny Grasmere
AUGUST
August Bank Holiday and the 166th Grasmere Sports and Show. After a night of rain morning broke fair and a good turnout of visitors and locals alike enjoyed the Sports and entertainment on the Sports field.
Grasmere Sports Poster
Competitors travelled from all over the world to compete.
Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
Fire eating was a popular spectator event.
Fire eating Grasmere
SEPTEMBER
Cycling came to Grasmere in September when the Tour of Britain sped through the village.
Tour of Britain Grasmere
The village was decorated with painted yellow bikes.
Yellow Bikes Grasmere
OCTOBER
Devilish Sheep
Halloween in Grasmere meant an abundance of Pumpkins throughout the village.
National Trust Shop Grasmere
Unfortunately Halloween weekend itself was a bit of a washout and the pumpkins on the village green looked a bit bedraggled.
Gingerbread Pumpkins
Liked these pumpkins outside the Gingerbread shop.
NOVEMBER
Nights drawing in and streets empty by 5pm as the clocks change. Locals practice a form of reverse hibernation and suddenly you bump into friends in the street who have had heads down all Summer working hard to make our visitors to Grasmere enjoy their stay.
I was very, very lucky to win a holiday to South Africa for most of November so from 24 degrees to -4 degrees, however what a sight as we arrived back.
Grasmere Sheep
What a great welcome home!
DECEMBER
December in Grasmere, what a joy.
Taffy Thomas
You never know who will be about, Taffy Thomas former Storyteller Laureate was having a wander round the village with some student teachers.
Xmas in NT Shop Grasmere
The shops have a huge array of individual gifts you can’t find in the larger towns.
Beetham Bellringers
A wander up the hill to National Trust Allan Bank and the sound of bells were ringing out as the Beetham Bellringers played. Very festive.
Just time to put the Christmas tree complete with Herdy bobbles up and that’s nearly it for another Grasmere year. Grasmere Players Pantomime still to see, always a great family occasion.
Herdy xmas tree
Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas and Health and Happiness for the coming year.
Tour of Britain 2016 Grasmere
It isn’t often I don’t know where to be in Grasmere! However yesterday I was literally up hill and down dale. The reason for my indecision? The Tour of Britain Stage two was heading though Grasmere.
Yellow Jersey Greipel
Setting up Sprint end in Grasmere
Tour of Britain Sprint Finish
Police escort
Grasmere Sprint Results
Greipel in Grasmere
Tour of Britain Grasmere Stage
While I like to take still photos, husband was in full slow motion filming mode.
Grasmere cyclists ToB 2016
Cyclists Tour of Britain 2016
Tour of Britain entourage
Knitted Grasmere Bunting
Grasmere Rushbearing 2016
Grasmere Rushbearing 2016 was rather a wet one. It became obvious fairly early on in the day that the rain wasn’t going to ease up.
Grasmere Rushbearing Maiden
With good spirit everyone dressed for the weather and started to parade through the town.
Procession passes along Churchstile
I thought the owner of Bridge House Hotel in the centre of this photo looked rather happy about something and later discovered she had become a Grandmother for the second time very early that morning!
Singing the Rushbearing Hymn
Normally everyone gathers on the village green to sing the traditional Rushbearing hymns but the ground was a bit soggy so a stop was made on College Street instead.
Grasmere Rushbearing Maidens
I couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for the Rushbearing maidens. While everyone else had the benefit of a waterproof coat they had to tough it out in traditional costume.
A rather wet Rushbearing
I noticed more than one person dashing in to Lucia’s for a takeaway coffee to warm up with.
Children in the parade
Time to head back to St Oswald’s Church
Bearings and Umbrellas
I think umbrellas brighten up the parade on a rainy day.
Processing down Church Stile Grasmere
Taffy Thomas the storyteller always has a good view point from the Storytellers Garden.
A welcome sight
Back at church and time to get inside and dry off before a welcome cup of tea.
Grasmere Rushbearing Parade
Now all the time I was watching there was one thing that I kept thinking. How heavy must the cloth the Rushbearing Maidens were carrying have got as it was absolutely sodden by the end.
Grasmere Rushbearing Maidens 2016
So well done girls you did a great job!
Anyone who wants to see photos of sunny Rushbearing parades need look no further than this blog. You win some and you lose some but no matter the weather the show goes on.
Grasmere Celebrates The Queen’s 90th Birthday
We really have been having some gorgeous weather in Grasmere recently. It has been wonderful to see people sitting outside pubs and cafes soaking up the sunshine. Business has picked up since the A591 has reopened and things are more or less back to normal.
Grasmere flags are flying
Almost overnight flags have appeared in the village as Grasmere gets ready to celebrate The Queen’s 90th Birthday.
Grasmere celebrations
If you are in Grasmere on Saturday 11th June why not come and join us. From 1-4pm we will be inviting people to bring their own picnic to the park. A little bird tells me The Wordsworth Hotel and Spa might even be offering complementary strawberries and cream.
Miller Howe Cafe Grasmere
In the park on Saturday there will be sports and trophies for all ages, Kendal Concert Band will be playing and Grasmere Glee Club. Grasmere Players will also be performing.
Heaton Cooper Grasmere Window
On Sunday 12th June at 4pm there will be a service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s Life.
St Oswald’s Church Grasmere
A well known face in Grasmere Cameron Butland will be back to lead the service and there will be tea and cake for everyone afterwards.
St Oswald’s Grasmere
So as you can see we are all ready to celebrate, lets hope the weather holds out just a little longer.
Grasmere Village
How many more flags will spring up tomorrow?
Cunninghams Grasmere
You will just have to visit us and see over the weekend.
Mountain Warehouse Grasmere
Written in memory of my Father in law who built the shop above. Long time lover and resident of Grasmere.
Eric Shaw. Died 25/5/2016 a month from his 99th Birthday.
Eric Grasmere Sports aged 7
Spring at Allan Bank Grasmere
A beautiful Spring day. As Allan Bank in Grasmere (a National Trust Property unlike any other) was open, I decided to take a wander up the hill and see what they were up to. This is the fifth year the property has been open and a while since I have written about it.
Beatrix Potter and Daffodils
The property is a short walk from Grasmere (disabled parking on site) and has the most glorious views of Grasmere. The sun was shining and the daffodils were out. Lambs in the surrounding fields. Paradise!
Allan Bank Grasmere
Grasmere school children were enjoying the grounds as part of their Forest Schools activities. It looked as though they were having an Easter egg hunt.
Allan Bank Art Room
The Art Room had been changed around over the Winter. Anyone adult or child can just sit down and use the art material provided to paint the amazing view out of the window.
Refreshing the flowers at Allan Bank
In the kitchen cafe one of the volunteers (they are always looking for more) Janet was making Easter floral arrangements to decorate the tables. Tea and coffee are by donation and you can wander around the house, tea in hand.
Roaring fire in Wordsworth’s Study
Or if you are lucky grab a seat beside the roaring fire in Wordsworth’s Study, pick up a book and relax.
Allan Bank was once the home of Wordsworth and his young family but was also the home of Canon Hardwick Rawnsley one of the co-founders of the National Trust. This is the 150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s Life and Canon Rawnsley was an inspiration to Beatrix when she was a young girl. He encouraged her creativity and also encouraged her in her love of the countryside.
Beatrix Potter Quote Cushion
Scattered around the house were cushions with quotes. I particularly liked the ones in the play room.
Peter Rabbit Cushions
The play room was just waiting for little Easter visitors with books and toys to enjoy.
Playroom Allan Bank Grasmere
Allan Bank isn’t just for children. Upstairs is the Chorley Hopkins Mountaineering Library with a wealth of books on Mountaineering both in the Lake District and beyond.
Mountaineering Library Allan Bank
Just along the corridor is a craft room where visiting crafters sometimes demonstrate lace making, printmaking etc. There are lots of vintage board games in here too. Looking out of the window you can quite often see the resident red squirrels but none today.
View from Craft Room Allan Bank
Just time for a quick look in the little shop, but the grounds were calling. Sunshine in the Lake District can’t be wasted.
Allan Bank Shop
In the grounds there is a fabulous woodland walk with great views. It is steep in places but well marked and resting places to be found. I had a little seat to look at the mere.
View of the Mere from Allan Bank
Next further up the path with a glimpse of Helm Crag in sight.
Allan Bank Woodland Walk
And finally Helm Crag in all it’s glory.
Helm Crag Grasmere
Something that hasn’t changed this year, or for a long time before is the old Victorian viewing tunnel in the grounds.
Tunnel in grounds Allan Bank Grasmere
Time for a last cup of tea and tempted to cake by Sophie to round off my visit.
Tea and cake at Allan Bank
For more information about Allan Bank Grasmere see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/allan-bank-and-grasmere
Follow them on Facebook. National Trust Allan Bank or Twitter. @AllanbankNT
My previous Blogs with the history of Allan Bank.
https://grasmerevillage.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/alan-bank-grasmere-unseen-for-200-years/
https://grasmerevillage.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/allan-bank-grasmere-a-new-beginning/
Snowy Grasmere at last!
Well at last the rain has gone and things are looking a bit more seasonal in the village. Snow overnight and blue skies this morning mean January is looking more hopeful weather wise.
Grasmere snow
At the moment car parks in Grasmere are still free to help the local economy recover, however I visited all three car parks today and there were only a handful of cars in each. Roads were clear and it was a beautiful day. A slight worry.
Free parking in Grasmere
Grasmere in weather like this is wonderful to visit.
Wordsworth Hotel Grasmere
Even if you don’t come to walk on the fells the village is like a winter wonderland.
Grasmere Village in Winter
Even a little wander round the riverside walk is a delight in the snow.
Millennium Stone Grasmere
I was actually going to get my shopping from the Co-op, who could have a better trip to the shops!
Broadgate Grasmere
Not a lot of people around here either. What a shame.
Broadgate Grasmere
Can’t believe what everyone is missing. Shopping bought and still “wandering lonely”!
Wordsworth Graves in Winter
As I always do, went by the Wordsworth Graves to see if the snowdrops were out yet. Still “wandering lonely”.
Grasmere is open!
Grasmere is open! Roads from the south are clear of snow it’s one of the best times to visit and we are ready to welcome you. Yes some shops are still recovering from flooding but we will all look shiny new for you very soon. The Grand at Grasmere has a brilliant new look. Lots of hotels and holiday homes have real bargains at this time of year and if you are worried about slipping in the snow, Mountain Warehouse were featuring a bargain in snow grips, so no excuse!
Snow Grips
Grasmere is Great! Whatever the weather.
As I sat happily writing this blog the river burst it’s banks and was flooding Stock Lane yet again. Luckily we had time to act and despite lapping at the doorstep it has not come inside, new carpets remain dry (so far). Due to the landslips on the fell, water flooded down Greenhead Ghyll and into the river causing it to overflow. Urgent action is needed to clear becks. The A591 to the North of Grasmere remains closed after storm damage and this has to be treated with the utmost urgency. Coaches are not going to come to Grasmere if they then find they have to go back to the M6 Via Kendal again. People need to get to work in Keswick. Schoolchildren come from Keswick to Grasmere School. Grasmere is effectively a cul-de-sac at the moment. More than ever we need people to support local businesses to help everyone get back to normal. Anyway, on with the reasons why Grasmere is great to visit!
GRASMERE 2015.
As another year is about to come to a close, and Storm Frank is blowing outside giving Grasmere a sense of uncertainty about flooding again, it seems like a good time to look back at 2015.
JANUARY
Gingerbread Shop Grasmere
A seasonal start to the year. A little snow and blue skies.
FEBRUARY
Broadgate Grasmere
Snow on the tops and snowdrops appearing at Wordsworth’s Grave in the churchyard.
Wordsworth Grave snowdrops
MARCH
And the daffodils appear in the daffodil garden. Spring at last
Grasmere Daffodil Garden
Was taking a photo of the rainbow but who can spot the low-flying jet too?
Grasmere Rainbow
APRIL
April Blossom in Grasmere
The days are getting longer and the sky is blue.
Early morning Grasmere
MAY
Grasmere Lamb
One of the best sights at this time of the year. Lambs in the fields.
JUNE
Foxgloves
June is a great time for wild flowers in Grasmere. This field below Helm Crag was a delight.
Wild flowers Grasmere
JULY
Wouldn’t be Grasmere without the annual Rushbearing Ceremony.
Grasmere Rushbearing
And perfect weather for tea by the mere and perhaps a row on the lake.
Boats on Grasmere
AUGUST
Grasmere Village Cows
You never know what is round the corner in Grasmere. Here is our “rush hour traffic”.
Grasmere Sports
Grasmere Sports day dawned dry and bright and a great day was had by young and old alike.
SEPTEMBER
Butterfly
Loads of Butterflies this year. Good to see.
Misty Morning Grasmere
Early morning is glorious in Grasmere.
OCTOBER
Fungi
Some cracking Fungi in Grasmere this Autumn.
Grasmere Fells
Great lighting at this time of year too.
NOVEMBER
Autumn Trees Grasmere
Autumn in Grasmere, a riot of colour.
Autumn in Grasmere
And then came the rain, which I’m not going to dwell on as I have written enough about that for the time being. Grasmere is open and and ready for visitors.
Wet weather Grasmere
DECEMBER
Merry Christmas
And Grasmere wouldn’t be Grasmere without the Annual Grasmere Players Panto.
Grasmere Players Panto
The Best of Wishes for 2016 and why not make your resolution to visit our village. We are ready and waiting to give you the best holiday ever!
For my own reference as much as anything. Storm Frank 30/12/2015
Storm Frank Grasmere
Storm Frank Grasmere
Storm Frank Grasmere
Storm Frank Grasmere
Wintery Grasmere Walk
Up till now it can only have been described as a rather wet miserable winter. Nothing like the last few years where we have had a really good amount of snow. However things changed earlier this week and I was able to get out and about around Rydal and Grasmere.
Snowy Grasmere
The cloud was right down and it was debatable whether it would be brighter higher up but it was nice to get out without being rained on!.
Rydal Water
A watery sunshine was trying to break through the mist.
Rydal
I decided to wander up by Rydal caves and then decide which direction to continue in.
Across Rydal
Gradually I was getting above the low cloud and arrived at a snowy Rydal caves.
Rydal Caves
Hardly a soul about. Crisp snow not too trampled yet.
Loughrigg
Just a couple of folk on the horizon, and now well above the clouds.
Above the clouds
Time to head back down to Grasmere.
Heading to Grasmere
It looked very cold down in the valley, it’s amazing how it can vary from one vale to the next.
Across the Lake
It was starting to look very grey in the direction of Dunmail Raise. Allan Bank standing out across the lake.
Towards Allan Bank
The best part of the day had been and gone and it was getting very chilly. Time to head home for a warm drink.
Grasmere
This walk was earlier in the week and the snow has lain on the hills. It was forecast that we were going to have huge amounts of snow over night last night, however we seem to have escaped the worst and the heavy snow has been centred on Wales, Bristol and the South. It is just very, very cold and now icy underfoot. More snow forecast for the weekend. Watch this space….
Snowy Grasmere
