Windermere Jetty Museum
Windermere Jetty Museum is unique as it holds one of the world’s most important collections of boats related to a single location.
It has some of Lakeland’s finest examples of boatbuilding, including SL Dolly, one of the oldest mechanically powered boats in the world; Margaret, the oldest sailing yacht in the UK; world record breaking speed boats; Esperance, one of the boats that inspired Captain Flint’s houseboat in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, and even Beatrix Potter’s rowing boat.
The collection includes every type of wooden boatbuilding construction, capturing a wealth of traditional boatbuilding techniques developed over hundreds of years and it charts the development of boat design and innovations in engineering.
Blackwell
Blackwell is filled with original decorative features including a rare hessian wall-hanging in the Dining Room, leaf-shaped door handles, ornate window catches, spectacular plasterwork, stained glass and carved wooden panelling.
Discover beautiful furniture and objects from influential leaders of the Arts & Crafts Movement, such as MH Baillie Scott, Archibald Knox, William De Morgan, and local makers and designers, including Annie Garnett and Arthur Simpson of Kendal.
Abbot Hall
Abbot Hall has a fantastic world-class collection of oil paintings and watercolours from 18th, 19th and 20th century artists.
Our permanent collection features masterpieces from Cumbrian born George Romney, one of England’s most sought-after portrait painters of his day; John Ruskin, a leading influencer and art critic in the Victorian era; and J.M.W Turner, perhaps one of the greatest of all British artists who revolutionised landscape painting in the early 19th century.
Lakeland Museum
Lakeland Museum’s collection reveals how people have lived in the Lake District over the past centuries, and how our unique local landscape shaped their lives. It inventively explores farming, mining, tanning and the many other ways that Cumbrians have made a living amongst the fells.
We have a fascinating collection of nearly 5000 photographs that document the traditions of Lakeland life while the Arthur Ransome Room houses the celebrated local author’s desk, books, mementos and papers, including the typed draft of Swallows and Amazons.
Research
If you have any enquiries about any aspect of the collection, or if you are considering donating something please contact our Curatorial team – collections@lakelandarts.org.uk
In special circumstances viewings of specific works in store can be arranged. Please complete the Lakeland Arts Research Access Form.
Each appointment will be considered on an individual basis and due to conservation reasons, it may not always be possible to accommodate a request.
Please be advised that we do not accept unsolicited donations onsite.
