The History of the Inn on the Lake

The History of INN ON THE LAKE

LLSWATER, GLENRIDDING, CUMBRIA CA11 0 017684 82444 www.lakedistricthotels.net/innonthelak

A History of the Inn on the Lake 1830 - LOCAL LANDOWNERS BUILD HOTEL Farmland owned by the Poole’s (who still live in the dale to this day) had been bought by the Bownass family in the 1830’s to build a hotel. It met the demands for local industry (ore mining) and the growing tourist market.

ULLSWATER STEAMERS SET SAIL IN 1859 Steamers began sailing on Ullswater for the first time, bringing post, food and provisions for the miners at Glenridding and also transporting curious tourists to the area.

16th July 1889 - SECOND STEAMER CHRISTENED ON ULLSWATER A second steamer set sail on her first official voyage on the 16th day of July 1889. At 3pm sharp, the new vessel which cost £2,865 to build was christened The Raven by six year old Miss Winifred Parkin.

1900’s - HOTEL HARNESSES WATER TO CREATE POWER Self sufficient electric is installed for the Ullswater Hotel allowing guests to leave lights on as long as they like!

Blowing off steam in the 1900’s and the hotel celebrates another milestone. It invested in its own hydro electric station so it could create its own electricity.

HOTEL COMMANDEERED BY ARMY The Ullswater Hotel, owned by the Bownass family, was commandeered by the Army to be used as a gas school to teach soldiers how to deal with gas in war fare. Soldiers made use of the regular steamer service to travel up the valley to stay at the hotel.

Once peace prevailed, the hotel was sold to Mr Lane who held it for 20 years. Sadly it then fell to the hands of a developer for flats – thankfully it never materialised and it was recommissioned in 1975 as a hotel.

1953 - FIRE STATION QUENCHES THIRST The Ramblers Bar quenches the thirst of walkers and holiday makers alike and commemorates its past life as the village Fire Station. Fondly remembered by locals, it operated horse drawn and petrol operated engines up to 1953 when it became Hikers and pumps served real ale instead of water. Moving with the times again, it changed name to Ramblers Bar – a popular start point for the Jennings Ale Trail and was also featured in The Sunday Times.

THE ULLSWATER STEAMER JETTY TO MOVE The Ullswater Steamer Company was forced to move its jetty from the bottom of the Ullswater Hotel garden after a difference of opinion with the Bownass Family. The jetty moved to a new position next door and remains there to this day.

1977 - RENOVATION REVITALISES OLD HOTEL IN TIME FOR QUEEN’S SILVER JUBILEE After two years of major refurbishment, the Hutchinson family finally reopened the once derelict Ullswater Hotel in 1977, in time to help the village celebrate the Queens Silver Jubilee. Offering a superb vantage point for walkers, mountain climbers and more genteel tourists keen to explore our valley, the hotel also rebuilt links with the Ullswater Steamer Company next door.

2000 - NEW MILLENNIUM, NEW OWNERS AND A NEW NAME In keeping with a new decade, there was a big change afoot in Glenridding. The Graves Family from Bassenthwaite bought the Ullswater Hotel and transformed it with a name change and much needed refurbishment. The Graves family own the much acclaimed Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel at Bassenthwaite, and set their sights on bringing new life to the hotel. Embracing the new millennium and the hopeful change of fortune, the Graves’ renamed the hotel the Inn on the Lake. Extensive refurbishment and constant upgrading once more made this hotel a firm favourite.

2012 - MAJOR INVESTMENT REWARDED Balconies were added to some of the Lake View bedrooms in 2011 and a complete refurbishment of the ground floor was carried out during the Winter. 2012 also saw the Inn on the Lake awarded 4 stars and 2 rosettes for its food by the AA hospitality ratings.

2013 - ORANGERY COMPLETE The long awaited Orangery has been completed. With dramatic 360° views, large roaring fire and deep, comfortable seating, the Orangery provides the ideal place to sit back and relax. The hotel is also delighted to have won 2 Cumbria Tourism Awards this year; Large Hotel of the Year and the award for Outstanding Customer Service.

The hotel continues to evolve and the future looks bright.

The Local Area & Lake Ullswater WHY ULLSWATER? The name “Ullswater” may derive from its original name “Ulfr’s Water” after a Viking Lord and has been known as “Ulpha’s Lake” and “Ulleswater” previously.

Alternatively “Ulf ” is the Scandinavian word for wool. It is said that the Danes used the lake to clean their fleeces and that its origin may derive from this or another theory is that it could have been named after the the Norse God Ullr.

1802

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) first visited Ullswater aged 18, but it was his visit with sister Dorothy in 1802 that inspired the poem “The Daffodils”. William and his sister walked beyond Gowbarrow Park on their way back to Grasmere. To this day, wild daffodils can still be found in abundance on the lakeshore in the spring:

1930

The area has also been popularised by the writings of A.W Wainwright (1907–1991) who took his first Lakeland holiday in 1930; one of his favourite walks was the Ullswater lakeshore walk. Other famous authors such as Samuel Coleridge and Sir Walter Scott are also associated with the Ullswater Valley. Modern day celebrity guests also enjoy our peace and tranquillity – but they prefer anonymity so they can enjoy their stay!

1955

Donald Campbell broke the world speed record on Ullswater on the 23rd July 1955 in the Jet powered Bluebird K7.The measured mile on a trial run was 215.08 mph and 189.57mph on the return setting the new world record at an average speed of 202.32 mph, a commemorative plaque can be found by the slipway.

Glenridding was once one of the most important mining villages in Britain – but that was no longer the case after Greenside Lead Mine closed on 31st January 1962. Galena was the chief ore mined at Greenside; it also had an exceptionally high silver content - around 15-30 ounces per ton of ore.

1962

A TOUCH O’THE IRISH The dale is named after St. Patrick (St. Patrick’s Dale or Patterdale). He came to the dale in the early 5th century and converted many local people to Christianity. As a young man, he was stolen from his home and taken as a slave to Ireland. He escaped and returned to Britain.

St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and Patterdale died, it is thought, around 460.

The Inn on the Lake has a long and varied history dating back to 1830. Today, we present you with modern facilities, beautiful furnishings and high quality service within one of the most spectacular settings in the Lake District, on the shore of Lake Ullswater.

AA

Do you have anything to add to the history of the Inn on the Lake? We are always interested in the ancestry of our hotels so if you do have any further information, please do let us know, email us: marketing@lakedistricthotels.net