Townend

Atmospheric farmhouse full of quirky objects and fascinating stories

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Townend

Things to see and do

The original firestove at Townend

Making the most of your visit to Townend 

The house is open Wednesday – Sunday (March to October) from 1–4pm for all visitors. We offer guided tours at 11am and 12noon with limited spaces on a first-come first-served basis. The small garden, with benches to sit, eat a picnic and enjoy the view is open every day from 10am. So when is the best time to visit?

Troutbeck valley

Walks around Troutbeck 

Uncover our top walks in Troutbeck, a peaceful village with Lakeland scenery, farmland and architecture, just outside the bustling town of Windermere.

The cottage garden alive with colour at Townend

The garden at Townend 

Based on the Browne’s cottage garden, our charming outside area is the first thing you’ll see as you wander up to Townend. Filled with colour in spring and summer, a seat on one of the benches with a book in hand while you absorb the view over Troutbeck Valley is a must.

James Dobson

Guided tours at Townend 

Join a guided tour around the house with one of our experienced and knowledgeable guides. Find out about a traditional farming family and their quirky belongings and what it may have been like to live in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

A woman cooking in the kitchen at Townend

A taste of Townend 

Every Thursday we’ll be cooking from the Browne’s family recipe book that dates back to the 17th Century. Join us in the Downhouse by the fire for some very intriguing concoctions, including meaty mince pies, bean cakes and macaroons.

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Townend

History

An 'upcycled' wardrobe chest in the Housekeeper's room at Townend

Conserving and re-displaying Lucy Browne's wedding dress

Over the winter of 2017/18 we worked on cleaning and re-displaying Lucy Browne's silk 1832 wedding dress. this was naturally a very fragile piece and has had some natural damage over the years from light and atmospheric pollutants. Here you can see the process we took to clean and re-display it in a way which will give the dress the best possible support and environment for the future.

Woman in costume reading a book in the Townend library
A boy and woman looking at woodcarvings in Townend
Farm buildings at Townend

Social climbing, saucy stories and sheep 

Townend library is made up of around 1,500 books which cover many diverse topics. Find out more about the physical evidence they contain, such as greasy finger marks and corners turned over.

Wonderful woodcarvings and cheeky cheating 

George Browne spent many years decorating the old furniture at Townend. He created a very early 'fitted kitchen' and made a bookcase look 200 years older than it really was.

An historic barn 

Townend boasts one of the earliest - and still in working order - bank barns in Cumbria. It's still used today by the farmer for lambing and keeping sheep.

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Townend

Get involved

Volunteer at Townend in Cumbria

Volunteer at Townend 

Townend is full of quirky objects and fascinating stories, we’re looking for volunteers to help us bring these stories to life. If you are enthusiastic, enjoy meeting people and working as part of a team, then why not give it a try? We are looking for Room Guides.

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Townend

Art and collections

Our collections

Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Townend on the National Trust Collections website

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