Townend

Important notice -

We recommend pre booking for your visit to Townend but you are more than welcome to show up on the day. Please check opening times for dates open. Free flow visits from 10am-3pm (last entry 2.30) and guided tour from 3-4pm.

Atmospheric farmhouse full of quirky objects and fascinating stories

More about this place

Two people looking at paintings at Townend

Visiting Townend: What you need to know 

Townend house and garden is now open on selected days. We recommend pre-booking your visit.

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Townend

What's on

Townend   Cumbria

Book your visit

Book your tickets for a self led visit or guided tour.

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Upcoming events

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Family Friendly Sundays at Townend- Jubilee

Sun 05 Jun 2022
10:00-16:00
Celebrate the Jubilee at Townend. The garden will be decked with bunting and little visitors will be able to colour in their own. Our team will be showing you some of the coronation themed items we have in our collection.

Family Friendly Sundays at Townend- Washing Day

Sun 24 Jul 2022
10:00-16:00
It's washing day at Townend. Roll up your sleeves and don your mop hat and apron as we get to work with a historical washing demonstration with carbolic soap and mangle.
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Townend

Things to see and do

A woman cooking in the kitchen at Townend

A taste of Townend 

Every Thursday, 12-3pm, we’ll be looking at the Browne’s family recipe book that dates back to the 17th Century. Join us to learn about some very intriguing concoctions, including meaty mince pies, bean cakes and macaroons.

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

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.

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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

Search the collections
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© National Trust Registered Charity 205846 Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA

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