Townend

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Important notice -

Our major conservation project is almost complete and we are now open again. There are still some bits to finish off both internally and externally, please bear with us during this final stage of the project.

Atmospheric farmhouse full of quirky objects and fascinating stories

More about this place

Townend in Troutbeck covered in scaffolding

Townend is open again 

We’re nearly done! Our major conservation project to remove and replace the two rotten main timbers in the oldest part of Townend is almost finished. Townend is now back open to visitors, come and visit us, we’re so excited to share what we discovered as we peeled away centuries of hidden history in this Grade I listed farmhouse.

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Townend

Things to see and do

The cradle at Townend in Troutbeck

Take a tour

Want to find out how you can 'burn a candle at both ends' and how the crafty chambermaid outwitted the rich merchant? Then join one of our tours, every open day at 11am and 12 noon. Places are limited, first come first served.

A woman cooking in the kitchen at Townend

A taste of Townend 

The Brownes’ family recipe book is full of great recipes, from meaty mince pies and macaroons to medicines dating back to the 17th century. Pop in for an afternoon of cooking where we’ll recreate some of the recipes.

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  • Little girl rag rugging at Townend

    Discover this 17th century farmhouse 

    Explore a quirky farmhouse with an even quirkier family at Townend. Potter around prize-winning plants in the cottage garden and get active with one of our walking trails that will lead you to beautiful views of Lake Windermere.

  • The front of Townend house and garden

    Troublesome weeds and prize-winning pansies 

    The cottage style garden at Townend is a re-creation of the garden of the last Browne family member - George Browne - to live at Townend.

  • Townend in Troutbeck Village

    The secluded charm of Troutbeck Village 

    "There was always the company of gentle sheep, and wild flowers, and singing waters." This is what Beatrix Potter said about Troutbeck and she was spot on!

Townend in Troutbeck Village

Ambleside to Troutbeck and back via Wansfell 

A discovery walk from Ambleside to Troutbeck along tracks and lanes through woods and fields with views from Wansfell Pike.

A view of Townend, Cumbria from the front gate

Wander through the Troutbeck Valley 

Explore the Troutbeck Valley on this circular walk that reaches the fringes of world-famous Lake Windermere.

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Townend

What's on

Upcoming events

See all events

A Taste of Townend

Thu 29 Sep 2016
13:30-16:00
The Brownes' family recipe book is full of great recipes, from meaty mince pies and macaroons to medicines dating back to the 17th century. We'll be cooking all afternoon where we'll recreate some of the recipes.

Talk: Tackling the rot at Townend

Sat 18 Mar 2017
14:00-14:15
Last year we embarked upon an urgent project to save Townend after we found wet rot in two of the house's main structural beams, come and find out what we discovered along the way.

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

Fri 14 Apr 2017
13:30-16:00
Follow our garden trail and find the hidden eggs to claim your Easter treat!
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Townend

Our work

A rotten beam in the wall at Townend

Tackling the rot at Townend 

Imagine what it feels like to press against a 400-year-old solid oak beam and feel it crumble beneath your fingers. That was just what we were faced with at Townend when we scraped away the top layer of render to check the condition of the beams holding up this Grade I listed farmhouse.

Building works at Townend in Troutbeck Play Video
Video

Filming the rot at Townend

Alex Fowkes and Amon Shaw from Carlisle are in the second year of an Adventure Media course at the University of Cumbria and they have set up their own production company, Thrown Overboard Media Company. They have been filming our conservation project from start to finish and have produced this short edit of the project work.

A rotten beam at Townend

Rotten news: project updates 

Over the next ten months we plan to update our website every few weeks to share with you the challenges of tackling the rot at Townend and hopefully the wonderful things we will discover as we peel away centuries of hidden history. Here’s the fourth instalment.

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Townend

History

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  • Woman in costume reading a book in the Townend library

    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.

  • A boy and woman looking at woodcarvings in Townend

    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.

  • Farm buildings at Townend

    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 and Conservation Assistants.

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