Townend

Important notice -

Townend is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Booking is recommended to guarantee entry. Please note that Greengate road is currently closed for road works.

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 are open. Here's what you need to know before you visit.

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Townend

What's on

Townend   Cumbria

Book your visit

Please note you need to book tickets to visit Townend.

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Townend

Things to see and do

A William Longmire watercolor at Townend

NEW FOR 2021 - William Taylor Longmire exhibition 

Discover the life and work of William Taylor Longmire in our first ever art exhibition. The work of this self-taught farmer’s son tells an extraordinary story of Lakeland life, poverty and tourism at the end of the 19th century.

A woman cooking in the kitchen at Townend

A taste of Townend 

Every Thursday, 11am-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.

The dining table at Townend in Troubeck Cumbria

Heritage Open Day 2021- Edible England.

On 19 September, Townend will be opening its doors for a special Sunday opening to share how the Browne family ate and drank throughout the ages. Elizabeth Birkett’s handwritten 17th recipes will be brought to life and our collections team will be uncovering some of Townend’s most fascinating culinary objects. Booking is recommend to guarantee entry. Free entry for all.

Candle light at Christmas

Festive Fridays at Townend  

Step back in time to a Victorian Christmas at Townend. The fires are roaring, the house decked with traditional festive foliage and the smells of Christmas fill the air as Townend opens its doors for the first time in December for Festive Fridays, including a special Christmas Eve opening.

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

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

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