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Daily at 3pm. Please book your place in advance. Every Thursday time slots will be released for the next 14 days.
Townend is an atmospheric farmhouse in the village of Troutbeck in the Lake District. Discover the fascinating stories of the Browne family as you explore their library and its unique chapbook collection, see recipes brought to life from their own recipe book, and spot woodcarvings created by George Browne. The house gives us a real understanding of everyday life in the 17th century.
You can explore the house on your own, with staff and volunteers available to answer any questions. For a more in-depth experience, book the daily 3pm guided tour.
We’re one of the places in episode 2, series three of BBC Two’s Hidden Treasures of the National Trust. Discover how volume five of our archive was conserved and enjoy snippets of everyday life from 'young' Ben Browne's letters from London.
This room was the working heart of Townend. Huge thick floor flagstones are worn around the edges from centuries of being walked on by the busy Brownes and their servants. There is a big fireplace and hanging from the ceiling are iron pots and pans used for cooking meals. It features an early example of a ‘fitted kitchen’. The array of wooden boxes, shelves and cupboards were fitted by the last George Browne at the end of the 19century and he is responsible for the carved details on the panels. There is a meat loft located behind and above the fireplace, where cuts of mutton and beef were hung to preserve them.
There is historic food on display that is made by our living history team every Thursday between 12-3pm as part of the ‘Taste of Townend’ experience.
Please note that we do have real food in the rooms containing nuts and flour. The food is for display only, and can't be eaten.
This heavily panelled 17th century room is the oldest part of the house. For centuries family and servants, farm hands and boarders gathered around the big table to eat drink and socialise. The wood carving work of the last George Browne can be seen in this room on bookcases and armchair.
Townend library is made up of around 1,500 books which cover many topics from novels and poetry to farming, religion, law, medicine and current affairs. The books have tell-tale physical signs of being well used by the family (and in many cases their neighbours too), and we can see evidence of oil from finger marks and corners turned over.
There are also 45 entirely unique books: ones that have not survived anywhere else in the world. Some of these are slightly bawdy chapbooks. You can find out more on the Friday tour, which delves into the library and books. Book your tour ticket in advance.
Climb the solid oak staircase and you’ll find the main bedrooms. The State bedroom was used for guests including Beatrix Potter who used to visit Clara Browne. Clara was the daughter of the last George Browe and the last member of the family to live in the house.
The linen closet in the Blue Bedroom is where Lucy Browne’s silk wedding dress is displayed. At the other end of the bedroom next to a large window is a cosy space that was formerly used as an office.
The furniture and fittings in the main bedroom are decorated with George Browne’s carvings. One of the striking features of the room is how the floor slopes steeply up from the door. Take a look at the legs of the furniture in this room, to see bespoke alterations. The large oil painting shows the last George Browne aged eight.
The servants bedrooms are accessed from the Downhouse. More modestly furnished this is where the maids and housekeeper would have slept. The right-hand maid’s room also provdes access into the Downhouse meat loft.
Discover the fascinating recipes for delicious meals and cures for ailments written in the Browne family recipe book.
Townend’s small informal cottage-style garden has splashes of colour across the year from snowdrops, primroses, tulips and hydrangeas. It’s a great place to spot garden birds. Take a seat overlooking the bird table to observe the comings and goings of nuthatches, blue tits and robins. Buzzards can be seen wheeling overhead riding air thermals on bright sunny days. You may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a little owl during the day or listen out for the haunting cry of a tawny owl in the winter twilight. On cooler days, the smell of woodsmoke on the air signals the change of season.
Townend Farm bank barn is over the road from the main farmhouse. One of the earliest bank barns in the UK, it was built by George Browne in 1666 and it’s still in use today by the farmer. The barn has a traditional spinning gallery. We have replaced the worn handrails and support beams for the deck of the gallery floor. This was part of a project to restore nine historic barns across the Lakes, with help from a Defra Farming in a Protected Landscape grant managed by Lake District National Park Authority. The barn is not open to the public, but you can see it from the garden, or on the approach from the car park.
We have a two of illustrated guides for children so they can explore the stories of the Browne family as they look around the farmhouse. There’s one for young children and one for slightly older kids too. During school holidays there are usually traditional games like hoopla in the courtyard.
Combining a walk in the valley with a visit to Townend makes for a great day out. Starting at Brockhole, where there is a bus stop and a non-National Trust pay and display car park, the Townend and Troutbeck Valley circular walk takes you through classic Lakeland scenery, farmland and architecture.
We don't have a café at Townend, but just down the road is The Old Post Office Tea Room. It's a lovely spot for a hot drink and light bite. They offer free WiFi and are dog-friendly. The tea room is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Daily at 3pm. Please book your place in advance. Every Thursday time slots will be released for the next 14 days.
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Alongside its natural outdoor wonders the Lake District also has many inspiring houses and buildings to visit, from the impressive Allan Bank where Wordsworth once lived, to the former farmhouse of Beatrix Potter.