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Places to Visit in Ambleside, Cumbria
The Lakes Discovery Museum at The Armitt
Rydal Road
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 9BL
Tel: +44(0)15394 31212
Email: click here
The Lakes Discovery Museum at The Armitt online: information and bookings
The Lakes Discovery Museum is a fascinating exhibition of Lakeland life and times. It is a treasure trove for Ambleside and presents an opportunity to explore the history of the area from Roman times to the twentieth century.
In particular, it proudly and lovingly recalls a remarkable time in the history of the Lake District a century ago when some of the nation’s leading writers and artists including John Ruskin and Beatrix Potter lived nearby, drawing on local life as inspiration for their remarkable work The Museum display brings to life both their day to day lives and the way in which mutual acquaintanceship inspired their work, enriching an area already steeped in history and tradition.
Visitors can listen to John Ruskin, view Beatrix Potter’s exquisite natural history water colours and take and interactive ‘bird’s-eye’ view of Lakeland through the magic of photographer Herbert Bell. New to the museum are displays of work by German artist and pioneer of twentieth century modern art, Kurt Schwitters. Exiled from Germany during the Second World War, he came to live out his final years in Ambleside and created his most important surviving work, the ‘Merzbarn’ now in Newcastle.
Ambleside also nurtured and inspired the founder of the collection, Mary Louisa Armitt and two of the most advanced Victorian female thinkers of their time, Harriet Martineau and Charlotte Mason, whose lives are also celebrated in the Museum display. Items of interest from other ages gone by include artefacts from the Roman Fort of Galava, which is situated at the head of Lake Windermere, just a mile or so from the Museum.
For the researcher, the library upstairs contains many letters and books endowed by Beatrix Potter and others, among them a unique collection of early guide books, and fascinating documents and ephemera reflecting the life of Ambleside as a prosperous little market town during the past 400 years.
A visit to the Museum Shop, which offers beautiful items with local books and made in Cumbria gifts/card completes a delightful and rewarding experience to this beautiful new building which was formally opened by HRH Princess Alexandra during the summer of 1998.
The Lakes Discovery Museum is situated close to the centre of the centre of town on Rydal Road just beyond the Bridge House opposite the main car park. Open daily throughout the year, 10am - 5pm, last admission 4.30pm.
Facilities
Children, Group Tours, School Tours Available, Connoisseur Days and Workshops.
In case of alteration, please check prices, opening times and any specific important information before booking or visiting
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