Brantwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brantwood
Photograph taken from the Gondola on Coniston Water
Location	Overlooking Coniston Water, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom
OS grid reference	SD 312 958
Built	Late 18th century
Built for	Thomas Woodville
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated	25 March 1970
Reference no.	1335727
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Brantwood, around 1871.

Brantwood is a special old house in Cumbria, England. It sits high up, looking over Coniston Water. Many famous people have lived here over the years. Today, Brantwood is a museum. It celebrates the life and work of John Ruskin, who was one of its last owners. A special group called a charitable trust takes care of the house and its beautiful gardens. Brantwood is also a protected historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building.

What is Brantwood?

The Story of Brantwood House

The name Brant comes from an old Viking word meaning "steep." This makes sense because the house and its land are on a steep, wooded hill. Even before the house was built, people in the 1700s thought this spot was amazing. It was a "must-see" place for anyone visiting the Lake District.

The first house was built here in the late 1700s by Thomas Woodville. It was quite small, with only about 6 to 8 rooms. Over time, the house and its land grew bigger. Around 1833, more parts were added. Later, in the mid-1800s, a man named Josiah Hudson lived there. His son, Charles Hudson, became a famous mountain climber.

Famous People at Brantwood

In 1852, William James Linton moved into Brantwood. He was a Victorian artist and writer who wanted to make society better. He bought the house the next year. While Linton was away in London, another poet named Gerald Massey lived in the house from 1858 to 1864. Massey was also an Egyptologist, meaning he studied ancient Egypt. Linton later moved to America in 1867.

In 1869, George William Kitchin moved in. He later became an important church leader. Then, in 1871, John Ruskin bought Brantwood. Ruskin was a famous writer, artist, and thinker. He and Kitchin were friends, so Ruskin probably knew the house already. Before he moved in, Ruskin made sure the house was repaired. He added a small tower and a lodge for his assistant. He also made improvements to the garden.

Ruskin's Life at Brantwood

When Ruskin lived at Brantwood, he taught special classes, like small seminars today. He held these three times a week, covering different subjects like art, literature, and how society works.

Ruskin filled Brantwood with amazing things. He had paintings by famous artists like Gainsborough and Turner. He also collected cool rocks, pottery, and seashells. His cousin, Joan Agnew, and her artist husband, Arthur Severn, lived with him. They had a growing family. William Gershom Collingwood, an artist and historian who translated old Viking stories, often visited.

In 1878, a new dining room was built at the south end of the house. Around 1890, a second floor was added. This gave the Severn family more rooms. An art studio was also built for Arthur Severn. The land around the house also grew bigger during this time.

Brantwood Becomes a Museum

When John Ruskin passed away in 1900, his family, the Severns, inherited the house. Ruskin had wanted the house to be open to visitors for 30 days a year. He wanted people to see his home and collections. However, the Severns did not follow his wishes. They sold many of his valuable paintings.

After Arthur Severn died in 1931, the rest of the house's contents were sold. But Emily Warren, who was Ruskin's last student, started a movement to save Brantwood. She wanted it to become a museum. John Howard Whitehouse, who started Bembridge School, bought the house. He created the Brantwood Trust in 1951. This is a special charity that makes sure Brantwood is taken care of for everyone to enjoy forever.

Exploring the House and Gardens

Inside Brantwood House

Brantwood House is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic place. You can visit several rooms inside:

• The drawing room still has Ruskin's special desk, bookcase, and a cabinet for his seashells. The wallpaper is a copy of a design Ruskin made.
• Next to it is Ruskin's study, where he worked. It has a painting by Samuel Prout.
• The dining room, built in 1878, has amazing views of the Coniston mountains. It has seven tall, narrow windows. You can see a portrait of Ruskin when he was just 3 years old, painted by James Northcote.
• The old dining room has some of Ruskin's early drawings.
• Upstairs, in the small tower, is Ruskin's bedroom.

Other Buildings and Features

Around the main house, there are four more historic buildings. The lodge and the old stable are also very important, listed at Grade II*. Other buildings, like another old stable and an ice house, are listed at Grade II. In the Linton Building, there's a special musical instrument called a lithophone, also known as "The Musical Stones." Visitors can even play it!

The Gardens of Brantwood

Ruskin used his garden to try out different ways of growing plants and managing water. It has many steep, winding paths. After he died, more pretty shrubs and trees were planted. The garden became overgrown for a while. But in the 1980s, it was rediscovered and has been beautifully restored. The whole estate is huge, covering about 250 acres (1 square kilometer). It includes the lakeshore, grassy fields, oak woods, and open moorland.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in South Lakeland
• Listed buildings in Coniston, Cumbria
• Ruskin Museum, Coniston
• The Ruskin - Library, Museum and Research Centre