Dalemain facts for kids
Dalemain is a beautiful old country house in Cumbria, England. It's about five miles southwest of Penrith. This special house is a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important historically. Dalemain is also located inside the amazing Lake District National Park.
Contents
History of Dalemain
Early Beginnings
People have lived at Dalemain for a very long time. There is proof that a settlement was here even in Saxon times. The River Eamont flows nearby. This river used to be the border between two old counties, Cumberland and Westmorland. The spot where Dalemain stands was easy to cross the river. It was also a sheltered place in the valley. This meant it often avoided the worst weather.
Building the House
A strong tower, called a peel tower, was built here. This happened when King Henry II was in charge. The oldest part of the house, the old hall, is from the 1100s. More parts, called wings, were added in the 1500s.
The Hasell Family Home
In 1679, a man named Sir Edward Hasell bought Dalemain. He used to work for Lady Anne Clifford. The house has stayed in the Hasell family ever since then. When Sir Edward bought it, he made many big changes. He added a grand staircase. The farmyard was also updated. A strong wall was built below the terrace.
His son finished the impressive Georgian front of the house in 1744. This new part was built around the old house. It created a central courtyard. The rooms in this new front were very elegant. They had a balanced, classical design. The new front hall has a special staircase that seems to float. The garden side of the house was also rebuilt in 1748. It was made to match the new front. No major changes have happened since then.
The courtyard has changed over hundreds of years. It started as a small village built for protection. This village was right around the original peel tower. Now, it has farm buildings that are still there today. Above the courtyard is the Deer Park. A group of fallow deer has lived there for centuries.
The Amazing Gardens
The gardens at Dalemain show different styles of gardening. You can see an Elizabethan knot garden. This is a garden with plants trimmed into patterns. There is also a large park around the house. It has wonderful views of the High Fells mountains. You can find a herbaceous terrace. This is a raised area with many different plants. There is also a wild garden. This style was inspired by the gardener William Robinson.
This garden is for people who love plants. It has an amazing variety of different plants. There is a great collection of roses. You can also see a timeline of apple trees. A huge Silver Fir tree, called Abies Cephalonica, grows here. It has the largest trunk size in the UK. This tree was a gift from Joseph Banks, a famous botanist, in the 1840s. You can also find beautiful Himalayan blue poppies called Meconopsis grandis Dalemain. In the spring, the ground is covered with snowdrops and daffodils.
The garden is also a place for imagination. There is a box topiary dragon. This is a plant shaped like a dragon. You might also find a sleeping earth giant. Through a door from the formal garden, you can enter Lob’s Wood. This is a leafy green area with many beech trees. Dalemain won the Garden of the Year Award in 2013. This award was sponsored by the Historic Houses Association and Christie's.
Famous People from Dalemain
The writer and book reviewer Elizabeth Julia Hasell lived at Dalemain. Eva Hasell was born here in 1886. Her parents were Frances Maud and John Edward Hasell. Eva grew up at Dalemain. She later became a missionary in Canada. She was a strong supporter of the church and the British Empire.
The World's Original Marmalade Awards and Festival
A Sweet Tradition
The World's Original Marmalade Awards and Festival started in 2005. It takes place every March at Dalemain. This event has become a very important food festival. People send their marmalade entries from all over the world. Entries come from places like Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Lebanon.
Helping Others
Over the years, this event has raised almost £250,000. This money helps local charities like Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland. It also supports palliative care in the UK and other countries. Palliative care helps people who are very ill feel more comfortable.
Global Reach
In May 2019, a similar festival started in Japan. It is called the Japanese Marmalade Awards and Festival. It takes place in Yawatahama, Ehime. This city is a big center for growing citrus fruit in Japan.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Dacre, Cumbria
