Mirehouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mirehouse |
|
|---|---|
Mirehouse
|
|
| General information | |
| Status | Grade II* listed |
| Type | Stately home |
| Location | Bassenthwaite, Cumbria, UK |
| Coordinates | 54°38′41″N 3°11′30″W / 54.6446°N 3.1916°W |
| Construction started | 1666 |
| Owner | The Spedding Family |
Mirehouse is a beautiful old house in Cumbria, England. It's located north of Keswick, right at the foot of a hill called Dodd. The house is also very close to Bassenthwaite Lake and a historic church called St Bega's. Even though it's still a family home, Mirehouse and its amazing gardens are open for everyone to visit. In 1999, it even won an award for being the 'Best Heritage Property for Families in the UK'!
Contents
The History of Mirehouse
Building the House
Mirehouse was first built a long, long time ago, in 1666. It was built by a person named Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby. He owned the house for a while, but then sold it in 1688. The new owner was his agent, Roger Greg.
Family Ownership Changes
After Roger Greg, the Greg family continued to own Mirehouse. Later, their relatives, the Story family, took over the estate. This continued until 1802. At that time, Thomas Story left the house to John Spedding in his will.
The Spedding Family's Home
The Spedding family still owns Mirehouse today. They have made many changes and additions to the house over the years. Some big changes happened in the 1960s, when a lot of repair work was done. Then, in the 1980s, the ground floor of the house and the gardens were opened to the public. This means you can now explore parts of this historic home!
Exploring the Gardens and Grounds
The grounds around Mirehouse are really special and fun for families. They include several interesting areas to discover.
- Bee Garden: A lovely garden designed to attract bees.
- Wild Flower Meadow: A field full of beautiful wild flowers.
- Poetry Walk: A special path where you can enjoy nature and poetry.
- Squirrel Island: A fun spot where squirrels love to play.
- Adventure Playgrounds: Exciting areas for kids to run, climb, and play.
Mirehouse and Famous Poets
The Spedding family, who live at Mirehouse, had strong connections with several famous poets. These included well-known writers like Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Robert Southey, Edward FitzGerald, and Thomas Carlyle. Because of these special links to poetry, Mirehouse now holds an annual poetry competition. It's a great way to celebrate the house's history with words and creativity!
