Bassenfell Manor
Encyclopedia
Bassenfell Manor is a manor house in Bassenthwaite
, Cumbria
, overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake
in England's Lake District
. It is presently used as a residential centre hosting school groups, youth groups, church groups and holidays for individuals and families. It is situated in over 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of grounds and the manor has 19 bedrooms plus a self catering apartment and two live-in apartments for management.
, a Member of Parliament
who made his wealth from shipping in Liverpool
where a statue of him still resides in the campus of the University. The Rathbone family were devout Quakers, William Rathbone being a very close friend of Florence Nightingale
who sent a message to his family following his death "England has lost one of its best son's". Basil Rathbone
the actor (famous for his portrayal as Sherlock Holmes
) was connected with Bassenfell and he probably spent some holidays at the manor, but never actually lived there.
Bassenfell Manor was built as a country residence for William Rathbone's family and took five years to build. The house has many nautical features; the wing containing bedrooms 1-5 looks like the bridge of a ship and the middle and top corridors as the decks. It is believed that the Tank room was originally the servants quarters and that what is now the staff linen room was used as the maternity room whenever children were born.
Since being sold by the Rathbone family around 1910, the Manor has served as a hotel, old people’s home, and during the war a school for evacuees. It was purchased by the Christian Outdoor Pursuits Trust in August, 1983 and was opened as a Christian centre at Easter, 1984.
Bassenthwaite
Bassenthwaite is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 412. The village is about east of Cockermouth, and is approximately from Bassenthwaite Lake...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest water bodies in the English Lake District. It is long and narrow, approximately long and wide, but is also extremely shallow, with a maximum depth of about ....
in England's Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. It is presently used as a residential centre hosting school groups, youth groups, church groups and holidays for individuals and families. It is situated in over 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of grounds and the manor has 19 bedrooms plus a self catering apartment and two live-in apartments for management.
History
The Manor was built in 1842 by William Rathbone VIWilliam Rathbone VI
William Rathbone VI was an English merchant and businessman noted for his philanthropic and public work...
, a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
who made his wealth from shipping in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
where a statue of him still resides in the campus of the University. The Rathbone family were devout Quakers, William Rathbone being a very close friend of Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
who sent a message to his family following his death "England has lost one of its best son's". Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
the actor (famous for his portrayal as Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
) was connected with Bassenfell and he probably spent some holidays at the manor, but never actually lived there.
Bassenfell Manor was built as a country residence for William Rathbone's family and took five years to build. The house has many nautical features; the wing containing bedrooms 1-5 looks like the bridge of a ship and the middle and top corridors as the decks. It is believed that the Tank room was originally the servants quarters and that what is now the staff linen room was used as the maternity room whenever children were born.
Since being sold by the Rathbone family around 1910, the Manor has served as a hotel, old people’s home, and during the war a school for evacuees. It was purchased by the Christian Outdoor Pursuits Trust in August, 1983 and was opened as a Christian centre at Easter, 1984.