The Waterhead Hotel - Coniston
Written by John Richard Hodges
The Waterhead Hotel on picturesque Coniston Water has a fascinating history and associations with many famous people. The present hotel dates from 1849 and replaced an earlier Waterhead visited by the Ruskin family in the 1820s and 30s. John Ruskin stayed at the Waterhead and after purchasing ‘Brantwood’ across the Water, used the Waterhead for his guests who included among others Charles Darwin and his family, Mark Twain, the Orléans French Royal family in exile and J.M.W. Turner, the painter whom Ruskin admired greatly.
In 1940, in the darkest days of the Second World War, Bembridge School from the Isle of Wight was evacuated to the Waterhead and to ‘Brantwood’ the former home of John Ruskin where the pupils and staff were safe from the bombing raids. After the war the school returned to the Isle of Wight.
In 1950 the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance bought the Hotel, which was founded to commemorate those members of the Post Office who had been killed or injured in the two world wars of the 20th Century and to provide holidays for GPO staff and pensioners.
Sir Malcolm Campbell and his family stayed at the Waterhead in August 1939, and the hotel was in sight of his famous son Donald’s four successful World Water Speed Records in the 1950s and of his final, fatal attempt on 4 January 1967.
Today the present Waterhead Hotel with its spectacular views over the ‘Old Man of Coniston’ and Coniston Water is a perfect venue for walkers, hikers and visitors who wish to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the Lakes.
Coniston Water taken from John Ruskin’s home – ‘Brantwood’: – JRH©
