The house retains original 'leaf' motifs in the stained glass windows that were specific to Baillie Scott’s naturalistic design style.
The White Drawing Room features a unique fireplace with a 'pigeon hole' design rather than a traditional mantelpiece.
Many original fixed furniture pieces, such as the built-in window seats and cabinets, remain in their exact design positions from 1900.
The house was converted into a boarding school in 1925, which saved it from the structural alterations typical of residential renovations during that era.
The decorative plaster friezes in the dining room were inspired by the floral and faunal themes of the English Lake District landscape.
Baillie Scott personally selected the interior color palettes to reflect the shifting light quality of the Windermere valley.
Blackwell is a preserved Arts & Crafts country house designed by architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott between 1897 and 1900. It serves as a near-intact example of the movement, featuring original decorative elements including stained glass, carved woodwork, and intricate plasterwork. The house was commissioned by Sir Edward Holt, a wealthy brewer, as a holiday home. It functioned as a girls' school for several decades, which preserved much of the original interior detailing. The property is managed by the Lakeland Arts charity and hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary craft and historic design. The interior retains rare features like hessian wall coverings and elaborate fireplace surrounds. The house overlooks the Windermere lake and surrounding fells from its hillside position. It is designated as a Grade I listed building.
The central landing of the main staircase, which offers a symmetric view of the stained glass and architectural detailing.
Walk through the terraced gardens after touring the interior to see the house’s exterior architectural proportions.
Visit the tea room for views over Lake Windermere that were specifically framed by the architect.
Check the exhibition schedule online before arriving, as the curated displays in the rooms change seasonally.
Do not attempt to walk from Bowness-on-Windermere center, as the route is primarily via steep, narrow roads with limited pedestrian infrastructure.
Open daily throughout the year, but occasionally closes briefly between major seasonal exhibition changeovers.
No photography of the contemporary art exhibition pieces is permitted unless otherwise signed; remain off the grass in the formal garden areas.
