Young Visitors

The present owner’s father came here in 1961 and found the house in a poor condition. Since then many repairs have been made to both contents and structure including tackling two severe outbreaks of dry rot.

In 1981 the decision was made to open the ground floor of the house to the public.

Besides an interesting collection of furniture and portraits there is a very unusual display of manuscripts. These include James Spedding’s collection of Francis Bacon’s works as well as letters from Wordsworth, Tennyson, Southey, Thomas Carlyle and John Constable: all friends of the family.

Forty years ago, when the present owner’s father inherited Mirehouse, much of the garden was overgrown. Mirehouse had become something of a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ unknown even to people living in Keswick.

Today the gardens, once described as a “civil wilderness” by a visiting poet, are a tribute to the work gone on over the years to accentuate their stunning setting at Mirehouse. The work of restoration continues along with the change and development which are in the nature of any garden.

​The long history of this garden is clear when we realise that the huge Scots Pines beside the drive were planted in 1784. Beneath them is a collection of Rhododendrons and Hydrangeas planted over the last hundred years.

The grounds at Mirehouse are home to adventure playgrounds which are set amidst the trees and shrubs on either side of the main drive.

Children today relish a change from the computer and television screen and enjoy the natural fun they find here just as much as children in the past have done.

After visiting the four woodland playgrounds, children will get the chance to burn off any excess energy at the heather path maze in the Bee Garden adjacent to the main drive. This maze is suitable for wheelchairs and is based on the design of the famous turf mazes by the Solway.