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For me Barrow Wife is a very special place, steeped deep in history, both a distant past as a Quaker meeting house and more recently the home and studio of artists Claude and Audrey Harrison
Today it lies in the care of their son Toby, an accomplished artist and potter in his own right.

Although recently refurbished to meet todays requirements, the house still retains much of a feeling to how it would have been for these two prolific artists, where throughout the building the walls are hung with many of Claude's paintings.

Barrow Wife and its adjoining property, Barrow Hollin, lie on the Cartmel Fell, above the small village of High Newton, about three miles from the foot of Lake Windermere.

Barrow Wife was originally built as a Quaker Meeting House in 1677 by Lawrence Newton, with the addition of Barrow Hollin in 1712 and is the second oldest of the meeting houses in the area.

Come 1964 the house and cottage were purchased by Claude and Audrey, where they lived, worked and exhibited throughout Europe and the USA.

Claude continued painting at the house until 2005 aged 83. Today you will see many of his paintings on the walls and the painted furniture.

Notably, the canvases in the hall tell the story of Tobias and the angel and there is an illustrated book by Claude that further relates the tale. In the sitting room there is a portrait of the family in the 1960’s and a huge a triptych featuring a young Toby.

You can see one of Audrey’s paintings of a doll on the top floor, also the little dolls house in the living room was made by her.

Around the house there are also paintings and pottery made by their son Toby, who lived in the cottage next door.


Barrow Wife

The setting is one of true peace, with plenty of easy walks from the property, a few taking in the well known Masons Arms Inn. Closer by, at High Newton, is the Rose and Crown, about a 1.5 mile walk.

At Newby Bridge and the foot of Windermere, you will find Fell Foot Park, where you can hire row and sail boats.

Head south and you are on the Cartmel Peninsula, a lovely area of low fells that jut out into the Morecambe Bay. Here you will find delightful villages such as Grange over Sands and Cartmel, with its wonderful buildings and a host of pubs and fine restaurants.

Approached by a quiet country lane you arrive to a walled garden with a stone gateway. From the front entrance porch you step into a huge hall.

Here there are oak beams, a minstrel gallery, a fine oak stairway, panelled walls and huge stone flags along with a pool table to while away the evenings under the gaze of angelic faces.

To the left of the hall you step down into the kitchen dining room. To one end is a large table, with oak settle and chairs to sit around and enjoy long diners into the night. To the other end is the kitchen area, off which lies a small scullery for boots and bits, with a back door to the rear garden.

To the right of the hall, through double doors, is the large sitting room, formerly the meeting room. Simple but striking, three large sofas sit surrounded by pine paneling, the ever present art and with light flooding in through two large windows to the front and the french doors which open out to a small conservatory.

Finally downstairs, to the rear of the house, is a twin bedroom with adjacent bathroom.

From the hall, oak stairs lead up to the first floor. Here is the master bedroom, light and airy with its little en-suite bathroom set over the front porch and accessed from the minstrel gallery.

On up to the attic floor where, off a large landing, there is a twin bedroom, a shower room and the last double bedroom set the eaves and supported by huge oak beams.

The gardens are to both front and back, looking out over meadow and low fell. The front area is walled all around, making a sunny place to enjoy an evening drink.

I do really like this house. Its position, the history and, as a passionate art lover, the paintings and panels that adorn the walls and furniture will, I am sure, combine to offer a memorable stay in the Lake District.

Barrow Wife Inventory

• Property Type
  Lake District Holiday Cottage - Semi Detached - Rural Location
• 2 Double bedrooms - 1 with en-suite bathroom with bath, hand held shower, basin & WC
• 2 Twin bedrooms
• Duvet - Full linen & towels
• 1 Ground Floor Bathroom with basin & WC
• 1 Top floor bathroom with bath, overhead shower, basin, bidet & WC
• Oil central heating
• Electric oven
• Microwave
• Refrigerator - Freezer
• Dishwasher
• Washing machine
• Iron & ironing board
• Coffee cafetiere
• Colour TV
• CD - tape - radio
• Electricity - oil inclusive
  
• Garden Furniture
  
• 1 dog £15. Please note guests are to be fully responsible for their pets where they must respect the property and grounds, follow specific instructions left at the property, also be aware of any farm stock nearby - see terms and conditions. On departure and to avoid a GHD charge, guests must clean up after their pet both inside the property and the grounds.
• No smokers
• Parking 3 cars
  

Nearest Amenities

• Crown Inn High Newton 1.2 miles
  
• Newby Bridge for lakeside park, pubs and garage.
  
• Cartmel for Village Store, Spar, 4 pubs, Enclume Restaurant, Rogan's Wine Bar.
  
• Grange over Sands - For Higginson's Butcher, The Veg Shack, local baker and much more.
  
  

 

 

Local Areas Of Interest

Newby Bridge To Bouth
Cartmel
Cartmel Peninsular - The Morecambe Bay
The Lyth & Winster Valleys

 

 

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