“Waterbeck,” Thornbarrow Road, Windermere,

A substantial detached Arts and Crafts house built in 1913-1914 with 12 bedrooms, now separated into three parts. Whilst the whole building is known as Waterbeck, in its present configuration the main front portion retains its name with two other parts being known as Burrow Beck Cottage and School Knott Cottage. The house is situated at the head of a sweeping private drive leading to the courtyard and carriage house, providing extensive views over the lake to the fells beyond.

Externally, the house is built In Dolman’s typical Lakeland vernacular style with round chimneys and roughcast render. The cream colourwash originally applied has been allowed to wash away, leaving the rather dour natural grey of the render. The V-shaped west or garden front with its open balcony was designed to make makes the most of the views. Internally, the simplicity of the Arts and Crafts is largely abandoned in favour of Edwardian lavishness. The principal rooms are richly classical, with columned fireplaces and alcoves.

From the main courtyard a covered arch leads to a smaller garage court, this being one of the earliest houses in which the motor car totally usurps the horse.

Garden by Mawson and Partners for J G Shieldon, are entirely characteristic and well preserved.  Formal terraces drop down the hillside. Water is fed down the middle via Italianate pools to a round pond at the bottom, stone steps leading symmetrically from terrace to terrace and a level lawn. A stone pavilion stands at the head of the garden.

Waterbeck is the last large Arts and Crafts house built in the Lake District. Changes brought about as a result of  the First World War caused the number of servants to reduce dramatically and subsequent houses reduced in size.

Pevsner notes that W L Dolman had a reputation for ruining his clients. Mr J J Hyslop or Hislop of Manchester is supposed to have died when he got Dolman’s bill.  Although the story may be apocryphal, it appears that the house was acquired by J G Sheldon or Shieldon about 1915

Reference         Sales particulars
Reference         Pevsner/Hyde Buildings of England: Cumbria page 694
Reference         Matthew Hyde and Esme Whittaker; Arts and Crafts Houses in the Lake District
Archive            Waterbeck, Bowness-on-Windermere (9 photos) - general views of house and gardens
Archive            Kendal Record Office Planning and Building Control application Windermere UDC September 1912
Archive            Kendal Record Office WDB 76/124 Garden plan Mawson for J G Sheldon