Open Day with talks on Quakers Then & Now

Built in 1688, Colthouse is one the oldest Quaker Meeting Houses in the world. Hidden up a quiet lane on a sheep farm, its fascinating history includes links with Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, and National Trust founder Canon Hardwick Rawnsley.

The beautifully simple stone building retains original windows, wooden panelling, benches and upstairs gallery. The walled garden and nearby burial ground have excellent views across the Esthwaite valley to Hawkshead and the Coniston fells.

Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions, serve tea & coffee, and hand out quiz sheets to children.

Local Quakers will give informal 30-minute talks on three areas of Quaker work in history and today:

11am: Peace
12.30pm: Equality
2.30pm: Climate and sustainability

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

Open 1000-1600, with 30-min talks: 1100, 1230 & 1430

Location & directions

Friends Meeting House, Colthouse, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0JU

Directions:

The hamlet of Colthouse is half a mile east of Hawkshead village (which is 14 miles south of the town of Ambleside). By car: from Hawkshead follow the B5285 (direction Sawrey/Windermere ferry), take the second left, then immediately right into Town End Farm. The Meeting House is 100m further up the lane from the farm. Free parking on the lane or in the farm yard. By public transport: 505 bus from Windermere, Ambleside or Coniston to Hawkshead. Walk 15 minutes to Colthouse following the car directions above - taking great care on the road (there is no pavement). Or walk 30 minutes on footpath and Scar House Lane bridleway: use Ordnance Survey map or walking app to find the route.

Contact on day:

Tim Robertson

Telephone number:

+447949170828

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

There is parking/drop-off for cars right at the gate into the Meeting House garden, but the lane is narrow. There is more space to manoeuvre in Town End farmyard, 100m down the lane. The entrance has 3 stone steps with a grab rail. We have a ramp which we can fit for wheelchair users. The garden, Meeting House and toilet do not have any other steps, though some surfaces are uneven (eg old stone slabs in the porch). The gallery can be accessed only by a very steep and narrow staircase.

Additional information

We are LGBTQ-friendly and committed to anti-racism.

Check out our online channels

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