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The story of Grasmere
The story of Grasmere as we see it today begins 10,000 years ago at the end
of the last ice age when retreating glaciers carved the U-shaped pass to the
valley. The melting ice left debris in the form of grassy hillocks (called Drumlins)
which can still be seen today. Man sheep and weather have since carved, fashioned
and blessed this valley into the jewel in the crown of England’s finest
landscape.
Grasmere Lake is not accessible to motorised craft, but it is possible to hire
rowing boats and enjoy a unique view of the Lake’s outstanding natural
beauty.
Alternatively, there are many walks around the lake and the surrounding fells,
details of which can be found in the tourist information centre, or in one of
the many guides to the region.
Beside the façade of a busy tourist village in the centre of a conservation
area lies a settlement that has developed over the past 1000 years, and where
residents still have a strong sense of community. Three churches, a village
school, post office, doctor’s surgery, village hall, shops, pubs, clubs
and society, all continue to develop and thrive.
As well as St Oswald’s church (see places of interest), Grasmere has a
Methodist church, which was established in 1874 and a Catholic church. The Grasmere
Players, the village’s amateur dramatic group, is renowned as one of the
finest of its kind in Cumbria, and the Grasmere branch of the Woman’s
Institute continues to have a strong and vibrant influence on village life.
Grasmere Village Society plays a prominent role in village life. It was formed
out of the determination of the village people to protect the village from developers.
At that time a property company wanted to demolish the Rothay Hotel, (now the
Wordsworth Hotel) and build houses, shops, flats and garages on the site.
The villagers were outraged, and came together to form the Village Society and
oppose the plans. They launched a world wide appeal to raise funds to buy the
property from the developers and such was their determination that they succeeded.
Rushbearing
When the Church was first built the floor was simply of earth covered in rushes,
and it was common place to bury the bodies of the parishioners within the Church
as well as in the Churchyard, particularly in the middle of winter when the
ground outside was hard and cold. At the feast of dedication on the Saturday
nearest St Oswald's Day (5th Aug) parishioners brought new rushes from Grasmere
Lake to cover the floor, cleanse the air and help to keep out the winter cold.
The floor has been flagged since 1841, but the rushbearing ceremony still continues.
Wild rushes and flowers are paraded round the village in procession led by a band,
followed by the clergy, and then the people of the village.
The ceremony ends with a service at the church where the “rushbearings”
are laid.
In the 19th century the rushbearing ceremony was followed by wrestling matches
between the young men of the village. The form of wrestling they follow is known
as Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling. Each young man would wear an embroidered
costume and competition for the best costume was as fierce as for the title of
wrestling champion. The wrestling champions complete with embroidered costumes
are still held today, at the annual Grasmere sports.
Beside the church yard is the old school house, built in 1630 and in 1854 converted
to Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop. Before the school house was built, local
children were taught in the Church porch.
The legend of Dunmail
Raise
Norse Dun = “hill” Mail = “bare” Raise = “pile of
stones”
It’s said that King Dunmail, the last king of Cumberland, fought his final
battle on the fells north of Grasmere in 945AD.
Slain and stripped of his powers by Saxon King Edmund, Dunmail was buried under
a mound of stones at the highest point in the “U”-shaped cleft between
the hills north of Grasmere. The burial mound is reputed to have marked the ancient
border between England and Scotland, and more recently between Cumberland and
Westmorland.
An American President
There have been many notable visitors to Grasmere over the years. Kings and Queens,
artists and film stars, all have been entranced by the village beauty, but none
more so than Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States during the First World
War. Wilson first came to Grasmere in June 1896, after first visiting Carlisle
to try and find his Mothers birthplace. He cycled from Carlisle to Grasmere and
visited Dove Cottage, before moving on to Rydal. He instantly fell in love with
the Lake District and Grasmere in particular. Over the next 12 years he visited
the Lakes a further four times, using the Rothay Hotel (now the Wordsworth Hotel)
as his base for two of his holidays. A devotee of William Wordsworth, Wilson visited
Dove Cottage on several occasions and signed the visitor’s book there at
least once.
Two famous landscape artists
Alfred Heaton Cooper 1863 - 1929
Born in Bolton Lancashire, Alfred Heaton Cooper studied art at the Westminster School of Art in London, where he was influenced by the work of Turner, Constable, Corot, Millet and the Barbizan School.
In 1905 he imported a building of pine logs from Norway and set up a gallery in Ambleside, He painted mainly in watercolour, but occasionally in oils, and exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. He died at ambleside in 1929.
William Heaton Cooper 1903 - 1995
The son of Alfred Heaton cooper, William was born at Coniston in 1903. After training with his father he studied at the Royal academy School in London and exhibited at the Royal Academy, The RBA, The Royal Institute and other exhibitions in London and the Provinces.
As well as being a renowned landscape artist, he was also a pioneer of early rock climbing, and had an in depth knowledge of the Lakeland fells. In 1938 he established his studio in Grasmere, which is still open today.
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