Mirehouse

About the museum

Mirehouse stands between Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake, three miles north of Keswick. People are recorded as living on the site in the sixteenth century, and the present house was built in 1666 by the 8th Earl of Derby for stays on his Cumbrian estates. In 1688 he sold it to his agent Roger Gregg, the only sale in its history, and it has passed by inheritance ever since. In 1802 it came to John Spedding of Armathwaite Hall, whose family later gave it its literary reputation.

The house grew gradually, with matching bays added in 1790, new higher rooms built on the south side in 1832 and large west rooms added in 1851. James Spedding, the editor and biographer of Francis Bacon, lived here, and his friend Alfred, Lord Tennyson stayed twice, once with his wife on their honeymoon. Manuscripts and books from the family library include Spedding's collection of Bacon's works and letters from Wordsworth, Tennyson, Southey, Carlyle and Constable.

The ground floor was opened to visitors in 1981. It remains a family home, so opening times are limited. Visitors are welcomed by live piano music and children's quizzes, and the grounds include a walled Bee Garden, a Poetry Walk, four woodland adventure playgrounds and walks down to the lakeshore.

Highlights

• Literary connections with Tennyson, James Spedding and Francis Bacon
• Manuscripts and letters from Wordsworth, Southey, Carlyle and Constable
• Live piano music in the house
• Walled Bee Garden and Poetry Walk
• Four woodland adventure playgrounds and walks to Bassenthwaite Lake

Permanent exhibition

• Mirehouse – the house – Ground-floor rooms with furniture, portraits and literary manuscripts, a Victorian nursery and schoolroom, and live piano music.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Family-owned estate

Admission & discounts

The regular price is for the gardens only; the house costs more. Tickets are bought at The Old Sawmill Tearoom in the Dodd Wood car park across the road, by cash or card, with no advance booking.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The part of the house open to visitors is fully accessible to wheelchairs, and a wheelchair for indoor use is available. Disabled parking is in front of the house, and disabled visitors can drive down to it. Most garden paths are gravelled. The Lovers Lane section of the walk is too steep for wheelchairs, and the first part of the lakeside walk round Catstocks Wood is accessible. There is an accessible toilet at the car park. Guide dogs are welcome in the house and tearoom, and a guide may be able to arrange a tactile tour. A leaflet with detailed access information is available at the tearoom.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

Children are actively welcomed. In the house there is an owl hunt for younger children, a history quiz for older ones and a Victorian nursery. The grounds have four woodland adventure playgrounds, a nature trail and a heather path maze. Children aged 4 and under enter free.

Getting there & parking

Mirehouse is three miles north of Keswick on the A591.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The Old Sawmill Tearoom, in the Dodd Wood car park opposite the entrance, is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 and serves homemade Cumbrian food, with dogs welcome at the outside tables. Toilets are at the car park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit