Brantwood House
Brantwood Trust
Brantwood
Coniston
Cumbria
LA21 8AD
England
Website
Telephone
015394 41396
Fax
015394 41263
The former home of John Ruskin, Brantwood is the most beautifully situated house in the Lake District. Brantwood is both a treasure house of historical importance and a lively centre of contemporary arts and the environment, welcoming in the region of 30,000 visitors a year.
Displays and activities in the house, gardens and estate reflect the wealth of cultural associations associated with Ruskin’s legacy – from the Pre Raphaelites and Arts and Crafts Movement to the founding of the National Trust and the Welfare State.
With its many contemporary exhibitions, concerts, courses and special events, together with its education work in the wider community, Brantwood continues in the Ruskin tradition today.
Venue Type:
Historic house or home
Collection details
Archives, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Natural Sciences, Personalities, Social History, Land Transport
Textured Views
Latest work by The Trident Textiles group, comprising: Helen McKenna, Pat Crellin, Chris McCadie, Kate Tame, Barbara Wright, Stephanie Conway, Caroline King, Rachel Capovila.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ice-Cloud Mirror
Film by Professor Emma Rose and Dr Neil Boynton & watercolours by John Ruskin on the theme of mountain landscape and well-being. In establishing a close proximity between the film shot in the snow-capped peaks of the high Alps and paintings and drawings of the Lake District by Ruskin, a powerful connection between contemporary digital time-lapse photography and traditional media of pencil and watercolour is established. The exhibition explores the idea that certain encounters with landscape and natural phenomena can be therapeutic, able to enhance physical, phychological and spiritual health and wellbeing.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Heaven’s Company: Ornithological Art from the Collections of John Ruskin
Exhibition of ornithological artists collected by Ruskin and given by him to the Guild of St George, including works by Gould, Audubon, Lear, Bewick, Stacy Marks and Ruskin.
Admission
Entry is included in House admission
Journeys North
A new collection of painting and drawings by Fiona Clucas inspired by the landscape and wildlife of memorable places visited over the last three years, including Northumberland, Scotland, Shetland and Norway. This exhibition will also feature new poetry by Brian Fereday whose observations of nature compliment the images of these beautiful locations.
Admission
Entry is included in House admission
Sally’s Unique Gardening Course
Discover the unexpected secrets of Brantwood's Head Gardener! Learn how to understand your land, its plants and how to work harmoniously to create a beautifully balanced and healthy garden. All materials and refreshments provided.
Suitable for
Admission
£125 per person.
Straight from the Wood
Learn how best to use 'green' wood rather than sawn timber, with materials harvested from the Brantwood Estate. From coppice management and cutting, through the processes of splitting shaping and forming, you will use traditional hand tools and equipment to create unique articles. Suitable for all levels
Suitable for
When
9:30am-5pm
Admission
£55 per person.
Illuminated Lettering 2-Day Art Workshop
The workshops are intended as an introduction to producing original interpretations of traditional illuminated lettering and Celtic artwork patterns. After studying a selection of examples, participants will be directed on how to create simple knot work, key patterns, animals and plants that can be incorporated in designs using preformed templates. Suitable for all levels. All materials and refreshments provided.
Suitable for
When
10:30am-5pm
Admission
£90 per person.
Ruskin Readings
Listen to excerpts taken from the writings of Ruskin in the setting of Ruskin’s Drawing Room. No additional charge.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ruskin Lace demonstrations
An insight into the traditional method of needle-made lace. Demonstrations throughout the day in Ruskin’s Drawing Room.
Admission included with house ticket.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Illuminated Lettering 2-Day Art Workshop
Tutor – Patrick Corbett
The workshops are intended as an introduction to producing original interpretations of traditional illuminated lettering and Celtic artwork patterns. After studying a selection of examples, participants will be directed on how to create simple knot work, key patterns, animals and plants that can be incorporated in designs using preformed templates. Suitable for all levels. All materials and refreshments provided.
When
10:30am-4:30pm
Admission
£90 per person.
Ruskin Readings
Listen to excerpts taken from the writings of Ruskin in the setting of Ruskin’s Drawing Room. No additional charge.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Beginning to Spin (Product of the Meadow)
Tutor – Freyalynn Close-Hainsworth
An introduction to the creativity of making your very own yarn from scratch. We will use a spindle, one of the most ancient human tools, and explore many different wools and fibres that can be spun into thread. Suitable for beginners or improvers. All materials and refreshments provided.
When
10:30am-4:30pm
Admission
£110 per person
Scything for Tomorrow 2 – More Techniques (Product of the Meadow)
This Improver’s day will help you take your work with the scythe to the next level. This course will be largely student-led, working with your current experience and developing your mowing for your body, style and situation. During the day we will concentrate on the scythe set-up and mowing technique, refining it for comfort and efficiency as well as looking at further techniques. Individual attention. All materials and refreshments provided.
When
10:30am-4:30pm
Admission
£65
Bird Song: A Celebration of Birds in Poetry and Prose by Clive Wilmer
An evening celebrating birds in literature, with readings and commentary from the medieval to the present, including a bold sprinkling or Ruskin. Clive Wilmer, poet and Fellow of Sydney Sussex College, is a well known Ruskin scholar, Master of the Guild of St George and editor of the Penguin Classics edition of Unto This Last and Other Writings. His collected poems were recently published by Carcanet.
When
7:30-8:30pm
Admission
£5.00 (includes a glass of wine on arrival). Doors open at 7.00pm
Ruskin Lace demonstrations
An insight into the traditional method of needle-made lace. Demonstrations throughout the day in Ruskin’s Drawing Room.
Admission included with house ticket.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Scything for Tomorrow 3 – Secrets of a Sharp Blade workshop (Product of the Meadow)
A day-long course taking a more detailed look at peening and sharpening. This day will cover why & when to peen, use of the jig and anvil and honing the edge with whetstones. Essential skills for all mowers. All materials and refreshments provided.
When
10:30am-4:30pm
Admission
£66
Small-Scale Haymaking for Profit (Product of the Meadow)
A practical course on making hay by hand, turning a small area of grass into a saleable product. Taking freshly mown grass you will look at basic tools, methods and systems for turning, drying and baling to produce hay in our changeable climate. Time will be available to learn simple identification of meadow flowers, compare feed qualities of different hays, and to discuss techniques for the creation or restoration of flower-rich meadows. All materials and refreshments provided.
When
10:30am-4:30pm
Admission
£130
Revisiting Ruskin’s Elements of Drawing – 3-Day Art Workshop
Practical art workshops that explore Ruskin’s ideas on drawing and painting. Varied subject matter inspired by Brantwood house and gardens. Learn techniques in using watercolour, graphite chisel points, pen and ink. Suitable for all levels. All materials and refreshments provided.
Admission
£125.00
Let’s Connect! – speaking in public
You have a message. Others want to hear it. Come and learn tricks of the communication trade in a beautiful setting where the Master Orator, John Ruskin lived. Have fun unpacking the elements of public speaking to connect with your audience.
2.00pm – 1.00pm. £125 per person.
Admission
£125
Ruskin Readings
Listen to excerpts taken from the writings of Ruskin in the setting of Ruskin’s Drawing Room. No additional charge.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ruskin Lace demonstrations
An insight into the traditional method of needle-made lace. Demonstrations throughout the day in Ruskin’s Drawing Room.
Admission included with house ticket.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ruskin Readings
Listen to excerpts taken from the writings of Ruskin in the setting of Ruskin’s Drawing Room. No additional charge.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ruskin Lace demonstrations
An insight into the traditional method of needle-made lace. Demonstrations throughout the day in Ruskin’s Drawing Room.
Admission included with house ticket.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ruskin Readings
Listen to excerpts taken from the writings of Ruskin in the setting of Ruskin’s Drawing Room. No additional charge.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Ruskin Lace demonstrations
An insight into the traditional method of needle-made lace. Demonstrations throughout the day in Ruskin’s Drawing Room.
Admission included with house ticket.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
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