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Brantwood, Coniston
Brantwood
civil parish:-   Coniston (formerly Lancashire)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   museum
locality type:-   lithophone
locality type:-   buildings
locality type:-   garden
coordinates:-   SD31259584
1Km square:-   SD3195
10Km square:-   SD39

photograph
BLZ67.jpg (taken 28.4.2006)  
photograph
BOK45.jpg (taken 11.1.2008)  
evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Brantwood
source data:-   Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
image
GAR2SD39.jpg
"Brantwood"
block, building 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Brantwood
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"BRANTWOOD / / / CONISTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 76774 / SD3125895854"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"House. c.1797, extended to rear and to right, c.1833; turret added, 1871; dining room added 1878; 2nd storey to rear wing added in 1880s, studio 1897; bay window and octagonal bay added 1905. Roughcast with hipped slate roofs. Front range, overlooking lake, of 2 storeys and 4 bays, the 1st bay is higher and forms elongated octagon on plan; 2nd bay has rectangular bay window with wooden balustrade; 4th bay has angle turret. Windows are sashed with glazing bars, but 1st bay has leaded glazing. 2nd bay has tripartite sashes; 3rd bay has bowed tripartite sash. Hexagonal turret to 1st floor on attached pier; full-height leaded glazing to 5 sides, and pyramidal roof. Cross-axial stack and gable-end stack. Rear wing has various stacks including paired gable-end stacks. Right return has decorative barge-boards and round-headed stair window, the glazing bars with intersecting heads; one-storey dining room projection; hipped roof with flat centre section. Angles have stone double-chamfered clasping buttresses. Front canted French window and return stone window of 7 trefoilheaded lights over weathered projection, the lights having roll moulded openings and trefoils and sexfoils to spandrels. Rear wing of 3 storeys has sashed windows with glazing bars, those to end bay above archway are tripartite. Entrance has 6-fielded-panel door and archway has keystone with letters: "JR". Left hand angle has 2nd floor oriel wrapped round angle with small-paned glazing. Studio to rear of one storey, but on level with 2nd floor; small hipped porch and large tripartite sash. Left return has canted oriel over archway; angle gabled oriel to end of 2nd floor and entrance with glazed doorcase and overlight with glazing bars. Interior: doors have architraves with angle rosettes; dining room has coved ceiling and marble fireplace with round-arched grate. Other rooms have marble fireplaces. Studio has elliptical- arched fireplace recess, fireplace has 4-centred arch and tiled surround; leaded glazing to small window. Shelves over original radiator. Another room has fireplace tiles by Burne-Jones. Noted as the home of John Ruskin, C19 art critic and social critic, from 1872 until his death in 1900. Also the home of William Linton, wood engraver and revolutionary socialist and his wife, the novelist Eliza Lynn; the poet Gerald Massey; and the water colourist Arthur Severn and his family."
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"OUTBUILDING APPROXIMATELY 30 METRES TO SOUTH OF BRANTWOOD / / / CONISTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II / 76775 / SD3125695830"
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"LODGE AND FORMER STABLE APPROXIMATELY 70 METRES TO SOUTH OF BRANTWOOD / / / CONISTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 76776 / SD3123495798"
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"FORMER COACH HOUSE AND STABLE APPROXIMATELY 100 METRES SOUTH OF BRANTWOOD / / / CONISTON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II / 76777 / SD3121195775"
hearsay:-  
 The building started as a cottage, 1797, which is now the entrance hall and the study. John Ruskin lived here from 1872 to his death, 1900; he said the house had the best view in all England.
John Ruskin was born in London, 1819; and went to Christ Church College, Oxford. He won the Newdigate Prize for poetry. He was later the Slade Professor of Art at Oxford, from 1869.

photograph
BSJ86.jpg  Study.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ87.jpg  Portrait of John Ruskin.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ90.jpg  Shells.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ88.jpg  Drawing room.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ84.jpg  Dining room.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ81.jpg  Bedroom.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ82.jpg  'Ruskin' lace, on a bedspread.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ83.jpg  Rag rug.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ91.jpg  Museum shop.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
photograph
BSJ79.jpg  John Ruskin's rowing boat.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.

photograph
BSJ80.jpg  Ruskin John in his boat.
(taken 30.3.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood.
notes:-  
 John Ruskin's coach was built for him in Camberwell, 1876. The Double Brougham incorporates details demanded by Ruskin which include a secret compartment.

photograph
CEK41.jpg  John Ruskin's coach.
(taken 3.12.2015)  
He planned to post from London, via Sheffield, to Brantwood, using the old coach routes. The travelling bath on the roof was full of books.
notes:-  
 John Ruskin designed the ziffern as an instrument on which young children could learn to play music. Unfortunately it turned out to be more difficult than the piano. He wrote, Fors Clavigra letter 95, October 1884:-
"... unsuccessful only in that the form of lyre which was produced for me, after months of labour, was as curious a creation of physical deformity as a Greek lyre was of grace, beside being nearly as expensive as a piano ..."

photograph
BSJ89.jpg  Ruskin's ziffern.
(taken 30.3.2010)  
Ruskin Rocks Project
The aim of the recent Ruskin Rocks Project was to introduce chidren to music and science, and elements of the local landscape and industry, using a musical instrument made from local resources - the rocks of the Cumbrian mountains. The whole idea is typical of the sort of thing John Ruskin did; he had a set of musical stones made for him by William Till, 1884, which is now in the Ruskin Museum, Coniston.
The project was lead by Bobby Millar of the University of Leeds, and involved expertise from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Scientific Research in Music, Leeds, and geologists at the university. Technology developed by Dr Kia Ng from ICSRiM was used to help build the precision lithophone.

photograph
BTT92.jpg  Ruskin Rocks lithophone, 2010
(taken 10.11.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood
photograph
BTT93.jpg  Ruskin Rocks lithophone, 2010
(taken 10.11.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood
photograph
BTT94.jpg  Ruskin Rocks lithophone, 2010
(taken 10.11.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood
photograph
BTT95.jpg  Ruskin Rocks lithophone, 2010
(taken 10.11.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood
photograph
BTT96.jpg  Ruskin Rocks lithophone, 2010
(taken 10.11.2010)  courtesy of Brantwood

photograph
BTX61.jpg (taken 21.1.2011)  
 sundial
evidence:-   old print:- Nelson 1853 (edn 1880s) 
source data:-   Print, uncoloured, Mr Ruskin's House, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, London, 1853 edn 1880s?
image  click to enlarge
NS0323.jpg
On p.58 of Views of the English Lakes, and Tourists Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom:-  "MR. RUSKIN'S HOUSE."
item:-  JandMN : 474.24
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0400.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS54
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
item:-  seat
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0401.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS55
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
item:-  fern
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, the study door, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0402.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS56
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white vignette, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0403.jpg
internegative at lower right:-  "H. Bell."
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS57
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0404.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS58
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, entrance to Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0405.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS59
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
item:-  seat
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, John Ruskin's seat, near Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0407.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS61
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, John Ruskin's woodland garden, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0408.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS62
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, steps on the lawn, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0409.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS63
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Brantwood
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Brantwood, Coniston, Cumberland, engraved by Whymper, published 1920s-30s?
image  click to enlarge
PR0356.jpg
On page 220 of Picturesque Europe, The Lake Country. Home of John Ruskin. 
printed at lower right:-  "[WHYMPER Sc]"
printed at bottom:-  "BRANTWOOD, CONISTON.- RESIDENCE OF MR. RUSKIN.."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.356
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Pearson 1900s
placename:-  Brantwood
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire, published by C Arthur Pearson, Henrietta Street, London, 1900s.
image  click to enlarge
PS1E18.jpg
On p.39 of Pearson's Gossipy Guide to the English Lakes and Neighbouring Districts. 
printed at bottom:-  "BRANTWOOD, CONISTON. (p.40). / (The home and death-place of John Ruskin)."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1188.25
Image © see bottom of page
hearsay:-  
 William James Linton, b.1812 d.1898, was a wood engraver, he engraved pictures for the London Illustrated News. As a radical socialist He was involved with the Chartist movement, and wrote articles for various subversive magazines. Disillusioned with politics when the movement foundered in 1848, he moved north, purchasing Brantwood in 1852. Here he set up a printing press and published his own magazine, The English Republic, for a few issues, to 1855? He sold Brantwood to Ruskin in 1871 and moved to New Haven, Connecticut.

photograph
BSJ92.jpg  Burins, wood blocks, and prints
(taken 30.3.2010)  
photograph
BSJ93.jpg  Burins, wood blocks, and prints
(taken 30.3.2010)  
While at Brantwood he followed his interst in botany and wrote The Ferns of the English Lake Country, published Windermere, 1865. There is a fern garden at Brantwood in memory of Linton.
Mrs E Lynn Linton, novelist, and W J Linton, engraver, jointly produced The Lake Country, at Brantwood, 1864.

Longville, Tim &Corbett, Val (photr): 2007: Gardens of the Lake District: Lincoln, Frances (London)
personal
person:-   author
 : Ruskin, John
place:-   home
date:-   1872
 to 1900
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