43 Ambleside, 20.08.2009

After Keswick, we drove back to Ambleside,  where we saw some wonderfull old buildings including a working water wheel

The Country's smallest house... Bridge House, and
possibly the most photographed building in the Lake District.  It is also one of the most well known buildings to feature in many paintings of the Lake district, including one by Turner.

It was originally an apple store for nearby Ambleside Hall,.  the reason it was built over Stock Beck was in order to escape land tax.   legend has it that at one time a family with six children lived in the two rooms.

it was bought by a group of local people in 1926, who passed it into the care of the National Trust.  In 1946 they turned into their first information and recruitment centre.

Sadly it's now a rather cramped shop for the National Trust, I think personally it would be better if they turned it back into a house/home.

We came across a rather delightful bookshop, which had a wonderful Vintage Book window display...

Then we made our way to a rather lovely cafe, that Antonia had visited before.. and  well we had a late lunch/tea and pudding ! (pics to follow)