The loving eye . . .

. . . and skilful hand shall work with joy and bless the land.

 
The number of times that I have passed this building on the road into Keswick, but never realised its history. For many years it has been a popular Italian Restaurant, but is currently looking very sorry for itself, after flooding caused serious damage, not for the first time. No one knows what is going to happen to it at the moment.
 
It has however a longer history than that.
 
Today we went to another of the excellent lunchtime talks at Keswick Museum and heard all about the Museum’s collection of work from the Keswick School of Industrial Art. This was founded in 1884 by Canon Rawnsley and his wife Edith, to provide classes in ‘honest craftsmanship’, following the ideas of his friend John Ruskin and the Arts and Crafts Movement. The classes in metalwork, drawing, design and woodcarving were first held in parish rooms, but the need for a purpose-built school soon became apparent.
 
This was the School, opened in 1894. Built of local slate and stone, it had a spinning gallery similar to those seen locally in barns and houses. External steps, of which you can see the railings, led to a showroom where the work of the School was displayed. 

The School was one of the most successful of its type and much work was produced and sold and commissioned. It continued until 1984 – exactly 100 years. Apparently there are examples of the work all over the country and items have become very collectable. The museum has a fine collection, which is being added to all the time – after the talk a lady got up and gave the Museum a huge urn that had been found in a church. Perhaps visitors to the Museum have noticed the wonderful lights (see extra), which were made at the School.
 
All this linked to the visit we made to Blackwell with the grandchildren. In fact Arthur W Simpson of Kendal, who undertook the carving and panelling at Blackwell, was at the same time teaching at KSIA – it is possible to find similarities between the work in both places.
 
We did manage a walk by the Lake in the morning sunshine, but by the time we came out of the Museum it was raining.