Bridge House

Overview

Bridge House, also known as Little Bridge House, in Ambleside, is one of the most recognisable features in this popular Lake District town. The historic building has had many uses over the years, including serving as a cobbler’s shop and a private home, and it is now a popular tourist attraction and one of the most photographed buildings in Cumbria.

Bridge House is a tiny slate building that stands over Stock Beck, a river that flows through the middle of the town. Visitors can see inside Bridge House for free, and thousands come every year to explore this quirky building.

Can you go inside Bridge House?

Yes, you can go inside Bridge House and see the two rooms for free. One is on the ground floor with another above it. It is open to the public on Thursdays throughout the summer season when The Armitt museum runs two tours a day.

During the tour, you can learn more about the building’s history and how it’s connected to the collection at The Armitt. As there are only two rooms to discover, it’s not an all-day activity but can be incorporated into a sightseeing visit to Ambleside.

If you don’t want to go inside, it’s still worth a visit for a photo opportunity and to see this Lake District icon for yourself. You can also walk up to the front door, take the steps to the entrance of the first floor, and see the small garden area.

Bridge House has been featured in countless photos over the years, from holiday snaps to Instagram posts.

What’s inside Bridge House?

Inside the room on the ground floor is a cast-iron range that was added to the house during the Victorian period. When the house was first built, this area would have been an entrance. There’s also a cupboard and a couple of chairs.

There’s a slate and stone stairway that leads to the room on the first floor. Up here, there are two chairs and a small table. There are also basket-weaving tools to demonstrate how this craft was done.

History of Bridge House

Bridge House was built in the 17th century by the Braithwaites, an influential family in the area at the time. It’s the only surviving building from their estate.

They built it to store apples from their orchards and as a means to access the land they owned on the other side of the river, as it forms a bridge. It’s thought that its position over the river was chosen to avoid land tax.

Since then, it has served as many different things, including a tearoom, a weaving shop, a cobbler’s, a chair maker’s, and a counting house for the Rattle Ghyll mills. Stock Beck powered five mills and some of these are still there today.

It was also a private home for a family of eight people, which is how the inside is set up today. It really would have been quite cramped as there are only two rooms inside! It became a popular tourist attraction in the early 1800s.

In the 1920s, the people of Ambleside began to fundraise as Bridge House had fallen into disrepair. They wanted to ensure the building’s future as a beautiful monument in the town.

A group of residents bought the house in 1926 and then transferred it to the National Trust to maintain and care for the property. They later turned Bridge House into an information and recruitment centre.

Bridge House in art

Not only is Bridge House a beautiful feature and focal point in Ambleside, it has also served as inspiration for many artists. Both J.M.W. Turner and John Ruskin have famously painted the building.

One of the most renowned artists to have painted Bridge House is the German artist Kurt Schwitters. As the Second World War ended, he was a refugee in Ambleside and sold his works from the steps of the building. His painting can now be seen at The Armitt museum, next to Bridge House.

You can visit the museum to learn more about Bridge House and the history of Ambleside and the Lake District. There is a fee for adults, but children under 16 can visit for free.

How to get to Bridge House from YHA Ambleside

Bridge House is around 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometres) from YHA Ambleside.

On foot: It takes approximately 25 minutes to walk to Bridge House from YHA Ambleside. It’s a pleasant route through the town.

By public transport: You can catch a direct bus to Bridge House from Ambleside Pier (Waterhead), just a stone’s throw from the Youth Hostel. Alight at The Bridge House stop on Rydal Road. The journey should take about 15 minutes, and you can catch either the 599 or 555 bus.

By car: The closest parking to Bridge House is at Rydal Road car park, a pay and display car park in Ambleside. From the car park, turn right and you will see Bridge House ahead of you, just a few steps away.