A brief history of Clappersgate

Clappersgate is a small village at the heart of the Lake District, just a mile from Ambleside, making it a great base for adventures around Lake Windermere.

Between Skelwith Force and Clappersgate is a section of river which is a favourite spot among canoeists, and walkers are drawn here to explore the abundance of beautiful scenery in the surrounding area.

The small village has an interesting history, and a number of historic buildings which are fascinating to see when you visit.   

Clappersgate fact file

Learn more about the riverside village of Clappersgate and read on to discover what you can see and do there.

History of Clappersgate

In the 16^th century, Clappersgate was classified as a port, since it had a wharf on the Brathay River where slate from local quarries was loaded and taken downstream to Windermere and beyond.

There was a horse-operated mill, an inn, a store and two farmhouses. The port is now the boat house and harbour of the Croft, a large house built in about 1850 for a prosperous Liverpool merchant.

The inn and store have now disappeared, but there is still a cluster of picturesque houses and cottages. The Croft and its stables have been converted into flats and small houses. At the entrance to the stable yard, there was once a vagrant whipping post!

Clappersgate Bridge

Turning left in Clappersgate, the Hawkshead road leads down to Brathay Bridge (formerly the boundary between Westmorland and Lancashire). The word Brathay means ‘the broad river’, and, true to its name, above the bridge is a broad pool where, despite human intervention, trout still swim.

The stone bridge itself is picture-postcard pretty, flanked by lush green trees which take on autumnal hues as the year draws to a close. The river below tumbles lazily over rocks and pebbles; a scene which has remained relatively unchanged for centuries, if old artwork is anything to go by.

Just 450 metres to the west of this bridge, there is a footbridge over the River Brathay, known as Clappersgate Bridge. It’s a pretty stone bridge and as such, finds itself the subject of interest of many a photographer.

Clappersgate literary connections

Just over Brathay Bridge, on the left, the house now called Old Brathay has some literary associations. Originally ‘Low Brathay’, it was a farm in the Middle Ages and there was an inn nearby. The present house dates from the 16th century and in 1880 was occupied by Charles Lloyd, a member of the Quaker banking family and friend of local poet William Wordsworth. Lloyd frequently entertained the Wordsworth family as well as Coleridge, Southey and other members of the Lakes literary circle.

In 1805, John Hayden, the diarist and artist, came to live at the adjoining property, Brathay Hall. Here, de Quincey, Dr Arnold of Rugby, and Constable the artist were all visitors. It was probably whilst staying here that Constable produced an over-romanticised drawing of the Langdale Pikes showing a lake at the foot where none exists. Both properties now belong to the Brathay Trust, a charity which helps children and their families build brighter futures.

Holy Trinity Church, Brathay

In 1880, Brathay Hall was bought by Giles Redmayne and years later he built the church at Brathay, which is now known as Holy Trinity. Redmayne made his fortune in the Italian silk trade and the stuccoed Italianate appearance of the church reflects this interest. Although incongruous in a Lakeland setting, the building has a melancholy Victorian charm.

In 1859, a Sunday school was built in memory of Giles Redmayne, further up the leafy valley of the Brathay in between Skelwith Fold and Skelwith Bridge. A day school, with a house for the master, was built on land given by the Duke of Buccleaugh. The school is now a community centre serving a wide area.

Stay in Clappersgate

Many of the buildings in Clappersgate remain unchanged externally, and when visiting, it really is like walking through history. The best way to get a feel for the village is to stay here, or nearby, and fortunately, we have a lovely collection of properties waiting to host you.