History of Leeming House

Leeming House has been the country home for several families but, enjoys a much coveted situation and remains today a highly individual hotel nestling in 20 acres of grounds leading down to the shore of Ullswater and offering very high standards of hospitality and cuisine.

Secluded is the perfect word to describe the Macdonald Leeming, the house being elevated some 60 feet above the shore line of Ullswater and commanding a superb position with a south/south easterly aspect over the lake and to the fells beyond. Who then we ask, had the vision to build the house and surround it with so much beautiful gardens and woodland?

The Raw Family

Leeming House's pedigree really starts with John Robinson of Watermillock House, Sherrif of Cumberland in 1796, and substantial landowner in the parish of Watermillock. His Daughter Elisabeth Jane Robinson captured the eye of a widower from Barnard Castle, John Raw, and she married him in 1766.

John and Elisabeth Raw's only son, John Raw, was brought up in Barnard Castle but subsequently married the vicar`s daughter from Watermillock, Catherine Thwaites, in 1808. That same year he bought the 'messuage and tenement' called Knott End from his auntie, Anne Robinson for £2100. Knott End at the time was within the Manor of Watermillock part ofthe Barony of Greystoke held by the Howard family.

John and Catherine Raw's offspring - two daughters Jane and Elizabeth and two sons John and Joseph Raw were all baptised at Watermillock, and at the time of their baptisms were described as 'from Leeming House', in the Watermillock Parish Register.

It is therefore assumed that Leeming House, was built between 1808 when John Raw bought Knot End from his Auntie and 1811 when he was described as 'of Leeming House'. John Raw senior had inherited land at Grinston in Swaledale on his fathers death in 1803, and it is thought that the Swaledale connection is the reason why the new house known as Knott End became known as Leeming House.

On John Raw's death in 1851 the Leeming house esate was inherited by John Raw junior, who was living at that time in Manchester as a merchant, and thereafter leased Leeming house to local farmers, until 1866, when on his death Thomas Every Clayton became the owner. The estate by this time was made up of Leeming House, Leeming Farm, Leeming Cottage and a boat house, and was sold for £6500.

The Every-Clayton Family of Carr Hill, Burnley

The Every-Clayton family were landowners from Carr Hill in Burnley, Lancashire. Leeming House was Thomas Edward Every-Clayton's second home and it is thought that he bought it for privacy and also as a retreat. He had been attempting to close a right of way across his lands at Carr Hill and this had resulted in some local trouble. He was of retiring disposition and was rarely seen outside his own grounds. His hobbies were painting and gardening so he just have appreciated his home at Leeming very much.

Eventually the troubles were solved and Leeming was sold three years later to the Reverend Francis Le Grix-White in 1869 for £6,850. It is from this time that the circular Italian Garden (a major feature of the gardens at the front of the house) is evident on estate plans, and it is therefore likely that Thomas Every-Clayton created this part of the garden.

The Le Grix-White Family of Croxton, Staffordshire

The Reverend Francis Le Grix-White was born in London about 1820 and was educated at Worcester College, Oxford where he gained a MA In 1849. In 1634 he married Cecilia Catherine Charlotte Sandford 2nd daughter of Sir D.K, Sandford DCL MP and although he was originally qualified as a Barrister he relinquished this in 1849 when he was ordained. In 1851 he was domestic chaplain to the Marquis of Drogheda and then in 1857 - 69 the first Vicar of Croxton in Staffordshire. He then retired to Leeming House due to ill health and he lived there with his wife until his death in 1887. Occasionally he did help his brother clergy in the services of the church, although much of his time he spent writing and his most famous publication was 'Forgotten Seigneurs of the Alenconnais by one who has raked them out of the dust of ages'.

It is thought that Reverend Le Grix-White introduced the Latin inscription on the stairs in Leeming House:

'NISI DOMINUS AEDIFICAVERIT DOMUM IM VANUM LABORABVERUNT QUI AEDIFICANT EAM…'

'EXCEPT THE LORD SHALL HAVE BUILT THE HOUSE THEY WILL HAVE LABOURED IN VAIN THAT BUILT IT' from Psalm 127 verse 1.

Whilst the Le Grix-Whites lived at Leeming they had the Swiss Chalet built. Apparently their butler was son of a Swiss builder, and the Chalet was built to his design. It was an exact replica of a Swiss Chalet. Today this unique stone built chalet can be seen from the main road near the entrance to Leeming, and although its original view to the lake has now become restricted by maturing trees, its architectural style ensures that it is one of the better know man-made features of the Ullswater area.

Leeming Old Lodge and the Music room were also built during the Le Grix-White's ownership. After Reverend Francis Le Grix-White's death in 1887 Cecilia his wife remained at Leeming until her death in 1898 when the estate was sold for £7,600 to William Elliot Siddle of the Crown Hotel, Penrith. The following year he sold it to Henry Hargreaves Bolton making £50.00 profit and thus began the long association that the Bolton family had with Leeming House.

The Bolton Family

In 1948 when Edgar Bolton died Leeming House gardens were described as a miniture 'Key Gardens' and that the gardens had been made into an aboriculturalists paradise, The collection was said to be one of the most complete in private ownership in the country. He, like his father had a very generous disposition. His donation in November 1938 of £210,00 to the Penrith Cottage Hospital is noted particularly, as a thanks offering for the passing of the war-cloud during the recent crisis. The memory of his three nephews lost in the First World War must have prompted this very generous gift.

Elisabeth Bolton (also known as Elsie) took over the running of the estate after here brother Edgar Bolton died. A very genteel and generous lady still remembered with affection by many Watermillock inhabitants even today. In 1953 on her death the estate was sold having been part of the Bolton family for 55 years. The gardens at this time were described as 'unique and visited by Aboricul tural Societies because of the profusion and infinite variety of Conifers, Shrubs and Plants. They are most attractively designed, with winding walks between clipped validated yew hedges giving glimpses of the lake between tall banks of rhododendrons (of which there are over 360 varieties) and other flowering shrubs with rockeries and formal walks and lawns.

In 1953 the Leeming House Estate comprised of four farms, two dwelling houses, two Lodges, a garden cottage, free lake fishery and 800 yards of lake frontage totaling 335 acres. Since that time there have been several owners. Mr. William Oliver, a Civil Engineer from Northumberland, owned the estate from 1953-1963 and he was responsible for introducing electricity to the house. The Scotto family from County Durham and then the Harrison family from nearby Penrith also owned the property briefly and it was during this period that the estate was reduced in size with various parts being sold off.

It is interesting to note that in 1963 the estate was for sale and the Lakes Planning Board considered buying Leeming to develop as the National Park Centre. They considered using the house as an information centre and as a catering outlet, then developing the grounds as botanical gardens with picnic areas on the lake shore and using the out buildings as holiday accommodation The plan never materialised as the estate although due to be sold by public auction was actually sold privately. It was also thought that the planning board had shelved their plan due to the high running costs and that perhaps it was not central enough to be the National Park Centre.

The Bolton's were Colliery proprietors and one of the two main firms Involved In coal mining In the Accrlngton and Rossendale areas of Lancashire, employing over 1500 men. Henry Hargreaves Bolton was a Civil Engineer by profession and by all accounts an ambitious and successful man and a great philanthropist. In 1652 Henry went to Australia to work on various engineering contracts Including the Melbourne Water Works. Ten years later he returned to England to manage Rossendale Colliery. In 1868 he bought Heightslde, Newchurch-in-Rossendale and transformed It, adding two gothic wings, new stables and planting 69 000 trees. In 1898 when Henry bought the Leeming House Estate on Ullswater as his country residence the house itself was surrounded by some gardens and woodland and comprised of a Croquet Lawn, Tennis Lawn, Italian Gardens, a Shrubbery and serpentine walks. Apart from work Henry's main hobby was horticulture in all its forms and the Leeming House gardens became proof of what could be done by skillfully laying out and judiciously selecting plants and shrubs. He collected many rare trees and shrubs during his travels.

In 1905 Henry died and was buried in the churchyard at Watermillock. Henry's eldest son remained In Lancashire and therefore did not live at Leeming House (and tragically was to loose 3 of his 4 sons in the first world war). It was Henry's second eldest son Edgar Ormeroyd and his unmarried sister Elizabeth who took over the running of the estate at Leeming House. Edgar shared his father's love of horticulture and continued his work in developing the gardens and woodlands. Several photographs have been found showing the gardens before they were developed.