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river with stone slab bridge and surrounding green vegetation

Troutbeck Conservation Area

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Why is Troutbeck special?

Troutbeck is a village in a picturesque setting on the west side of the Troutbeck valley between Troutbeck Bridge and the Kirkstone Pass. Special qualities include:

  • Rural location between the low-lying pastoral landscape around Windermere lake and the rugged upland scenery of the Central Lake District
  • Views northward to the peaks of Yoke (706 metres) and Ill Bell (757 metres) and, to the south, a glimpse of Windermere lake
  • An example of a linear settlement, of medieval origin, along a series of springs, comprised of scattered clusters of farmhouses and barns separated by tracts of open countryside
  • Haphazard layout of buildings in relation to the village’s access roads and lanes
  • Architectural and historic interest of the area’s buildings, including 26 listed buildings dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries
  • Almost every building in the conservation area was constructed before 1900 and is either statutorily listed or considered to be a “significant unlisted building”
  • Numerous well-preserved examples of local Cumbrian vernacular architecture, both domestic and agricultural
  • Notable examples of different types of ‘bank barns’, a peculiarly regional style of barn construction of the upland Lake District in which a two-level building is built on sloping land and has direct access from the ground to both levels
  • The braided interconnecting network of lanes, tracks, bridleway and public footpaths that link the village to Jesus Church and the east side of the Troutbeck valley
  • Numerous trees and small copses that enhance the setting of historic buildings and soften the streetscene, giving the village a sylvan atmosphere in places
  • Almost exclusive use of local stone as a building material, reflecting the underlying geology of the area, and used for walling, roof slates and boundary walls
  • Surrounding countryside presses right up the side of the area’s spine road and to the rear of roadside plots
  • Historic associations with local statesmen, notably the Browne and Birkett families
Townend is a prime example of a Lake District statesman farmer’s dwelling of the 17th century, listed grade I. The adjacent 17th century barn is listed grade II*
A wealth of external vernacular building details including graded slate roofs, cylindrical chimney stacks, crow-steps, wrestler slate ridges and ‘spinning galleries’
A small number of mid/late-19th century buildings, most notably The Mortal Man, The Institute and two large bank barns with penticed canopies
Small items that add to Troutbeck's local identity, such as ER VII letter boxes, roadside wells, folds, stone boundary walls, grass verges, wall plaques and datestones

Troutbeck Conservation Area resources

Troutbeck Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2014
Troutbeck Conservation Area Map

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