The Coledale Inn, Braithwaite, Cumbria, England

Coledale Inn - A Genuine Country Inn, Hotel & Restaurant situated in Braithwaite, Cumbria (coledale-inn.co.uk) 

Looking at the Inn from the front, it is easy to see how it has been built on and added to over the centuries. The left appears to be the Georgian side, the middle is the Victorian side and the single-story on the right is the 20th Century build. 

Look at the difference in the style of the windows from the Georgian era  (left) to the Victorian era, (centre) then a 20th century addition on the right. 

The main entrance is through the porched entrance in the centre of the Victorian annex, although you can just see the Georgian doorway behind the bushes in the left part of the Inn. 

The bar is housed in the Georgian part of the house but the bar itself seems Victorian in its intricacy. 

The door gives testament to the approx. age of the house. 

Uncovered on the wall of the Georgian Bar, is a mural of a Cumberland wrestling scene. The scene is believed to have been painted in the 20th Century but had been covered over previously. 

The West Cumberland Times, in 1894 gave a lengthy account of the development of the Pencil Company. 

It stated that the  Coledale Pencil Company was started in 1858 but was purchased by Mr Thomas Wilson in 1890 when it was named the "Black Lead Pencil and Penholder, Coledale Pencil Works". He had been the agent at the Pencil Works.  This area had a long history of pencil making due to graphite naturally occurring in the rocks in the area. Joseph Banks had started his company decades before in Keswick. 

Mr William Hodgson valued Mr Wilson's Pencil Works, building and outhouses at the princely sum of £1,000. It was stated to be a good business because pencils made in Cumberland (now Cumbria) were deemed to be superior to any made elsewhere in the world, even those in Germany! Indeed, the company was estimated to be capable of producing even more pencils than it was currently doing. 

A terrible fire, totally destroyed the pencil works at the house on December 17th 1898. 

Mr Shadrach Barnes, returning to Braithwaite saw a light in the upper room at Coledale whilst he was still half a mile away. When he reached the pencil works,  he rang the fire bell and the fire brigade was summoned by telegraph from Keswick. Owner, Mr Wilson was returning from Glasgow by train and was understandably distressed to see the fire. A sluice was cut from the mill dam and water poured into the building but to no effect. The fire was extinguished at approx 10.30 pm. 

The business was destroyed but this remarkable house stayed standing to be repaired. 

The date 1899 suggests that this was rebuilt after the fire. 

Four months after the fire, Mr Wilson's Coledale House, with its stables, lofts, remains of the mill building, coach house and more had been put up for auction on May 6th, 1899. The property was then owned by Mr Henry Skelton who died in 1927. 

A famous Cumberland sportsman who had played for well-known football team Blackburn Rovers celebrated his Golden wedding anniversary at home at Coledale House in August 1956. 

Edward Stokes Swift celebrated at home with his wife and sons, Lyndon, Randal, Gilbert and Elaine.

1911 

Henry Skelton and his wife Sarah lived here with their granddaughter Ruby Collier Jenkinson and 1 servant, Isabella Tunstall.

By 1972, Coledale House was advertising itself as Coledale Inn. 

Today, Coledale Inn is still a fine house with wonderful managers and staff, great rooms,  excellent food and a wonderful welcome.