The Ruskin Museum in Coniston may look small from the outside but the role it plays in telling the Lakeland village’s fascinating and varied history is huge.
Head through the doors and you’ll be amazed at the breadth of history it covers. There are three galleries on the ground floor of the museum, which first opened back in 1901: the Coniston Gallery, the Ruskin Gallery and the Bluebird Wing.
They provide a day out on your doorstep that is both entertaining and educational. There is something here for everyone!
The Coniston Gallery tells all about the village history - from the toil and resilience of early copper miners and quarry men to Arthur Ransome’s tale of Swallows and Amazons - you can see the sailing dinghy “Mavis” here, which was the original inspiration for the fictional “Amazon”. There’s also a display dedicated to Coniston Mountain Rescue Team, which is the oldest in the country and last year celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Then there’s the Bluebird Wing dedicated to the speed exploits of Donald Campbell and his father Malcolm. A visit here is something of a pilgrimage for many visitors, who come to see Donald Campbell’s grave in the village before exploring the collection.
There’s an engine from the ill-fated Bluebird K7 craft in which he died back in 1967. There’s his prototype Bluebird JetStar ski-boat and a Land Rover used by his team during speed trials in Utah. Add that to personal collections of letters and pictures and a large screen display and you get a fully rounded picture of this local hero.
The Ruskin Museum is just one of the venues being highlighted by the Culture in South Lakes project, which has received £92,294 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, being administered by Westmorland and Furness Council.
The Ruskin Gallery contains works by the man regarded as England’s greatest thinker and after whom the museum was established. John Ruskin’s influence on our lives today is explored and the beauty of his watercolours and drawings are displayed. The museum also houses one of the country’s biggest collections of Ruskin Lace and hand-spun, hand woven Langdale Linen.
But there’s still more to see, including a display dedicated to Coniston’s very own First World War hero, Lance Corporal Jimmy Hewitson VC, who lived a stone's throw from the museum. Outside, you can marvel at “Riverdale” – the miniature village created by local builder John Usher which is now a lasting tribute to his unique skills.
Upstairs is a fourth gallery, which holds temporary exhibitions. The current one is “Earthly Windows”, a photo exhibition by Dutch photographer Loek Van Vliet, which runs until Sunday, June 11.
It’s generally accepted that most people visit Coniston to walk around or view the spectacular Coniston Water, but if you make a day out here, you’d miss out if you did not add The Ruskin Museum to your itinerary.
For more inspiration on arts, culture and heritage in South Lakes go to www.visitlakedistrict.com/cultureinsouthlakes
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