ONE of the Lake Districtās most famous buildings and attractions, Bridge House, āthe little house in Amblesideā, will reopen on Friday 5 August 2022, and every Thursday to Saturday at 11am and 3pm for ticketed tours during August. It will be the first time the house has been open to visitors since 2019.
The Armitt: Museum, Library, Gallery will be opening Bridge House for ticketed tours every week during August as part of a cultural collaboration with the National Trust. Visitors will be able to find out more about the story of the famous building and its connection with The Armittās unique collection. There will also be a small gift shop where people can buy souvenirs and tickets for The Armitt.
Bridge House was originally built in the late 1600s or early 1700s by the Braithwaite family, possibly as an apple store for their home, Ambleside Hall. It is the only surviving building from the estate and has been a major tourist attraction in Ambleside since the early 1800s.
Writers, artists, and photographers – including William Green, Harriet Martineau, Edward Lear, Herbert Bell and Kurt Schwitters – have made countless homages to the house in the last two centuries. It is now one of the most-photographed buildings in the Lake District, featuring in innumerable holiday snaps and Instagram posts every year.
Faye Morrissey, The Armittās Manager & Curator says: āWe are thrilled to have an opening date for Bridge House and that very soon The Armitt will be carrying forward the story of the building. It is such a special place in the heart of the town, and we look forward to sharing it once again with visitorsā.
Laura Ruxton, General Manager for National Trust Central & East Lakes says: āBy working in partnership with The Armitt, we hope to further share the fascinating history of the Lake District with everyone, and to preserve and conserve buildings like Bridge House for the future. Bridge House was purchased by the local community in 1926 and given to the National Trust and weāre delighted to be working with The Armitt so visitors can enjoy learning more about this little building which holds such a big place in so many peopleās hearts.ā
Hello.
I wasn’t sure who to contact but is it possible to see inside bridge house Ambleside or is it just the outside of the house you can see now? I’m going to Ambleside in May or June and I was hoping to go inside the little house on the bridge. How would I go a out visiting inside this amazing little house š
Thank you so much,
Jade Harvey
Hi Jade,
Thank you for your enquiry about visiting the Bridge House.
External access to the building is always available, however if you wish to see inside you can join us on one of our āThe Armitt & Bridge House walk & talksā. These take place every Thursday at 11:30am and 2:30pm throughout the summer season, starting from The Armitt.
We hope to welcome you in May or June when you visit the Lake District.
All the best,
The Armitt team
11 October is when we are visiting which is a Saturday. Please advise if we can visit on that date ie a Saturday. Many thanks. Anne.
I would love 2 miniature Bridge houses can you help me.
I would like 2 miniature Bridge houses can you help me please
Hi Anne,
Sorry for the very late reply, but I’m afraid we do not produce miniatures of the Bridge House. You will be able to find magnets and other mementoes of the Bridge House in shops around Ambleside as it is an iconic feature. Hope you have, or can, find something suitable.
All the best,
The Armitt team
Hello. We are hoping to visit on 11 October but the website number is incorrect. 01539432617. I would like to speak to someone to find out what the process is for visiting Bridge House.
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Anne
Hi Anne,
That phone number does not belong to us, but you can call the museum on 015394 31212. Since 2022 when this news statement was released, The Armitt has changed its openings for Bridge House and it’s now part of our new Escape Box Experiences. If you’d like to find out more see our webpage -https://www.armitt.com/escape-box-experiences/ – for more information.
All the best,
The Armitt team