Listed Buildings Advice -
Derwentwater Youth Hostel, Cumbria

Mel Morris was appointed by John Cunnington Architects to identify the conservation issues at the Derwentwater Youth Hostel as part of a Conservation Management Plan. Joseph Pocklington, an eccentric entrepreneur from Nottinghamshire, built the house, now a grade II listed building, for himself in the 1780s. It was known as “Barrow Cascade House” until the 20th century.

Drawn to the natural beauty of the area, Joseph Pocklington manipulated the landscape to create a Romantic, semi-natural garden around the house by increasing the height of a natural cascade to heighten its drama, by taking footpaths past rock outcrops & adding buildings, such as a fort, & a rustic bridge. The site incorporates a large area of woodland, vestiges from the Romantic eighteenth century landscaped garden and part of an SSSI.

Mel identified gaps in knowledge & understanding and opportunities for increasing access and interpretation.