Brantwood
Alex Saint
John Ruskin was one of England’s most influential social and cultural thinkers, and Brantwood was his home. A high minded socialist, Ruskin was a radical voice in Victorian society, and his ideologies have influenced everything from the creation of the National Health Service to public libraries and the Welfare State. Culturally, he championed the role of the artisan, the master craftsman whose work was an antidote to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution, thus spawning the Arts and Crafts Movement and with it the Pre-Raphaelites. Brantwood itself is a lovely and personal home that has been turned into a museum. It explores the continued impact of Ruskin’s work and is filled with personal memorabilia and collections as well as a series of changing exhibitions. As you might expect, the setting is divine – beautiful gardens and of course stunning views over Coniston Water. If you can, arrive by launch from nearby Coniston.
