Allan Bank in Grasmere in the English Lake District is a house where William Wordsworth the poet once lived for a couple of years. Early in the twentieth century it was owned by one of the founders of the National Trust and subsequently bequeathed to the Trust.
In 2011 the house was damaged by fire and a restoration of it is planned. Meanwhile it exists as a largely empty shell (with a roof) with a magnificent view over Grasmere from its isolated position on the edge of the village.
Currently it is a place to drop in on. Sit in a room unfurnished save for table and chairs, sip a coffee, nibble a cake, and let your mind wander back over the years and imagine history. No-one will hurry you away, simply linger and adsorb the building.
We visited exactly a year ago, when Autumn was in full show, and through the large bay window we could almost touch the forest. Buildings like this are a rarity – if you are up this way, put Allan Bank on your visiting list.
LensScaper 
Now, that’s a place I would visit. That’s a place I’d be happy to live, actually. The combination of mix-and-match furniture, no window coverings and fabulous woodwork reminds me of my first apartment in Kansas City: although I had rather less furniture and not such a marvelous view.
I’m drawn to empty spaces — even hospitals at night or schools not in session — so I’d be more than happy to linger here. Your photos are so evocative.
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Apparently Wordsworth wasn’t too smitten with the house at first. It it in a prime position. I do hope the NT does some work on it to restore it to what it once would have looked like. Many thanks Linda
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Magnificent view out that window, especially this time of year. It’s interesting that the inside and outside exposure is so well balanced.
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Thanks Ken – the balance was fluked. All the images are straight one-shot images with no fancy HDR processing other than that they all went through Topaz Adjust that certainly does some good work at balancing shadows and highlights.
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Wow what a house! Would love to visit it some time. This is certainly a dream house for most of us and what a view!!!
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Thanks Norma. Despite having been to this area of the country many times before we had never visited this place – I’m very glad we finally went.
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As Ken mentioned, the exposure is very nicely balanced. Looks like you might have used Topaz or some other filter? A really nice image.
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Thanks John. I used Topaz Adjust. As I remarked to Ken, these were all single images – no HDR bracketing.
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Wow! I wonder if it still looks like this….
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Thanks Sue – I doubt much had changed since I was there a year ago. I think the plans for renovation and the funds required will be a while coming.
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Right oh, on my list for next year!
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What a wonderful place, the view looks breathtaking. I’ve never used Topaz Adjust although I do have it, might give it a try – I did go back for the Wisteria and got into all sorts of problems with exposure.
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Thanks Lisa. Do give Topaz Adjust a try. Anything you do can be reversed of course. It’s a very lazy way to process – just clicking a preset – but all the presets are adjustable and it will certainly inspire you. It provides a wide range of ideas and results, some good, some not so good, some distinctly wacky.
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Those autumn colours are sumptuous Andy! I think even I might be moved to pen a line or two. Stunning location!
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Thanks Adrian. This is one of our favourite areas of the country. Sadly we haven’t yet got up there this autumn.
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You did really beautiful photos from this house. Nice series.
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