OS grid reference SD368957 Country England Post town AMBLESIDE Local time Thursday 5:43 AM District South Lakeland Civil parish Claife | Region North West Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district LA22 Shire county Cumbria Dialling code 015394 UK parliament constituency Westmorland and Lonsdale | |
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Weather 3°C, Wind NE at 18 km/h, 92% Humidity | ||
Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey are two neighbouring villages in the Furness area of Cumbria. Historically part of Lancashire, they are located in the Lake District between the town of Hawkshead and the lake of Windermere. The two lie on the B5285, which runs from Hawkshead to the west bank of the Windermere Ferry, a car ferry across Windermere one mile to the east of the villages.
Map of Near Sawrey, Ambleside, UK
The two are famous for their association with Beatrix Potter. She lived at Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, first arriving at age 30 in 1896. A number of sites in the villages were used in her books such as The Tale of Tom Kitten, The Fairy Caravan, The Pie and the Patty Pan and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.
The villages date from at least the 14th century, when Near Sawrey was known as 'Sourer', becoming 'Narr Sawrey' by the 17th century (suggesting that Far Sawrey must have been in existence by this time). Near Sawrey contains a pub, while Far Sawrey has the parish church, a hotel, pub and village shop. The village shop ceased to function as a post office about 2003.
There are waymarked paths between the ferry and Beatrix Potter's house which largely avoid walking on the public roads.