Belle Isle (Windermere)

Belle Isle is the largest of 18 islands on the lake Windermere in the English Lake District and the only one ever to have been inhabited.fact|date=April 2008 It is 1km in length. Belle Isle House, was built in 1774 to designs by John Plaw, it is unusual in that it is circular in plan, built of brick, three floors high with a four column portico. [cite web|url=http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/index/enjoying/windermere/windermere_outonthelake/windermere-islands.htm|title=Windermere Islands|publisher=Lake District National Park] [cite web|url=http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Tourist_Attractions/Historic_Houses_and_Buildings/Belle_Isle_Round_House/Belle_Isle_Round_House.php |title=Belle Isle Round House|publisher=The Cumbria Directory]

The Roman governor at Ambleside built a villa on the island. It was a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War. It was known locally as the Great Island or Long Holme, but it was sold to Isabella Curwen in 1781 for £1,720 and was renamed after her. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/07/10/windermere_islands_2006_feature.shtml|title=The islands of Windermere|publisher=BBC|date=July 10 2006] The descendants of Isabella and her husband John Christian Curwen lived on the island until 1993.

In 1996, Belle Isle House suffered serious damage following a large fire. However, it was repaired and is once again a place of residence. [cite web|url=http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/country/lake.shtml|title=Journeying Through Time on Lake Windermere|publisher=timetravel-britain.com]

Belle Island is currently owned by Harold and Janet Lefton.

References